NR - Baptiste is struggling with the boredom but at least he's had a run in with Maria, and found out the reason for her enforced absence. She's worried about him, not surprisingly as that's twice she's met him in the hospital. Then some good news from the Escadrille, hopefully he'll be flying a shiny new XIII when he gets out.
Major Kevin Carroll, DSO, MC, DFC 64 Squadron Izel-les-Hameux
81 confirmed kills (awaiting two confirmations)
2nd August 1918
Morning sortie
Late last night Lieutenant Paddock's body was returned to the squadron. Kevin arranged for a simple burial service later on today after the day's flying.
Kevin took the briefing and explained that 'B' flight would be heading towards Arras again to keep the pressure on the boche in that area. 'A' flight were patrolling further north towards Bethune.
The weather had not improved at all and in fact had gotten worse. Strong winds now accompanied the rain and thick clouds.
'B' flight took off and headed south east, they were carried along by the driving rain but Kevin knew they'd be fighting against the same wind coming home.
The journey went quietly enough until they were above Arras. Kevin saw a formation of dark specks ahead of him. As he approached he could see they were battleship grey colour...... Pfalzs.
The enemy aircraft swung around and headed towards 'B' flight and were roughly the same height.
Kevin didn't need to signal, 'B' flight were ready and the two formations clashed.
As Kevin came around to the right he looked behind and saw he had two of the boche scouts on his six.
He dived down and pulled away from them. The Pfalz's followed him but we're dropping further behind. Kevin decided enough was enough and swooped around and straight into the oncoming Huns. He blasted one of them as he raced past and looped around onto his tail. The speed of his movements took both Germans completely by surprise.
He lined up on the enemy aircraft and poured a long burst into him. The Pfalz spouted thick smoke and then burst into flames.
Kevin watched it going down into the ground. He now looked for the other Pfalz and duly found it trying to run for home. He throttled up and raced after the Hun and caught up above the lines.
He fired both weapons into the enemy aircraft and although his lewis ran dry and the Hun tried to climb away, he hit him again with the vickers. The Pfalz spluttered and then burst into flames.
The German became a torch in the murky grey as it headed down into the ground.
Kevin took stock and didn't see any other enemy aircraft, he formed up with a couple of nearby SE's and together they headed home.
They landed safely as the remaining SE's were also looking to land. Kevin found that four Pfalzs had been downed and only one SE had been damaged.
Afternoon sortie (awaiting four confirmations)
Kevin had received a phone call shortly after lunch. It had been headquarters, who had requested that 64 bring down an enemy balloon which was causing a nuisance over the lines due east of them.
No improvement in the weather made the tactics very simple. Go and hit the balloon and get the hell back. Kevin made this perfectly clear to Captain Rose and Lieutenant Cowlishaw.
The trio headed off east and thankfully the journey out went without incident. As they neared the lines they started descending down towards the balloon.
Kevin lined up using the Aldis sight and raked the balloon with a long accurate burst. A pillar of smoke poured out of the gasbag as Kevin hit it again. Lieutenant Cowlishaw also fired into the balloon which erupted in a ball of flame.
The trio turned and headed home with flak bursts nudging them that bit quicker.
On landing Kevin confirmed that Lieutenant Cowlishaw was to claim the balloon.
A little while later the Adjutant Captain Ripley confirmed all four of Kevin's claims. It appeared the two claims from yesterday had been seen by ground forces in the area they fell. These brought Kevin's total to 85.
The funeral for Lieutenant Paddock took place a short while later. He was laid to rest in the small field at the back of the far hanger. A small firing party finished proceedings together with a rendition of Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest".
"A great deal of an aeroplane could be holed without affecting its ability to fly. Wings and fuselage could be—and often were—pierced in 50 places, missing the occupants by inches (blissfully unaware of how close it had come until they returned to base). Then the sailmaker would carefully cover each hole with a square inch of Irish linen frayed at the edges and with a brushful of dope make our aircraft 'serviceable' again within an hour."
