My fifth 'show' in my campaign with No. 2 Squadron comes on 13 January 1916. We're tasked to spot for the artillery over the front just east of our aerodrome at Hesdigneul. I reduce to 5% the fuel load of the other BE2c's assigned to my flight so I will quickly be alone - apart from the single Bristol Scout that 'A' Flight is putting up, not as an escort but to provide general cover.
I spend a short time climbing to the west...
...then reverse my course and fly east, passing over our airfield on the way.
Then we settle into the long, slow climb towards the Lines.
I make no apologies for including several pics of this uneventful part of the flight. In particular, the latest WoFF terrain is just brilliant and really worth showcasing.
Hang on - what are those two aircraft, over there on the right? They're not being fired on, so perhaps they're ours. Perhaps not, though. I decide to take a closer look.
My suspicions are soon confirmed.They're Huns - Avatiks, I think. I chase after them, in an effort to interest my observer in having a pop at them.
A few rounds are exchanged, but with no particular speed advantage, my efforts to criss-cross under them result in us barely keeping up, all the while going in the wrong direction for our assigned task.
The Gunners will not be pleased if we fail to show up. So I leave the Aviatiks and fly the mission, which is uneventful.
Not so our next hop. this comes on the 14th, and is a reconnaisance job. Again, I cut the fuel of the second assigned BE and am left with the 'A' Flight Bristol, who goes his own way while I'm climbing out.
If I'd known what was going to happen, I'd have been happy to have another BE with me!
...to be continued!