15 June, 1916 06:30 morning mission
Senard, Verdun Sector
Escadrille N37
Capitaine Gaston A. Voscadeaux
41 confirmed kills

Gaston left Vouillermoz behind in his slow Bebe and climbed to altitude above Souilly aerodrome, their assigned patrol area. The weather was still volatile, but with some improvements over the past few days. The blue skies could be seen from time to time, but mostly everything was wrapped in a grey wool cloud sweater. It was while flying through these thick clouds that Gaston noticed the German machine on its way to bomb who knows what. The very same clouds also concealed Gaston from the Hun's beady eyes and allowed Voscadeaux to sneak up behind and attack in complete surprise. It was the Whale with its dangerous gunner perched atop the machine like some kind of a dung beetle protecting his manure ball. After Gaston’s surprise attack the Hun pilot threw his machine into a downward spiral to throw the French scout off, but despite these violent maneuvers Gaston was able to keep up in his Pig. The desperation grew in the cockpit of the Teutonic two-seater and his driver made an attempt to bolt for the lines but the Pig was able to keep up. They were now over the Argonne Forest with No Man’s Land laceration visible ahead. Gaston wasn’t gaining and the status quo would not do for the French Ace. He shot a few desperate rounds ahead without expecting them to hit anything but it worked. The Boche was spooked by the tracers whizzing by and banked to avoid being a “sitting duck”. But that was Gaston's plan all along, he closed the distance and carefully crept behind and under the Hun. The Lewis gun above Gaston barked and the slugs it just launched bit into the Roland’s skin and its hart, the engine. A trail of vapour began to emanate from the wounded machine. Voscadeaux made another attempt on the crippled bus. Another long burst from the top plane-mounted machine gun. The Walfisch was on fire and losing altitude fast but the gunner still tried to hit the French plane. Still defending his ball of manure. Voscadeaux looked on as the Hun drove his flaming plane into the trees below. Oddly enough there was no explosion. The forest swallowed the German contraption without a sign other than a dark column of smoke.
It was time to get back home and Gaston took a look around to get his bearings. He noticed an airplane in the distance. “- Good, Vouillermoz had witnessed the kill.” Gaston flew toward his wingman, except ... Vouillermoz had only one set of wings! Another Hun! Gaston easily maneuvered on his tail and fired. The Eindecker was a tough nut and his squirrelly flying wasted a lot of Voscadeaux’s ammo. As Gaston fired his last bullet another Fokker joined the fight. Gaston was in trouble. He was jockeying for position with this new Hun and at the same time watching the other one slink away. "- Lucky son of a Boche!", Gaston thought as he watched him disappear in the distance. This new Hun was not very skilled and Gaston easily kept out of his guns’ range. In fact, he climbed onto his back and kept him in his gun sight. The Boche knew he was beaten and stopped any further maneuvering. Gaston had to let him go. The Hun could not believe his luck and eagerly disengaged. Voscadeaux watched in anger as the Boche ran for the lines. Gaston flew alone toward Senard. S.Lt. Vouillermoz probably had another excuse.



15 June, 1916 14:20 afternoon mission
Senard, Verdun Sector
Escadrille N37
Capitaine Gaston A. Voscadeaux
41 confirmed kills
Awaiting 1 claim confirmation

B Flight
Cap. Voscadeaux
Cpl. Garrigou

The sector west of Bechamps was in need of arty spotting and it was up to Voscadeaux and Garrigou to escort the Nieuport 12 there. While the observation machine continued to range the Escadrille 37 pilots came in contact with a pair of Fokkers. The mad circling to get on the opponent’s tail commenced. Garrigou latched onto one of them while Gaston struggled with the other one. As Voscadeaux followed his target he could see the smoke rising from a crater over which Garrigou was triumphantly hovering. He then came over to help Gaston and damaged the monoplane at which point Gaston put the finishing touches to force the Hun to land in NML, SW of Spincourt. The battle was over and each man claimed one Fokker after returning to Senard.



"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."