The continuing service of Albert "Mushroom" Ward:



10 Feb 1917 @ 07h01 Escort 4 B.E. 2c from RFC-34 out of Villers-Bretonneux to South of Vitry

A couple of new men have joined the squadron. Scudmore flew as my wingman this morning. And Flt. Lt. Collishaw lead “A” flight as top cover.

I lead the flight with Travers and Scudmore accompanying. “A” flight sent Collishaw, Fall, Rochford, Whealy and Mulock to follow as top cover. We had clear skies with some scattered cumulous at high alt well above 10,000 ft. We met up with the B.E. 2’s of RFC-34 just west of Courcelles on the way to the lines. We crossed the lines at 5000 ft headed ENE in the direction of the Hun airfield at Epinoy. It was a quiet venture as the Hun failed to send up any greetings. We circled south of Marais de Saudemont as the B.E.’s did their thing below us. I spotted some flak in the east at what I estimated to be around 8000 ft. and was able to pick out five specks in the distance which I suspected was “A” flight flying interference for us. Not too long after I spotted 5 more specks at a slightly higher altitude due south of “A” flight but they did not engage and kept their distance. We circled a couple more times and by now we were being earnestly chased by flak. As our B.E.’s turned for home I spotted a single aircraft diving down towards them and so looking up I could see nothing but my upper wings. I banked hard and spotted 4 huns coming down on us. I suspected these were the same Huns that were staying clear of “A” flight and now I could see no sign of “A” flight and didn’t for the rest of the mission. We scrambled hard for position. Two came down on my tail and Scudmore was there to break things up. In the end I took 43 hits to my wings fuselage and engine cowl and rudder but somehow my Pup stayed together although I had to compensate for her want to swing to port. I suspected my rudder was slightly damaged. Scudmore and I downed an Alb DII each. But the other albs and the rest of our flight had broken up and we didn’t see them again. In fact I lost contact with Scudmore and so turned for home chasing down the one Alb I downed. He didn’t see me coming up behind his as he was focused on part of my flight in the distance. I was so ticked off at all the damage I had taken that I took it out on a Hun balloon that was in my path on the way home and sent it down in flames. When I made it back to Vert Galand I saw the rest of my flight in process of landing. The Rudder on my Pup made landing tricky but she set down nicely behaving herself.

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