À la Recherche du Temps Perdu - Part 108



1 October 1918
No. 24 Squadron RAF
Cappy, France

Balloon strafes all morning. The Huns put up fierce anti-aircraft fire and winched their dirigibles safely down with amazing speed. Naught to show for a hard morning’s work. Geraghty fired on a parachuting observer, ventilating the canopy, and hastening the Hun’s descent. With luck the fellow broke a leg.

Tomorrow we shall have these wretched gasbags!

More low attacks and strafing this afternoon. All aircraft and pilots back safely.



2 October 1918
No. 24 Squadron RAF
Cappy, France

7.00 B and C Flights up for the dawn strike on the marshaling yards north of Busigny. I went with Barton and C Flight in the strike group. Longton and B Flight flew high cover.

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No. 24 Squadron on a fine October morning

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Left the marshaling yard ablaze then set off in search of new mischief

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MG nest dealt with; the advance could continue.

Finished my report then saw Hazell and A Flight off at 10.00. Their mission: Destroy the Kaiser’s balloons.
Giving the bag a good hiding passes the worrisome time waiting for a patrol. Up to an hour now but I’m not yet back to where I was before those Greentails shot me. We’re not done, Jasta 5 and I. There will be a final reckoning.

A flight returned after a successful outing. Hazel and Sterling each sent a balloon down in flames. Barton and Geraghty teamed up to destroy a third.

All three balloons confirmed. The squadron tally for this year now stands at 198.
Colonel Cairnes telephoned passing on the thanks of IX corps commander for destroying the balloons. He also gave warning that we will move to Bouvincourt sometime in the next few days.

Caught up on the latest Comic Cuts…

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Freddy has the VC! I stood the squadron to a round of drinks and we drank his health.

I must drop in on him sometime. If only he were closer than Fienvillers.


3 October 1918
No. 24 Squadron RAF
Cappy, France

Sent Lt. Young, our Equipment Officer and Sgt. Major Schofield to Bouvincourt to scout the new location.

9.00 A & C flights would pay a call on the Hun aerodrome at Liermont, then separate.
C Flight attacking ground targets, A Flight hunting balloons.

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Not our best work on the aerodrome. No sense wasting bullets on an empty landing ground.

More important targets beckoned.

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I don’t know how my bullets missed the machine gunners. Powerful gods protect the Huns as well.

We traded lead twice to no effect. On my third pass through the lists I missed once again. The Boche made no vain cast. Climbing away, a metallic clank sounded in the engine. The acrid smell of radiator water filled my nostrils as steam poured out of the engine.

Throttled back and with a weather eye on the rising temperature gauge, I made for Moislans aerodrome and landed just as the Wolseley seized up tight.

Major Donald Fasken Stevenson, OC No. 20 Squadron gave me use of the telephone then treated me to an excellent breakfast of bacon, eggs, a deliciously creamy dish of roasted potatoes, and scones with a local berry jam. The good company and delicious meal swept away any dark thoughts toward the flieger of Jasta 5. There would be time enough for that later.

Corporal Chorley arrived in the Shelsley along with a repair crew in a lorry. I was back at Cappy by 11.00.

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B Flight flew the early afternoon patrol. A brief fight over enemy lines. Barton dove a Fokker down damaged. Nobody saw it crash so it remained indecisive. Worse, Carpenter did not return. Nobody saw him go down. I can only hope he force landed and was made prisoner.

A Flight had the evening patrol. Sterling is dead.

He was flying with Southey, shooting up transports at Villers Outreau.

Southey’s face was grim as I pressed him for the details.

“After we strafed ground targets for awhile, I climbed to 3000 feet, Sterling following below me. An archie unit fired one shell which burst just below his aircraft. He must have been killed instantly. His machine dropped suddenly, nose first, and crashed into a trench.”

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I shall have little sleep tonight. Sterling dead. Carpenter down in Hunland, fate unknown. I do hate writing these letters.



4 October 1918
No. 24 Squadron RAF
Cappy, France


Major O’Hara Wood of 46 Sqn. died today in a collision with Lt. Saunders 14,000 feet over St. Quentin. A disastrous time for 46 to lose their Commanding officer and a seasoned pilot.

B flight Southey & Crossen each drove a Hun down damaged. Unfortunately, neither Hun was seen to crash and were not confirmed. Hazell crashed two Fokkers east of Beaurevoir. Both confirmed. 200 Victories for 1918! I thought it appropriate that it was Hazell who scored the 200th.

At last, something to celebrate.

Colonel Cairnes was our guest for dinner. He made a fine speech of congratulation for the Squadron’s 200th Hun.



5 October 1918
No. 24 Squadron RAF
Cappy, France

Continued preparations for the move to Bouvincourt made for a busy day. Patrols continue. More low attacks.

Change of plans at the last minute from 22nd Wing. We will move tomorrow but to Athies, not Bouvincourt. Red Tabs! All that advanced preparation wasted. We’re behind now and the other ranks will burn the midnight oil to be ready.



6 October 1918
No. 24 Squadron RAF
Athies, France

Our new home. Menzies struck his face on the gun butt during a rough landing and is off to hospital. No other incidents. We’re short of pilots as it is.
We need to settle in and get flying quickly. Fourth Army's drive toward Le Cateau begins in two days.

Last edited by epower; 02/05/25 04:37 AM.