Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, Instructor Pilot B Flight Commander 16 Victorys, 40 Sqn, Bryas, AF Flanders France.
July 17, 1918.
We had a Rumpler Morning, The 5 of us ran into 3 Rumplers at 8,000 ft in and out of Rain showers. I got one and my wing mate Maj Landis got one the other got away in the scud and gloom. Afternoon Parade awarded the D.S.O. and had # 16 confirmed.
Washed out today, intermittent rain and patchy fog all day. Gave us a chance to get all the machines back in good flying condition again. Had some modifications done on Babygirl's rigging, took her up for a test flight, that's about all the flying that was done.
The dope is that Ludendorff called off their advance and now we're going to hit them back with a big push of our own. Ordnance is recalling all the armor piercing ammo, the casings just weren't made true, it's the cause of many of the jammed guns. Group is working on getting the contaminated gas problem ironed out.
French VI Army Aero issued a warning, SPADs with French markings and Breguets with French and American markings have been firing on our troops and balloons.
We now know for sure that Quentin Roosevelt gone west. A German communique from the 14th was intercepted, stating that he was shot through the head and fell at Chamery. It was very complementary in regards to his courage. (1) Truth of the matter is that he died because that flight should never have gone near the lines with that southerly zephyr blowing. It pushed him further into Germany and made it impossible for him to fight his way home. Atkinson and Group HQ are responsible for his death.
There was a story going around, supposedly started by a YMCA man who put it out that Quent's patrol was attacked by an inferior number of Germans and that all the pilots, except for Quent. panicked and ran, leaving him alone. Needless to say, Davy and the rest of the boys from the 95th went looking for him with blood in their eyes. They're accused of roughing up a few people but they couldn't pin down exactly who the mouthpiece for that rumor was. If Swedeholm wasn't in the hospital I'd have suspected him even if it did cast a bad light on his own outfit.
95th Aero got 11 SPADs in today, that doesn't make up for the loss of Quent but it pepped them up some and gave them something else to do and think about. A new Nieuport was ferried in along with them, so maybe we'll get to keep flying them for awhile yet.
Yesterday, went on a strafing party to hit the roads leading to Conde'-en-Brie from the north, 11 of us, Alk and Whitey leading the 2 flights. We left at 13:20 and approached the target area at 2,500 meters, found nothing to strafe, nothing at all on the roads. so we circled around the area to gain altitude when 9 EA came into view. We turned west to get in the sun before trying to attack them but Dodd got antsy and piqued on one of them, forcing all of us to attack before we were ready. I piqued on the closest Fokker and saw my tracers go up his fuselage but he didn't fall. Fired at several others but had no time to observe the results. The party ended as suddenly as it began and after Alk gathered up his chicks we went home. Dodd, Wells and Brew weren't with us. Wells and Brew crashed their Nieuports in forced landings but there's no word on Dodd Cassard (2). Alk, Pip and Simmy all made claims for downed Fokkers.(3)
Went on a 2nd patrol with the Major leading 6 of us but Babygirl's engine was missing so I had to come back, bad magneto.
The 27th has both Raymond and Gunn missing
94th is trying to mount patrols but when they go out, most of them come right back, lots of problems with those gear drive engines. They've crashed two, caused by shoddy workmanship. Nine contractors are building these flying bricks for us, the Brits, Frogs and the Dagos as fast as as humanly possible and their quality is inconsistent to say the least.
The Major thinks he has things worked out with HQ and Flight Commanders will be able to use their own judgement from now on as to whether to scrub a mission or not.
(1) 1st Lt. Quentin Roosevelt was shot down by Uffz Carl Emil Graper of Jasta 50. A photo of his body lying next to his Nieuport was taken and was going to be circulated for propaganda purposes but it was supressed by the Kaiser, who was an admirer of Theodore Roosevelt.
(2) 1st Lt. Daniel W. (Dodd) Cassard is believed to have been shot down by Ltn Walter Blume of Jasta 9.
(3) These three pilots shared a credit for one victory.
Carrick, it seem Wooley is really doing well. How many victories so far?
Jerbear. your account of the loss of Quentin Roosevelt was compelling. I am loving these stories. Meanwhile, I am caught up with Corderoy's story. He's had some luck lately, but it's 19 March 1918 and the storm is coming...
Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC Part 60: 13-19 March 1918
13 March 1918 – La Gorgue aerodrome
The pace of operations has certainly picked up. Every night our orders arrive, inevitably as we are going into the mess to eat. And so I have the unenviable task of announcing which flights will be penetrating far into darkest Hunland at dawn, or which will be weaving through tracer and Archie to attack balloons or aerodromes. One senses the conversation muffle for a period after orders are spoken, to be written up and posted on the bulletin board by the ever-efficient Tom Purdey, our RO.
There are more briefings at HQ now, and we fully expect the main enemy push to be towards Amiens now, although there is still a deal of suspicious activity where we are, farther north. This morning I lead a patrol of A and C Flight personnel. I have taken Major Holtcombe under my wing. The man is a gem. It is a joy to watch this gentleman, who mere months ago led a company of Regular Army engineers, mix so naturally with nineteen-year-old subbies.
We take off short after eleven in the morning, the second patrol of the day for all except me. Ours is a line patrol of our southern sector, and we are to circulate between La Bassée and Athies. The morning is pristine and clear, the sun warm and visibility excellent. I am surprised to see no activity over our sector. Far to the east, several groups of Huns punch the clock for their shift, but do no work. They make feints in our direction, but come no closer than several thousand yards. After an hour and forty minutes, I turn north for the final time and plan to patrol into Hunland once our task is done. Fuel will be nearly spent, so I shall simply show the flag over Menen.
As we approach Comines, a large group of Pfalzes flies south to meet us. They have a height advantage, so I turn west and drawn them towards our lines. In seconds they are on us and we turn as one to meet them. The fight is short and intense. I get behind a silver and black machine and am stitching it with rounds from my Vickers guns when Lingham appears a mere three feet off my right wingtips. I pull away and Lingham sends the machine down in flames. It is his second Hun.
Letter from Reggie in Egypt. Apparently they are expanding RFC training facilities in Egypt to supply pilots for the entire Mediterranean and Middle East. He is being slotted in as an instructor, which delights me. As long as some ham-fisted youngster doesn’t thunder in, he should stay in one piece until this whole sordid affair is over.[1]
14 March 1918
Again took a mixed patrol up late morning. This time we escorted an RE8 on a photo shoot along the Hun lines northeast of Arras. We were not molested in our work and saw the RE8 safely back over the lines, after which I led the patrol towards Haubordin, which is often good hunting ground. Indeed we ran into a large group of Albatri and had a short but energetic scrap, during which I sent one EA tumbling down. Unfortunately I could not follow it far enough down to claim it.
15 March 1918
A call came in around 9:30 this morning to chase off some Hun two-seaters over Vimy, so I joined Balfour’s crew along with Woollett, who had just finished his combat report from his first patrol. We climbed to 12000 feet and had scarcely arrived over the assigned area when a pair of Rumplers and a lone Albatros passed just overhead, apparently without noticing us. Balfour, Holtcombe, and I stalked the Rumplers while Woollett and Owen mixed with the Albatros. I closed to a hundred yards and fired at the nearest two-seater, which immediately broke up and caught fire. I then turned to find the Albatros diving past, heading for home. I snap-turned and dived after him. By diving at a shallow angle I was able to catch him when he levelled off. He would pull away quickly, so I had only a brief chance to get him. Fortunately, my first burst killed the pilot, who must have fallen forward since his machine nosed down and, passing the vertical, broke up in the air. Both kills were witnessed, so this morning brings by bag up to 53. Jimmy McCudden sits at 57 and I must admit feeling pleased with myself today.
"I closed to a hundred yards and fired at the nearest two-seater, which immediately broke up and caught fire."
16 March 1918
Flew twice today, with much credit to Purdey for letting me get away from the office. Our chaps are getting worn ragged of late, and low work is especially unwelcome. Both my flights were ground attacks, the first a strafe of Phalempin aerodrome and the second a strafe of Haubordin. In both cases we bombed and shot up the fields and we didn’t see an air Hun the whole day!
17 March 1918
Today at 9:30 in the morning I led a mixed patrol to escort a DH4 from Naval 2 on a photo-reconnaissance flight north of the Salient. We were just wrapping up and turning home when a very large group of Huns spoiled the morning. They fell on us like hawks and, although we saw them and turned into the attack, we had a very hot time of it for several minutes. I was twisting and turning with three Pfalzes on my tail for several minutes. Every few seconds one of them would get a burst at me and there was little I could do without incurring the wrath of the others. Several times I split-arsed under the fight to let one of my mates join in, but at first everyone had their hands full. Finally, I saw a machine with black crosses falling near to me, clearly heading for the scene of the crash. And then another Hunnish machine tumbled down.
At length another Camel (2/ Lieut. Daniel, I think) drove my last pursuer away and I turned westward, a good seven miles from the lines, with the engine dropping revs. I descended gently from 8500 feet, playing with the mixture. For a few minutes, the Clerget seemed to come back to life, and then it began fading again. As ever, I flew into a brisk northwest wind and crawled over the battered landscape. The fight had brought us well north of Ypres. It seemed an age before the brown scar of the front gave way to green fields and I knew I was safe. The nearest field was Bray Dunes, so I made my way there and put the machine down. It took a moment to get my legs under me (the damaged knee is acting up again), but I limped around and patted the cowling. When the war is over, I owe Tommy Sopwith a drink! 18 March 1918
At 8:45 we were called to put a flight up over Bailleul, as some Huns were crossing the lines north of Ypres. I led a group of six Camels, and we climbed directly from takeoff towards Armentières and then back towards Bailleul. We’d hardly got to the patrol area when King signalled that EA were in sight and motioned to the northwest. There were two vics of three Huns each approaching from that direction. Coming from the northwest, I should have though them ours, but the EA were Hannovers, and their distinctive biplane tail gave them away. By this time we had nearly reached their altitude and as soon as we turned towards them, the Huns turned for home.
I got behind and below one and fired, moving aside to clear a jam and let Holtcombe have a go. The Hun tried to dive and turn under us, but I caught him in mid-turn and fired. The Hannover’s left lower wing folded back and fluttered away and the machine began a death dive. I watched the observer fall free of the stricken aircraft and turn in slow circles, his leather coat fluttering as he fell.
To the west, several Camels were circling another Hannover, which was already trailing steam. I joined in and, on my opening burst, the left upper plane parted company with the rest of the Hunnish machine. Bailey was firing at the same time, so I made no claim. The first Hun, however, was witnessed by King (just made up to Lieutenant this week) and is confirmed as number 54. The other Hannover went to Holtcombe.
The mess was somewhat subdued, however, as Major Holtcombe did not return to La Gorgue. Purdey and I called every squadron north of the Lys as wells as our Archie batteries, but there is no news.
"I joined in and, on my opening burst, the left upper plane parted company with the rest of the Hunnish machine."
19 March 1918
It is raining heavily this morning and there is no flying. Wing wanted us to try a balloon strafe, but Balfour took off and was lucky to get back down five minutes later.
A call has come in. Holtcombe’s Camel crashed near Diksmuide. He was taken to a CCS but died soon after. I have taken on the task of sorting his effects and shall have to write his wife. The man had two children.
Had a brief meeting at Wing late this afternoon. We are getting more details on the upcoming merge with the RNAS into the new air force. There will apparently be a blending of terminology and tradition, which will take some getting used to but is only fair. The biggest news has just arrived, and it is that “Boom” has given the Air Minister an offer to quit the Ministry.[2]
When my work is done, I shall walk to Merville and get blissfully drunk, all myself.
NOTES
[1] Around this time, the RFC began expanding training in Egypt. By July, there would be five Training Depot Stations, each with the strength of three squadrons.
[2] Trenchard’s relationship with the Air Minister, the newspaper magnate Lord Rothermere, was never good and became markedly worse in February and March 1918. Rothermere was in favour of replacing Haig, to whom Trenchard, the Chief of Air Staff, was fiercely loyal. Further, Rothermere pursued plans that, to Trenchard’s mind, detracted from the primary task of supporting the land forces on the Western Front. Pressed by Rothermere to reconsider his resignation, Trenchard agreed only to defer it until after 1 April, when the Royal Air Force would be born.
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, Instructor Pilot B Flight Commander 16 Victorys, 40 Sqn, Bryas, AF Flanders France.
July 18th 1918. Mission: AF attack, I led B flight on this one. The flight stayed at 8500 ft for the run in then dropped and bombed from 3000 ft followed by one MG run then our 4 a/c cover flight gave it a go with Guns. A little damage was done. I think we should go lower or maybe dive at the target. 2 a/c were damaged in A Flight.
The Allies counterattacked today on the Huns flank and retook their old trench line on a 20 km front. The sky at the Front was full of Allied planes this morning.
Went out at dawn on a patrol to strafe trenches and roads to prevent the enemy from bringing up supplies and reinforcements. Ennis' Nieuport caught fire and he dropped out of formation. Found very little to fire at on the roads, so we hammered away at any trench that looked occupied, I didn't get too close though, lots of teeth down there on the ground. The barrages down below were terrific and threw clouds dust and smoke thousands of feet up.
The Major told us later in the day that a fire stated in Ennis' cowling. He managed to smother the fire with his dive but cracked up his Nieuport in a shell hole. He hit his mouth and his teeth are a mess and he hurt his back. He may be out of it.
Same results on the 2nd patrol at 13:00, nothing moving on the ground in Germany as far as we could see and nothing in the air that wasn't ours.
Whitey took up the 3rd patrol at 18:00, 7 of us. Art, Simmy and Steve all had to drop out. Our Nieuports are wearing out and 3 patrols in the day are hard on them. We have the Nieuports from the French Squadrons but most of them are older and more beaten up than ours. Babygirl is still ticking along well enough though, Black took good care of her yesterday while we were down.
The 4 of us that remained found 3 Fokkers above us, just north of Chateau-Thierry, Whitey maneuvered us until we were above them and in the sun. They didn't get wind of us until we were within 300 yards of them, then the leader did a renversement to come straight at us while the other two made sharp turns left and right to flank us, they weren't amateurs and they weren't afraid of us. All three were in that lozenge pattern the Huns favor so much with yellow noses and white rudders. I made several passes with the one on the right, managed to get behind him to throw about 50 rounds at him with unknown results. He shook me off with a number of reinversemonts, then seemed to loose track of me and head chez eux at 2,500 meters and climbing. I stayed below him and managed to catch up, so either he was having problems with his machine or he really thought I was gone and relaxed, could have been tired, I certainly was after 3 patrols. That's just the kind of thing that'll get you killed.
I got right up on him and let loose a beautiful stream of tracers, going straight into him. He started to belch smoke,then he made a quick reinversement again, apparently in full control of his bird, and disappeared into a cloud. I followed him into the cloud, got disoriented and went into a spin, when I came out under the clouds and regained control saw no trace of him and no smoke trail. I was way lower than I like to be over Germany and the Archies found me, really pummeled us good. I headed home alone with a trail of black smoke puffs trailing me, grabbing for more sky. Babygirl took a few shrapnel hits, for which I apologized, I shouldn't have tried to follow the Hun down, it's not like I was going to get comformation or take him prisoner. I put him in my report but didn't request conformation. We have new US ammo now. The stuff has a terrific kick, I hope it doesn't tear a gun loose or damage it.
The 95th was able to make one patrol in their new SPADs and the 94th made two. The 95th had 4 drop out with problems and the 94th, 9, but their still sold on their new machines. Davy raves about it, brags that as soon as they get them going they'll have the Germans on the run.
I was thinking this morning how incongruous it is that I wake up in the morning in a comfortable bed, have a nice breakfast with a nice old French couple in their cozy cottage, then an hour or so later, I'm miles above the earth, sitting behind two machine guns, freezing my face off, hoping to have the pleasure of killing someone.
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, Instructor Pilot B Flight Commander 16 Victory's, 40 Sqn, Bryas, AF Flanders France.
July 19, 1918.
B flight did two hops today, number 1 was cover the AF's No contact. The second was an AF Attack led 5 a/c with bombs in a Glide from 6,500 down to 1,500 then dropped. Took a lot of ground fire 4 a/c damaged including mine 18 holes in the kite. Un sure if the low approach is worth it.
Raine - I'm with Carrick- Here's to Geoffrey, and, as Reed Chambers put it when he was trying to cheer up his comrades in the 94th Aero, "surviving the war so that we can die in a car accident."
2nd Lt. John B. Goode 147th Aero Squadron, USAAS
Friday, July 19th 1918
Seek and destroy mission over the Dormans area this morning, Whitey leading. On the way Babygirl's engine starting missing and sputtering. I had to drop out and land at La-Ferte-Gaucher. The French mechanics found the problem. It was only a loose ignition wire shorting out on the aluminum cowling.
The patrol spotted a German sausage and attacked. The balloon's crew started hauling it down so it was only about 1,000 meters off the ground when our boys opened fire. They didn't destroy it, the Archie and ground fire was so intense they had to break off. Dewey's Nieuport took some shrapnel and he crash landed on our side. I haven't seen him yet but the Major says he'll be back in a few days.
Went out on a late patrol over Germany at 19:30, 14 planes, no EA seen. Got back at 21:00. It was dark by then and we landed between the fire barrels. I hate a night landing and the fires spoil my night vision making it hard for me to judge altitude.
The French Squadrons tried to do a few patrols but most of the SPADs pooped out on them. The hat in the ring boys are getting frustrated with them. Davy's still sold on his SPAD, but then he always was a stubborn ass.
They got a shack built for me at the field so I had to get everything ready for a detail to pick it up tomorrow before I could sit down to write this and bed down.
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, Instructor Pilot B Flight Commander 17 Victorys, 40 Sqn, Bryas, AF Flanders France.
July 20, 1918
Only 1 hop today, a real cock up. Wing called down an ordered a Railyard hit near Oppy. When the supply wagon arrived last night , it carried Paint and Raincoats along with overshoes,but no bombs It would hard to bomb with those so we gave it a go with MG ammo. The next problem was they wanted us to cross the lines at 3000 ft . What about e/a on Patrols ? Hq said not to worry the enemy should be North of us and we would be putting fear in the enemy. The sqn put 11 a/c up B flight had 5 and crossed according to orders. We flew under 3 enemy patrols before one fell on us. A real shambles everyone firing at everyone. I almost had a mid air when a new guy cut in front of me and got my target. I managed to get one Hun on the down low ,but took 3 hits from ground fire as I did the e/a . Our cover flight missed the Melee but attacked the target so Hq was happy. Damage ? maybe holes in the roof. B Flight had 4 damaged and knocked down 3 Huns. 1 was Mine out of a flight of 5.
Two SPADs were ferried in today, not for the the French Squadrons but for us. Looks like they intend to cram them down our throats rather than let us fly the Nieuports the Government has already paid for until we've used them up all up. Our mechanics have enough to do without being burdened with these engineering wonders.
Said goodbye to the Picards this morning. Gave Jean Luc the spiked Kraut helmet he had admired so much. I gave Dianna all the sugar I could cherch, about 7 pounds, that's like gold in this country right now. Hugs and kisses all around, Dianna gave me a kiss right on the mouth that I thought was a little more than motherly and right there in front of her significantly older husband. Not quite sure what to make of that, she's pretty old. They made me promise I'd come back to see them when the war's over. If I see the end of the war, I will. Didn't say that to them though, it's understood.
Ralph led us on a photo escort mission , left Saints at 12:20, rendezvoused with a Salmson from 1st Aero over Torcy.. Archies galore. They took photos near Bonnes and waved to us when they were finished. A gang of 12 planes that looked Bochey appeared further north but didn't follow us when we turned for home with our photo bus. Good thing too, but surprising since they had every advantage, maybe they were ours after all. There were only 4 of us. Doc and Deuce had both dropped out before we met the Salmson because of that crap U.S. gas. Someone needs to go to prison for selling that soup to the Army.
The Salmson started to loose altitude when we got over the Lines and had to make a landing just a few miles on our side. Steve landed next to them, took the observers notes and photo plates and flew them to HQ. Their going to write him up for something, he certainly deserves it, pretty dicey landing.
Went up on Alert at 17:00. An enemy Biplace was spotted, apparently heading for the rail junction at Plessis Bellevue, I was in #4 position. We patrolled the area for almost 20 minutes after we got there but didn't see any sign of the biplace, no Archie fire, nothing, but just as we started to go , Bedroll waggled his wings. There were 7 Albatri, passing behind us, must had been escort for the photo plane. An Albatros always makes me think of a yellow jacket or hornet. Two of the yellow jackets ran, I guess they were newbies, while the rest of them swarmed in our direction with stingers at the ready.
Babygirl took a few hits on her fuselage during the first pass. I did a few passes with one of the yellow jackets before he found someone else to play with. I spotted one trying to slink away home and swooped down under him. He evidently didn't see me sneaking up on him and I got within about 50 yards, had him on a platter. Plastered him with both Vickers but one jammed up. He made a virage and dove but couldn't shake me off. I fired about 200 rounds at him before his gas tank started to smoke. He went down under some control, despite the wounds to his bird, much of his upper wing was gone, but he wiped out when he touched mother earth near the tracks.The bus had the usual varnished yellow wood body with a black and white ring around it behind the office. Deuce and Bedroll made claims too, we all revved as we came in and were greeted in style.
I got a little chill thinking about it all just now, I know darned well I was so concentrated on fidgeting with my, selector, gas throttle and gun lever that I didn't glance in the mirror or look behind me once to see if someone was sneaking up on me, while I was sneaking up on the that Hun. Could have been my ticket West. If I survive this thing it'll be just by shier luck. Daddy will probably say it was because I had a "Godly father praying for me at home," and like dribble. Just as likely it's Nanette and Rintintin. Well, whatever works but I have been extraordinarily lucky in more ways than one.
Got the dope on Dewey. He'll be back tomorrow, hurt his neck.
Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, Instructor Pilot B Flight Commander 17 Victorys, 40 Sqn, Bryas, AF Flanders France.
Got hurt today , attacked and shot up and wnd by a Lone Fokker. The flight was on Patrol in near white out conditions in 9/10ths cloud cover at 10,000 ft when a lone Fokker dropped on my tail and pumped two bursts at my my Kite 18 hit including 1 in my hip. I did a wingover and spun out then did a Blue Max , low level among the trees, to a friendly AF. My flight nailed the attacker. Cpt Elroy ( 42 Kills ) will take over B Flight. No one reported any other attackers. ( above the clouds ? In the clouds ? ) On the good side, the medics are sending me to III Corps Hospital in Cassis, Its not far from Marseiille. I hear its a Nurse Corp staging area.
SPADs still in hangar, no one goes near them, we pretend they're just not there. Heard the Major sent in his readiness report to Atkinson, "21" combat aircraft on hand, "21" Nieuports and 2 SPADs. Heard it made Atkinson mad as an old wet hen.
Lots of French civilians rubbernecking around the aerodrome today on their Sunday outings. One of them is going to get hurt one of these days, standing around gawking while were trying to run missions. Mickey tried to bite one today, not like him.
Dewey is back, with a neck brace on. I had his cot and everything fixed up for him in our new shack. We had a little welcome back party for him. He's medicating himself with alcohol, said Mercy Blow Through to everyone for the welcome.(1) He should be able to get back in the office (2) by the end of this next week. Good to see him, said he was crazy to get back, was afraid he might be hurt bad enough to be grounded or sent to Issoudun as an instructor, that would've killed him. But then, coming back here might kill him quicker. Dodd is definitely not coming back, maybe we'll hear that he was captured, pretty sure he's dead though.
(1) Mercy Blow Through - slang Americanized French, for merci beaucoup,
WE LOST MAJOR BONNELL! He's relieved and assigned to command Aerial Gunner School at St. Jean de Mont. Atkinson ordered him to send us on 2 patrols today. Fog on the ground, low visibility so the Major says no, refused to send us up, went to see Atkinson. Major wouldn't say anything about what happened, rumor is that Atkinson threatened him, told him he could be shot for disobeying an order under combat conditions. It appears to have been a trap as orders reassigning him magically appeared and he's gone already.
Our morale is at zero! To add to the humiliation he assigned Hambleton (1) to command us. Johns a good guy and a fine pilot but he hasn't had and particularly exemplary career as a chase pilot and he's no leader. Any one of a number of our own pilots could handle the job just as well or better. Whitey, Snake O'Neill, Simmy, Art. Jones are all excellent leaders.
It's all old Army politics. Atkinson's the one who should be relieved! This Penguin is allowed to walk all over a man who's out to win this war, flying every day, risking his life every time he gets into a cockpit when he doesn't have too, refused promotion to stay with the Squadron. Now he's relieved of command and shuttled off to a useless assignment after the outfit he trained and led sent down more Huns in 3 weeks than the French Squadrons have done in 2 months!
Alk was forced to take us up twice, despite the other 3 Squadrons staying on the ground all day. Couldn't see anything for the fog on the ground. The only thing we could report was that Fere-en-Tardenois is on fire, all a waste of time and just to punish us.
(1) 1Lt John A. Hamleton, 95th Aero Squadron and later reassigned to command the 213th Aero, 2 confirmed victories during the war, member of an old banking family related to the Vanerbilts, later one of the founding partners of Pan Am Airlines.
(2) Penguin - Atkinson fit this label, having wings and a personal aircraft in the 94th Aero's hangars which he never flew, a flightless bird.
Thank God for Jerbear and Carrick keeping the campaign alive! Jerbear, I think you'll eventually warm up to the Spad. It's a very different beast, no? Corderoy's 43 Squadron has moved south to the Arras sector, but is being pressed into supporting the northern part of the crumbling British front on the Somme.
Diary of Maj. Geoffrey Corderoy, 43 Squadron RFC Part 61: 20-26 March 1918
20 March 1918 – La Gorgue
Rain and fog kept us on the ground all day. At 3 in the afternoon a dispatch arrived from Wing with orders for a squadron move. We are to redeploy to Avesnes-le-Compte, behind Arras. This puts us on the northern flank of the expected German push, so we are far from the non-operational unit-in-training that Van Ryneveld promised me, a thing that suits me fine!
Moving a squadron is an operation to behold. First, hangars are stripped on all materials and machinery except petrol and ammunition. Machine tools are crated and placed in waggons. All canvas is struck and accommodations packed, officers and senior NCOs slink away to strip the messes of all war booty and creature comforts, and by one in the morning the place is a mere skeleton. The aircraft are ready for takeoff at first light, the last tenders are standing by, and local cooks and cleaners weep and express their undying regret while inquiring about possible future occupants.
We saved a little whiskey and gin to see of my good friend Harold Balfour, who is posted to HE. I am truly sad to see him leave, as he is one of the most admirable men I know. For the last while I have worked hard in the style of the Stoics to abandon thoughts of the morrow and live fully for the here and now. It has served me well, even though I fear I may not be the same person a year from now if this war ever ends. Balfour was different. Ever the intellectual, he was haunted by his own imagination and tortured by his dreams for the future. Yet he persevered, not through natural and blissful simplicity like some, but by sheer courage and force of will. It is not the man without fear one must admire. It is the man wracked with fear who climbs into his grid, calls “contact” and rises into the dawn to face his worst fears. That man is Balfour, and we are the less without him.
I fell into bed shortly after one, expecting to be roused around five. But before first light a pressure wave of sound engulfed us. In silk pajamas and slippers we gathered on the duckboards in a chill breeze to see the eddies of red and orange light cascade from north to south on our eastern horizon. The sheer volume of artillery that the Hun unleashed took our breath. Nothing, we thought, can survive this. I gave orders to prepare the aircraft for movement on my orders.
At 5:15 we cut the phone service and took off. Still the eastern sky rippled with fire, but now a pink ribbon of sunlight lined the horizon as welll. There was a heavy ground fog so the first few minutes of our flight was tense. We gathered over Armentieres and turned south, picking our way from the snatches of ground visible through the mist. Somewhere south of the Lys we spotted three Hun two-seaters and immediately gave chase. They were several thousand feet higher, and we closed on them far too slowly. Only as they approached their own lines were we able to open fire, and then at long range. But the Huns were in close formation and did a first-rate job of defence. After being hit twice at a range of 250 yards, I decided that discretion was the better part and put about for our new home.
The field here is small and we are its only occupant at present. Many of our vehicles have not arrived and we are not operational until they do. Brigade phones relentlessly, but the roads are impossible by all accounts.
News are not good. Apparently the Germans are through already in some places, and the Fifth Army is falling back.
22 March 1918 – Avesnes-le-Compte
We are here without machine tools, without petrol, and to a great extent without food. We have sent provisioning patrols into the nearby town, a typically squat and bricky commune stretched out along a main road. Dinner is bread and cheese, helped with some good wines. We have some decent little huts, and the sergeants-major are beating some order into the place. The guard is doubled and the country is rife with rumours of breakthrough and spies. I inspected the place and asked one man on guard what the drill is if a spy with a bomb is caught entering the aerodrome. He did not know, nor would he hazard a guess, so I commanded him to find out. I must ask Purdey myself, for I admit I have no idea at all.
23 March 1918
Despite the developing disaster to our south, we were ordered to mount a patrol to escort a DH4 on a photographic reconnaissance north of Arras. I put together this extra flight and spent a frigid two hours. We saw absolutely nothing.
24 March 1918
Captain Trollope has astounded everyone today by claiming 6 1/2 Huns down is two flights! This is the most in a single day I have heard of.
I joined Woollett in a patrol about three miles into Hunland, just east of Arras. We spotted several groups of EA at a great distance off to the east, but nothing came our way until we were about to head home. At that point a large formation appeared heading south as we were turning north, and we met them over Anneux. The Huns were all triplanes, the largest gathering of these machines I have yet encountered. Woollett wisely turned west to lure them closer to our lines, but we were still over the enemy trench lines where the Huns were upon us.
What a melée it was! Like a drunken brawl in a docklands side street, with Camels and Fokkers all over the sky. At one point I glance over my should to see no fewer than three triplanes banked vertically, each trying to get on my tail. The scrap lasted at least ten minutes and then, in that mysterious way that has become so common, I found myself alone in the sky. I turned east, hunting for any Hun trying to make its way home. Nothing was in sight, so I turned southwest for home.
I had not gone more than a couple of miles when I spotted a lone triplane stalking a Camel westward. I tuned the fine adjustment for maximum revs and gave chase, gaining only slightly over the next five minutes. Then the Hun gave up and turned east and I set course to cut him off. He did not see me and I was able to get within mere feet before firing. The triplane zoomed up to the left, streaming smoke. I struggled to follow, for I had blipped my speed away and the Camel was not fond of climbing turns to the left. The Hun pilot must have been wounded, for he next turned eastward and dived for home. In my Camel it took only seconds to turn and dive onto his tail. I fired a long burst and the German machine erupted into flame and fell apart in the same instant. I pulled away to avoid the fluttering debris that littered the sky, and it was then I saw another Camel closing in. It was Woollett. I had a witness for my 55th victory.
"Like a drunken brawl in a docklands side street, with Camels and Fokkers all over the sky."
25 March 1918
Orders have us covering some of the Third Army front, as the situation to our south is grave. All units of the Fifth Army north of the Somme have been placed under Third Army command as our forces are beginning to lose cohesion. To the south, the German advance threatens to split us from our French allies. Shortly before ten, I took a composite patrol of B and C to sweep along what we supposed might be our lines but saw nothing we could engage.
At four I was back in the air, ordered to take down a Hun balloon near Monchy on the Arras front. As we crossed the Hun lines, a very large cloud of Pfalz scouts descended on us from the north and blocked our way. We tore into them with gusto and I had a few very tense minutes indeed. The Pfalzes were well-handled and I took a number of hits before I managed to dive under some other Camels and lose my pursuers, for I had for several minutes three enemy machines on my tail and, because of a broken spar, I dared not turn the Camel as tightly as I wanted to. In the end, I caught one of the Huns in a zoom and set the Pfalz on fire. It was a silver, yellow, and green machine with the new style squared-off black crosses. Banks vouched for the kill, number 56.
"In the end, I caught one of the Huns in a zoom and set the Pfalz on fire."
26 March 1918
Enemy forces are massing this morning west of Bapaume, and we are ordered to sweep the skies over Doullens – Candas of enemy aircraft, which are conducted low-level attacks on our formations. I took an ad hoc group up at ten o’clock. The enemy has penetrated deeply towards Amiens and all our airfield are coming under attack.
We had scarcely passed over the fields at Vert Galant when King signalled that EA were in sight. There, off to the east about a mile and a half, was a cluster of machines, bobbing and weaving like midges on a summer night. I turned us about and gave chase, and before long could make out the distinctive shape of Fokker triplane scouts. The Huns headed east as soon as they saw us, but one stout fellow turned back to harry us. What a wonderful scrap he showed us, twisting and zooming. I took several hits before catching him in a climb and shooting off his right upper wings extension. The machine fell away, but it turned out that our newest squadron member, a young fellow named Alden, gave the telling blow and we were happy to confirm his first victory.
Throughout the day, our squadron sent up low-level offensive patrols over the area of the German advance.
Australian and New Zealand troops have stabilized a line north of Albert, and the crisis on the III Army front is, for the moment, abating.
More news: Foch is now appointed to overall command of all our forces. This was needed.
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