#4418378 - 04/29/18 11:25 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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MFair
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Jerbear, Great report and writing Sir! Looking forward to your squad being operational. t
Carrick, I hope your camel is confirmed.
L:t. Jerod Jackson Auchell, Jan. 1, 1918
Jarod's Camel came to a stop on the icy field at Auchell. He pulled his mask down off his face and took a deep breath of the cold air. Laying his head back he stared at the sky. His flight mates were climbing out of their machines as he kept staring over the upper wing cutout.
"Are you alright Sir? The sound was distant to Jackson's ears. It came again but louder, "Sir! Are you alright?!"
Jackson came back to the present. Sgt. Gerber was eye level with Jackson looking at him as if he had seen a ghost. "Yes, Yes, I. am alright. Thank you Sargent." Jackson replied. Jackson unloosed his harness and climbed out of his Camel onto the ground. The other three from his flight joined in all smiles. Redden spoke first. "I got that Phalz that dived on us! I cannot believe he dove on the five of us! Rather fooling of him I say!
Jackson straightened up. "Good job Lads. Lets everyone get their reports in, get warm and have some breakfast.
After debrief, Jackson went straight to his quarters and sat down on his cot. "Did they not know" he thought. "how could someone not seen it!" he muttered to himself. His mind went back a few hours. They had taken off before dawn to escort 3 RE's to recon the lines went of Lens. On the first leg with dawn breaking he had spotted 7 machines high above headed east. He could easily see the first 2 were Dwfc's. The others surely were escorts. He kept his eye on them as they passed over head. It looked as though everyone was content to go about their business when one of the escorts peeled off and dove toward them. He was coming straight for Jackson. Jackson pulled up as the Phalz start to fire. The Hun flashed past him in an instant. He rolled over and hit hard left rudder to go give chase. Once he straightened out in his dive a machine was coming straight for him. He let loose a burst and was stunned when the machine passed under him. It was a Camel from his flight! Jackson froze for a moment then pulled back up scanning the skies. He could see the RE's and 2 machines about a mile back. He formed back up with RE's. He could not believe what had just happend. Had he just killed one of his own flight? Was his life over. Thoughts raced through his mind. A court-martial for sure. Ruined. He had never felt so low in his life. Flying a lazy s behind the RE's he finally saw his flight catching up. "One, two, three." he counted to himself. One is missing! Jackson flew by instinct. He was not even thinking of anything but his his ruined life. The missing pilot was Truit. A new man who had just transferred in the day before. Turning on the second leg Jackson saw another machine headed their way. It was Truit. Jackson could not believe the feeling of relieve that flooded over him. He had not killed anyone!
The rest of the flight was uneventful and they landed back at Auchel.
Jackson could not believe he had fired on one of his own flight and there would be no consequences. He lay down on his cot and stared at the canvas.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from either end. BOC Member since....I can't remember!
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#4418516 - 04/30/18 11:19 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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Fullofit
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Good story MFair. It’s always traumatic experience to accidentally fire at a wingman. Think about all those times you were tempted to shoot them because they’ve hit your target with one bullet and stole your victory but you kept your cool. Think about the PBI always taking potshots at you and the Flak fireing indiscriminately. They don’t have a problem sleeping at night, why should you? Actually, you should give Truit piece of your mind for making you waste ammo on him. Ammo that could have been used to bring a Hun down. He should apologize to you. Do you feel better now?
"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."
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#4418517 - 04/30/18 11:33 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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carrick58
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#4418707 - 05/01/18 11:55 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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Fullofit
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Warbirds Rising News of the World for the month of April:
April 1 The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were amalgamated to form the Royal Air Force - the first independent air force in the world. April 2 Martial Law was declared in Canada following the anti-conscription Easter Riots that had occurred in Quebec City between 28 March and 1 April. April 4 The Battle of the Avre constituted the final German attack towards Amiens which was fought between advancing German troops and defending Australian and British troops. April 5 Operation Michael was halted when an attempt by the Germans to renew the offensive towards Amiens failed after British troops forced them out of the town. April 9 Following the failure of Operation Michael, The Battle of the Lys began. The second of the series of attacks making up the German Spring Offensive, Operation Georgette was planned by General Erich Ludendorff with the objective of capturing Ypres and forcing the British troops back to the Channel ports. April 10 The Battle of Messines 1918 began as German forces attacked north of Armentieres and captured the town. The British Government passed an extension to the Military Service Act of 1916 raising the upper age of conscription to 50. The law was also extended to Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. April 11 The American steamer SS Lakemoor was sunk by German submarine U-64 whilst en route from Newport to Glasgow. April 12 During the German Operation Georgette offensive, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig issued his famous order that his men must carry on fighting, "With our backs to the wall", appealing to his forces to stand fast and fight to the last man. April 13 The Battle of Bailleul began with British troops under the command of General Herbert Plumer. April 14 General Ferdinand Foch was appointed Commander-in-Chief of Allied forces on the Western Front. April 15 The Battle of Bailleul ended when the town of Bailleul was captured by German forces. April 16 German forces progressed on the Lys River and reoccupied Passchendaele. April 17 Frenchman Bolo Pasha, originally named Paul Bolo, was executed by firing squad after his conviction as a traitor and a German spy. April 18 The Third Military Service Act came into force in Britain. April 19 German forces entered the Crimea region. April 20 British Secretary of State for War, Lord Derby resigned and was replaced by Lord Alfred Milner. April 21 German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen (more commonly known as the Red Baron) was shot down and fatally wounded while flying over Morlancourt Ridge on the Somme front. April 22 The British Royal Navy attempted to blockade, and thus neutralise, the key Belgian port of Zeebrugge by sinking obsolete British ships in the entrance to the harbour. The port was used by the German Navy as a base for their U-boats which posed a serious threat to Allied shipping. April 23 Guatemala declared war on Germany. April 24 The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux was launched against British lines in front of Amiens during the Battle of the Lys. It was the first tank-versus-tank battle in history. April 25 At the Second Battle of the Kemmelberg the German Army attacked and captured the Kemmel Hill (Mont Kemmel). April 27 Sir William Weir was announced as the Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force. April 29 A final German attack captured the Scherpenberg, a hill to the northwest of the Kemmelberg and ended the Battle of the Lys. April 30 British troops advanced east of Jordan at the Second Action of Es Salt in Palestine.
(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
"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."
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#4418708 - 05/01/18 11:56 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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Fullofit
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Intrepid Fliers News of the World for the month of December:
December 1 The last resistance in German East Africa ended when General von Lettow-Vorbeck withdrew his troops across the Rovuma River into Portuguese territory. December 2 The suspension of hostilities between Russian and German Armies began prior to the truces arranged between official negotiators. December 3 The first session of the "Truce Delegates" took place at the Brest-Litovsk headquarters between Russia and the Central Powers. December 4 The British withdrew from their initial gains at Cambrai and the offensive ended. December 6 The Finnish Parliament declared independence from Russia under acting Head of State Pehr Evind Svinhufvud. December 7 President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration of war against Austria-Hungary. December 8 British troops launched a final advance against the Ottoman Empire and entered the city of Jerusalem. December 9 The Ottoman Army retreated and Jerusalem was taken by British forces in Palestine. The fall of the city marked the climax of an offensive against the Turks which had begun in October with the capture of Beersheba. December 10 Panama declared war on Austria-Hungary. December 11 General Edmund Allenby formally entered the Old City of Jerusalem. It was the first time that Jerusalem was in Christian hands since the Crusades. December 12 A convoy of British ships was attacked by four German battleships. The destroyer HMS Partridge was torpedoed and sunk. December 14 General Maurice Sarrail was recalled from Salonika by French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau. December 15 An armistice between Russia and Central Powers was signed on the Eastern Front at Brest-Litovsk. December 16 Sir Edmund Allenby was made GCMG (Knight Grand Cross of Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George). December 17 The armistice agreed upon between the new Russian Government and the Central Powers came into effect. December 18 The United States passed the Eighteenth Amendment, also known as the Temperance Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors. December 19 Two United States submarines, USS F-1 and USS F-3, collided while manoeuvring in exercises off the coast of California. USS F-1 sank within ten seconds or the impact. December 20 The first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations, the Cheka was established in Russia by the Council of People's Commissars after a decree issued by Vladimir Lenin. December 21 The Battle of Jaffa was fought over two days between the forces of the British Empire and the Ottoman and German Empires during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The conflict ended with an emphatic victory for the British. December 22 A secret pact regarding the future of Poland was agreed between Germany and the Russian Bolshevik Government at Brest-Litovsk. December 23 The Independent Republic of Moldavia was proclaimed at Kishinev. December 26 The Defence of Jerusalem was one of three battles which made up the "Jerusalem Operations" along with the Battle of Nebi Samwil and the Battle of Jaffa. The engagement began when the Turkish Army launched a counter-attack against British infantry on the outskirts of the city. December 27 Sir Rosslyn Wemyss was appointed First Sea Lord of Great Britain. December 30 The final objectives were achieved at the climax of the Defence of Jerusalem when the whole front line was secured by British troops. December 31 The British fleet messenger carrying troops and medical personnel, HMS Osmanleh was sunk after hitting a mine at the entrance to Alexandria Harbour.
(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
"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."
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#4418870 - 05/02/18 08:44 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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carrick58
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#4418986 - 05/03/18 07:43 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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carrick58
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#4419118 - 05/04/18 03:05 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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Hasse
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From the War Diary of Charles Linder.Escadrille BR 11. Verdun.4 Jan -18I have now settled into a routine of sorts. We fly missions every day (weather permitting) and our sector is becoming quite familiar to me. It has been snowing a lot, and the ground is covered by a thin white layer. However, it hasn’t been cold enough to get rid of the mud. I’m so thankful that I don’t have to serve in the trenches! Life in the Aéronautique Militaire has its own dangers, but they are nothing compared to what the poor poilus have to endure. On New Year’s Day, I had my first close encounter with a boche machine. I was flying as the escort for Adjudant Dubail’s recon Breguet near Béthincourt when suddenly a boche two-seater appeared from a cloud a couple of hundred metres to our left! We were all quite stunned for a few seconds, but then I motioned for Marius (my regular observer) to open fire at the boche. I steered slightly to the left in order to close the distance to the enemy machine. Soon Marius was shooting at the Germans, who still seemed to be in a state of shock, because they didn’t return fire or change their course. I could see how smoke began to come out of their plane’s engine, and only then did the boches react to the situation. The pilot banked his machine hard to the left and soon they disappeared in the same big cloud that had covered their approach. I’d have liked to follow them and finish the job, but that would have been against our orders – the escort doesn’t abandon his escortee! We filed a report to HQ, though we didn’t expect to get the boche machine confirmed as a victory. We were correct. Ground troops had witnessed the encounter, but nobody had seen the enemy two-seater crash. Perhaps they made it back to their field? I'm certain that at least their engine was badly damaged. The boche machine was probably a DFW. It was painted in their usual colours of green and purple. It’s rare to get an opportunity to shoot at one – if only that cloud hadn’t been there to hide them!
"Upon my word I've had as much excitement on a car as in the air, especially since the R.F.C. have had women drivers."
James McCudden, Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps
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#4419164 - 05/04/18 07:43 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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carrick58
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#4419168 - 05/04/18 08:02 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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carrick58
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#4419198 - 05/04/18 11:50 PM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: CatKnight]
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Fullofit
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Carrick, MFair is about to steal all your nurses!
"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."
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#4419203 - 05/05/18 12:38 AM
Re: DiD Centenary Challenge
[Re: carrick58]
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jerbear
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2nd Lt. John B. Goode USAAS
May 2nd 1918
Exceptional day on Field 7. Our birds were making forced landings all over the countryside. A formation of five ships, led by Ash Ashenden (1) got lost and ran out of gas.. Wolf Healy and several others had to land on account of mechanical problems. Alk Jones went down the night before and still hasn't returned. The instructors are in a foul mood. Ash and the other four with him are feeling mighty blue. They are removed from the flying lists and confined to camp until further orders.
May 3rd 1918
Formation leaders have been instructed to make sudden movements, steep dives and climbs to simulate Archie dodging and see if we can stay in formation. We did pretty well, I did better than I expected but not what I could call great. Formation sizes are being increased to as many as 15.
All leaves in the AEF are cencelled indefinitely. Things must be looking pretty bad.
May 4th 1918
Offensive and defensive tactics, like the Lufberry Show (2) today.
May 5th 1918
Brig. Gen. Foulis, head honcho of our Air Service paid a visit today. Pomp and circumstance, a flight of 15 aircraft did a flyover in his honor.
May 6th 1918
Abe (3) , Ash, Bedroll (4), Red (5) and Raymond from the 27th returned to flying duty.
(1) 2nd Lt. James F. (Ash) Ashenden - A Flight, Interned in Switzerland 25 June 1918 (2) Lufberry Show, named for Maj. Roul Lufberry. Defensive maneuver in which a milling circle was formed with each aircraft protected the rear of the next. Considered at Issoudun the most effective way a smaller formation could survive an attack by a larger. The chief danger was adverse action of the wind taking the circle deeper into enemy territory. (3)1st Lt. Thomas J. (Abe) Abernathy - A Flight, 3 aerial victories (4) 2nd Lt, Frank S. (Bedroll) Ennis - A Flight, 1 aerial victory, also known as "Muff" (5) 1st Lt. Louis S. (Red) Simon Jr. - C Flight, 2 aerial Victories
Last edited by jerbear; 08/26/18 07:42 PM.
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Exodus
by RedOneAlpha. 04/18/24 05:46 PM
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