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#4388888 - 11/09/17 12:57 AM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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Ignace de Lyons.

I took the motorcycle into the city Dressed in dinner clothes to do a little celebrating, but couldn't get into the mood.

https://giphy.com/gifs/xT0xeBFkxDC3PPpcVW/fullscreen

#4388908 - 11/09/17 03:48 AM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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Raine Online content
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Hasse, great to hear from you. We miss you. Fullofit, another Aldi story is a great pleasure. Tell Aldi not to fly for the Baron -- he'll poach your kills. Lederhosen, great skin again. Can't wait to see your new screenies. Carrick, you seem to have really mastered the Spad. Robert, when are you home? I'll PM you soon because I'll be in your neck of the woods in late November.

Geoffrey Corderoy is still struggling to rack up a score of confirmed kills...

Diary of 2/Lieut. Geoffrey Corderoy, RFC
Part 11: 4 to 8 July July 1917

4 July 1917 – La Gorgue


It is good to be back. I am absolutely determined to prove myself here. It has been a month since I arrived here at 46 Squadron. Pilots have come and gone, and I have helped to bury two of my comrades, the latest being poor Kay – Kay, who had deserved a flight so much and had put up his third pip only a couple of days before his death. I am one of the fellows now, no longer a new face to be taken under one’s wing and cautioned to keep out of a scrap. When one arrives at a squadron, one sits near the bottom of the squadron table. We sit by rank here, although all the lieutenants mix in together. Already I have moved closer to the middle of the table.

Today rain and wind keep us grounded all morning, but Lee leads us up through drizzle and mist to Menen shortly after 1:00 p.m. It is a miserable patrol. We must keep under the low cloud and Archie gives us a difficult time. More than once my little Pup is thrown upwards by a near miss. After the requisite two hours Lee gives the signal and we return to La Gorgue and mugs of hot tea.

Big news tonight! We are to move south to Bruay, south of Bethune. We shall share the field with 40 Squadron and their Nieuports. We are beginning to feel that our Pups are past their prime, but Nieuports – my God, the poor chaps have drawn a short straw. A few of our fellows are being temporarily attached to the Nauticals at St-Eloi while their chaps ferry the new Sopwith “Camel” two-gun scout to the front to replace their Tripes. They flew Pups like ours last year before replacing them by Triplanes. Now they consider the Tripe to be obsolete! So we fly Pups and consider ourselves lucky not to have Nieuports…. And in the papers the people at home are complaining that the RFC let the odd Hun reach London. I suppose the strikers in England will want top cover from Camels and we shall have to nurse our Pups into 1918 or even 1919. Oh to be in Whitehall!

But I am going on. At Bruay we shall be under canvas, but at least we shall be rid of our frog pond. Tonight all the junior officers formed a work team to break down the mess and load our kit onto trucks. We then went across the way to share dinner as guests of Major Douglas and the lads at 43.[1]

A couple of days ago, Lloyd Fleming downed a machine he took to be a Hun, but which turned out to be a Nieuport of No 1 Squadron. The pilot is dead and Fleming was called to do the hatless dance [2] at RFC HQ. There is speculation that the incident is part of the reason we are being moved farther south. Fleming is being packed off to the Middle East.

5 July 1917

We took off in drizzle for Bruay and found a gap in the ground mists to head for Bruay. To our amazement we encountered a formation of Albatros DVs shooting up the roads nearby, which are crowded with Canadian troops. A wonderful scrap followed. Pups are totally outclassed by Albatri down low, but the fight was inconclusive and the Huns headed home, quickly drawing away from us.

6 July 1917 – Bruay

Being under canvas in this sodden weather is a big step down from our warm huts at La Gorgue. We have raised a marquee tent for a mess and partitioned it to form an ante-room, but it is still rough going.

The weather begins to clear around noon and we are up after 2 pm with Joske leading. We are to shoot up a rail siding near Loos. Joske led us in. The ground Huns had far too many machine guns deployed for my liking, but we scattered a body of men and horses and left two sheds on fire. On landing, not one of our machines was without holes.

7 July 1917

Up twice today, to cover our fields around Arras in the morning and to patrol the lines near Loos in the afternoon. The cloud is dense, and we see nothing.

On landing there is stunning news. Our squadron is to leave for England tomorrow. The politicians are in a bit of a panic over the big Hun Gotha bombers getting to London and we are to join Home Defence! The chaps are celebrating. Must confess to mixed feelings as I want to put up a score before leaving, but that is unlikely now.

8 July 1917

There is one final flight this morning before we depart, an early show to dispose of a balloon south of Lens. Joske leads. I take station on the left flank of a vee of five Pups. The cloud is solid at 7000 feet and there are isolated rain squalls. We spread out and push through the cloud before reaching the lines. I hate flying in cloud. The water condenses and streams across the windscreen. Peering around the glass, one’s goggles are quickly streaming with water. And out there in the grey nothingness are four other Pups. I let my machine drift farther left and stare at the bubble and speed indicator, praying I stay level. I have known men to emerge from a cloud in a vertical dive without knowing they were about to rip their wings off.

When the mist lightens and suddenly falls away, the bright sunlight blinds me. I look about for the others. They are nearly invisible, about a mile off. I head west and open the throttle. There is a chance that I can find the balloon first. Perhaps I can score once before heading to England.

After ten more minutes I judge that it is time to begin my descent. I throttle back and ease down into the cloud layer. Minute follows minute until I pray that the cloud will clear before I fly into a house or a tree. I break through into a world of steel grey sky, mud, and rain. That is Lens off to the left. Down to 1500 feet, I am rocked by a cluster of Archie bursts. I skid right and scan the sky. As if my magic, there is the balloon, just a mile in front and slightly below. The trick with Le Prieur rockets is to dive on the balloon at a 45-degree angle and line the target up end-on. You let the things loose when the balloon fills the sights and hold the dive until they are all away. I climb to get farther above it and begin the dive, firing my Vickers. At 250 yards the rockets flash and stream down on the sausage. There is barely time to avoid flying into the thing.

I pull up and look back. The balloon is smoking but still hangs there. I turn about quickly, ignoring the Archie all about. On my next pass I start firing from 300 yards and the balloon bursts into flames within seconds. I do a roll over the Huns’ heads and climb back into the cloud, emerging a minute later into an empty sky.

[Linked Image]
"On my next pass I start firing from 300 yards and the balloon bursts into flames within seconds."

Joske and the others never find the balloon. In the rotten weather no one has witnessed my kill and it goes unconfirmed. I am thoroughly browned off. Back at Bruay I discover that they have shipped my ladder off to England so I cannot get into my Pup because of my damaged knee. Ferrie is assigned the job of flying my machine to England this afternoon and I am driven to Calais to take the leave boat home to England.

I prepare for the trip with mixed emotions.

NOTES:


[1] 43 Squadron RFC, flying Strutters, was commanded by Major Sholto Douglas, later 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside, GCB, MC, DFC. In WWII, Douglas became Deputy Chief of Air Staff and AOC Fighter Command.

[2] A court martial or summary trial. The accused is marched in at double-quick time and is not permitted to wear his headgear during trial.

Attached Files Ballon kill uncredited.jpg
#4388970 - 11/09/17 04:42 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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Thanks Raine. I dont think that I have mastered the kite,but I do seem to stay out of trouble in the Spad. I liked your story it has many interesting turns and twist's.

Last edited by carrick58; 11/09/17 04:42 PM.
#4388977 - 11/09/17 05:43 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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carrick58 Offline
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Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.
2 Victories


Nov 9, 1917.


Sad day today, Zee Boche got Captaine Tour. He was leading our flight of 6 a/c over Zedelgem showing the Flag and dove on some 2 Seats Types by the numerous Aero parks in the area. I stayed high to cover for fighters ,but none showed. According to his wingman, The capt. made a run then pulled up which allowed the German rear gunner to rake his a/c's Belly. His machine then flipped over and went dove into the trees near the Hun Aero field. It probably look like this:


Attached Files CFS3 2017-11-09 09-52-48-04.jpg
Last edited by carrick58; 11/09/17 05:56 PM.
#4389080 - 11/10/17 05:00 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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carrick58 Offline
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Ignace de Lyons
ADJ
Esc 26. Buques AF.
Flanders.
2 Victories
D E C E A S E D K I A G O N E S O U T H K I A K I L L E D O F F W O R M B A I T

The flight (5 a/c) had attacked 2 A/\lbatross D-V 's up high. as the melee swooped around 5 more Enemy Scouts appeared I chased mine lower down made a pass as I got close to make a sure kill then ran into him Target Fixation ? Greed ? Going too fast ? anyway it was a Mid Air crash.

Attached Files CFS3 2017-11-10 08-34-02-05.jpg
#4389095 - 11/10/17 07:23 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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carrick58 Offline
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Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn
Verdun, France.


Nov 10, 1917.

In flight school they said that U will be posted to the latest Fighters. Here I am driving a 2 seat Bus ! The C.O. just laughed .

Attached Files CFS3 2017-11-10 11-05-36-51.jpg
#4389134 - 11/11/17 01:51 AM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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Fullofit Offline
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Fullofit  Offline
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Ajax, ON
Carrick, at this rate you'll run out of letters before the end of the war. Do be careful!
Raine, I feel your pain. Those bean counters are a bunch of knobs. Look at it this way, at least now you'll have a chance to bag a Gotha, if he doesn't bag you first.

Capitaine Francois Wagnon on his way to attack Chambry aerodrome.

[Linked Image]

Attached Files Shot11-10-17-20-17-33.jpg

"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys,
The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain,
From out of my arse take the camshaft,
And assemble the engine again."
#4389245 - 11/12/17 03:22 AM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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Fullofit: : Now isnt that the truth soon I will be down to the letter Z. It was kind of dumb getting so close that ya crash into them. How ya like driving the Spad ?

Last edited by carrick58; 11/12/17 03:28 AM.
#4389246 - 11/12/17 03:26 AM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.

Nov 11, 1917.


Up to the lines and back on Recon. I say, I was a happy to have my Lt. in the Back Seat pat me on the shoulder and point home. The weather was miserable dark and rainy.


Attached Files CFS3 2017-11-11 09-05-45-56.jpg
Last edited by carrick58; 11/12/17 03:27 AM.
#4389276 - 11/12/17 12:38 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: carrick58]  
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Fullofit Offline
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Originally Posted by carrick58
Fullofit: : Now isnt that the truth soon I will be down to the letter Z. It was kind of dumb getting so close that ya crash into them. How ya like driving the Spad ?

Carrick, the SPAD is good for running away and for catching everybody else. It has a cockpit view only a mailman could love, it has a turning radius of an 18-wheeler and it has masonry glide characteristics. It’s all true. How do you manage it?


"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys,
The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain,
From out of my arse take the camshaft,
And assemble the engine again."
#4389311 - 11/12/17 05:37 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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carrick58 Offline
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Carefully and not full D.I.D.

#4389312 - 11/12/17 05:47 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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carrick58 Offline
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Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.

Some of the boys and I went into town to soak up some of this French Culture.

https://giphy.com/gifs/dancers-ring-my-bell-xT0xeNAW9YU1WkSlgY/fullscreen

Last edited by carrick58; 11/13/17 02:11 AM.
#4389316 - 11/12/17 06:16 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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carrick58 Offline
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Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.


Nov 12, 1917.

We did an Arty spot this morning. I made a rather bad landing smash up the machine a little.

Attached Files CFS3 2017-11-12 09-58-47-34.jpg
#4389441 - 11/13/17 12:13 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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lederhosen Offline
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Germany
Karl has been sent to Colmar due to low flying miles.

[Linked Image]

Last edited by lederhosen; 11/13/17 03:06 PM.

make mistakes and learn from them

I5 4440 3.1Ghz, Asrock B85m Pro3, Gtx 1060 3GB
#4389485 - 11/13/17 06:02 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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carrick58 Offline
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LOL

#4389486 - 11/13/17 06:07 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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carrick58 Offline
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Jeffery Vickers
Sgt, Rfc
55 Sqn, Tantonville A.F.
Verdun, France.

Nov 13, 1917.


The Flight leader suggested a bunch of Touch and Go's during the morning as extra training after my hard landing.. I am still doing a lot of Bump-a-Daisy's. Afternoon was spent on a Recon of the lines My wing-mate took a little damage from ground fire.

Last edited by carrick58; 11/13/17 06:09 PM.
#4389574 - 11/14/17 09:41 AM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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MadKerbal Offline
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MadKerbal  Offline
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New Zealand
Hello all, very much enjoyed lurking and reading the tales of all your pilots, I'm hoping that it isn't too late to join. Are there any rules I should know other then what is on page one?

#4389635 - 11/14/17 03:17 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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Raine Online content
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Raine  Online Content
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Mad Kerbal, welcome to the campaign. The first page rules are still good. You'll need to decide which schedule you're flying. If you choose Warbirds Rising, use this date in 1917 as your start point. So, for 14 November 2017 you're flying 14 November 1917. If you choose Intrepid Flyers, the day of the week in 2017 and 1917 will be the same, but this campaign started several months earlier. Tuesday 14 November 2017 is Tuesday 17 July 1917. You can set up an Excel spreadsheet with actual and game dates next to one another and simply drag the cells to create a calendar that lets you keep track of the correct game date.

The DiD campaign folks are fairly forgiving if you get behind a few days and fly several days' missions to catch up, but please don't fly ahead of the current date. And please post you're pilot's story with photos or videos when you can!

Banjoman has been the mainstay of this campaign, keeping all the pilot records up to date. He's away from his computer for a few weeks so it may be a little while before your reported stats appear in the forum.

Enjoy!

#4389706 - 11/14/17 10:03 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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Fullofit Offline
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Welcome aboard Kerbal. What Raine said. Also, you can fly more than one pilot concurrently, to keep you going in case one ends up in hospital.


"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys,
The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain,
From out of my arse take the camshaft,
And assemble the engine again."
#4389722 - 11/14/17 10:55 PM Re: DiD Centenary Challenge [Re: CatKnight]  
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MadKerbal Offline
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MadKerbal  Offline
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New Zealand
Sounds good, I'll (Hopefully) start today, will I still have to start on Two seaters? I understand they can be a little dangerous at this point in the war.

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