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Albert Earl Godfrey

16 Apr 1917 @ 06h01 Patrol to our lines east of Thelus

Scott called a briefing at 05h00 to identify the nature of the morning mission.
News had come in from the 1st Canadian Division, 2nd Can Inf. Bge, 2nd Can Machine Gun COY around the vicinity of Thelus, that three enemy Obs aircraft were observed plying up and down their lines reconnoitering. Given that the Vimy offensive had just completed, the 1st. Canadian Division was anxious to keep the Huns blindsided while they consolidated their position. Our task was to drive them down or off.

We were advised that we would have wind of 8 kn from the SSW with thick billowing cumulous cloud cover from 3,000 to 13,000 ft. The chances of spotting enemy craft would be slim to none unless conditions improved.

“A” flight was assigned top cover and composed of Caldwell, Bishop, Rutherford and Youg. “B” flight leader was to be Godfrey and composed of Clinton on wing, Scott, Fry, Horn and Pope.

Both flights set out at o6h01 to form up north of the field. Upon achieving an altitude of 12,800 ft at 06h34, Godfrey lead the flight on to Neuville-Saint- Vaast, still not above the prevailing cloud cover and therefore in and out of the muck, trying to maintain formation. At 06h39 they were over Saint-Vaast and approaching the Lens-Arras road. Observing a good sized pocket of clear weather below, Godfrey began a descent. As they crossed the Lens-Arras road, Godfrey noticed “A” flight beating a hasty descent on his port side. Glancing over and down he spotted three specs on a southward course about 2000 ft below. He quickly waggled his wings and joined the chase that “A” flight had begun.

Godfrey latched on to the rear most craft that turned out to be a Roland CII, strafed him from the rear on a diving pass, came up under him again and continued the pursuit. He sent several more volleys into the elusive pray as the Hun threw his craft into evasive maneuvers and dove towards the clouds below. Godfrey was not so willing to give up the chase and entered into the cloud bank straining his eyes for a sign of his foe. As he broke out of the clouds he was down to 2900 ft and circled, searching anxiously for a sign of the Roland. He spotted Saint-Vaast close by and then caught a glimpse of movement below. It was the Hun spiraling down. Godfrey maintained eye contact, ready to pounce if the Roland should level out and make a run for it. It did not. It crashed into the earth below sending up a billowing brown cloud of smoke and dust. Godfrey glanced around, took note of the time 06h39, and then began a climb out. During the climb he noted two aircraft mixing it up only a short distance away and so he investigated. It was another Roland and one of his squad mates, Scott. As the Roland began to fly in his direction, Godfrey turned into the Huns port side and strafed him. He was about to pursue in earnest when he heard Scott’s gun firing, so he pulled up and to port to avoid any possible collision and just watched as Scott dispatched the Hun.

Godfrey became somewhat concerned when he observed that Scott did not immediately pull up to rejoin. He seemed to be having some difficulty with his mount. Godfrey pursued Scott, saying close until he was able to determine that Scott could properly regain altitude. The rest of the flight was beginning the circling to reform and so Godfrey and Scott rejoined and headed back to base. It was 06h53 when the flight passed over Camblain L’Abbe at 9,700 ft.
They all made it back to Filescamp at 06h57 safely, albeit Scott had suffered light damage to his craft in combat with the Roland and it would require 2 days to repair. Horn’s craft was in worse shape with heavy damage that would take 3 days to put back in flying order. Both Scott and Godfrey put in claims.

Bishop of “A” flight shot down the last Roland of the three and both Caldwell and Rutherford confirmed the kill.

All three Rolands fell close to Saint-Vaast near our balloon installation and the wreckage of the three was investigated.

There was considerable celebration in the mess that night and very few clear heads the next morning.