homepage Forums Air Combat & Civil Aviation Wings: Over Flanders Fields The "DiD Campaign Revival" - Intro, Rules, Reports & Records Chart

They were there since April 1916, yes.

First things first. Congratulations to the flyers who have make the 25 Hour mark! It is something for us to shoot for. LtCasey. Man, its bad enough to be taken out by the enemy, but your on squadmates. Whew.

Sub Flight Lt. Edward Eastwood.
Aug. 3, 1916
Dawn patrol: Arty spotting. 2 machines. CO says this is a speciall assignment. (Kind of feel like Crawford and Uncle in Aces High). Flight to target was uneffentfull except for some Avitacks and EIII's northwest of Armentieres. They keep to their job so we keep to ours. As we start our spotting, 3 HA close in from the west. Ashby dives in and I stay high to judge. As they pass under us I roll over and get behind one and send it down. Climbing back up a Hun crosses my path and with a few bursts explodes into a ball of flame and wreckage. Ashby is no where to be seen and this being a special assignment, I finish the spotting and head home. Ashby came in shortly after.

Evening Patrol: Bomb Harbourdin airbase. 5 machines and 6 escorts. Turner dropped out with engine trouble. The rest make it to target and unload. Light Archie. All safe Back at base. CO says "Good Show!"

Offzstv. Bernhard Harms, Kasta 18, Pronville, 3. August 1916

Yesterday we had failed to reconnoitre an area south of Mercatel, so we had to do it again today.
We were instructed to bring back photos of all new trenches and other installations - it was very
important, and so I led 3 Rolands to the front at 6 h in the morning.
As usual we climbed over "Lake Teardrop" near Epinoy, before we headed west. The weather was fine,
and so I climbed to 3000 Meter. When we arrived, we saw not a single plane in the whole area.
Were we too early for the Englishmen? Not really - their Flak began barking at us, as soon as we
arrived over the recon area - as I said: it must have been important!

We were so wonderfully alone up there, that I did it right this time - we flew 5 times over the
'target' - then my observer, Lt. Klein, clapped on my shoulder; I turned round and he showed me
a thumb-up. Pictures made, notes noted, back to have breakfast.

Only when we turned to fly home, three distant specs appeared from the north. They recieved no
British Flak, and so I decided to dive away. With over 200 km/h we performed our "back-to-base"
rush, and the specs didn't even try to follow - or they hadn't seen us.
Scrambled eggs with crispy bacon, self-baked bread, butter, marmalade and a freshly brewed coffee
tasted better after the early-morning cold up there than anything I had ever eaten before.

Good job Olham!

Crashes with squadmates remind of NASCAR restarts.
Everybody is in a hurry. I like to do a checklist and brief than RL warmup of the engine.

Good Job Olham!

I'll be flying with Squirrly Shirley later this week. She is crazy dancing mate.

LtCasey, there were American volunteers scattered throughout the French units in 1915 and 1916 before and after the formation of the Escadrille Américaine, so it would be historically accurate to pick pretty much any one you would like to fly in. I am personally a big fan of 67.

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Congratulations all on the latest bling, well deserved to be sure. Now how about those drinks!

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A toast to all the fine aeronauts who are still flying and another to those who have departed, and one again for those who have acquired new bling!

Olham, your screen shot compositions are impeccable but do not come close to your descriptive phrases of breakfast (Drool, Drool). I think I will refrain from reading your reports until after I have eaten mine!

The continuing career of Albert "Mushroom" Ward:



4 Aug 1916 @ 07h22 Bombing of Nieumunster aerodrome


The C.O called Ren Hill and myself into his office and informed us that Hill was being promoted to Squadron Commander and I am being promoted to Flight Commander. He also said that both of us are being awarded the DSO.

Hill lead the flight with myself and Parsons accompanying. The sky was primarily clear with scattered cumulous. We had 8 km winds from the SSW. “A” flight sent 3 Strutters as follow up cover. One of them had engine trouble and returned to base.
The flight was uneventful until we approached Nieumunster and then we ran into a gaggle of EIII’s. Hill signalled to engage and we began the dance. At the end of it three of them fell to my guns. Soar and Chadwick of “A” flight accounted for three more.

We returned to base without completing the bomb run as there were more EIII’s approaching from a distance. There will be some partying in the mess tonight.



YouTube Video:



4 Aug 1916 @ 15h41 Bombing enemy front lines East of Ypres.

I was selected to lead the flight…..alone! Well not exactly, "A" flight sent one Strutter to follow up. They must have a lot of confidence in my bombing capabilities or someone up there wants to get rid of me. The flight was quiet and uneventful until I approached the line. Suddenly I saw two EIII’s approaching me and set on getting the advantage. I circled and looked for an opportunity to pounce. One came and I sent 7 shots into the EIII and broke away to look for his buddy. I saw Shook from “a” flight tangling with the other one so I looked around to see if there were any more undesirable company and spotted two more above and coming our way. Very shortly four more showed on the horizon and that was all I needed to see to decide to run for home. One followed me all the way across the lines. When I reached De Blankaart lake I turned to face him and we circled each other, neither one gaining advanctage until he turned and ran for home. I chased him a bit but he had the height and speed so I let him go and returned to base.
The C.O. indicated that three of my claims had been confirmed but he was disappointed with the results of the bombing run and said we will have to try it again.

YouTube Video: No Video

Thought you were a gonner on landing Mushroom!! Your mate almost pancaked you. Congratulations on the promotion. Keep it up.

Yes, but I have a horse shoe in my room for luck! Maybe I should take it with me!

Thank you Herr Olham . Good luck with Esc Lafayette Lt Casy.

Good flying Mr Mushroom. However, Beware of the Hun in the Sun or a Hun with a Gun or Rock

http://youtu.be/mF4wIQt6vhw

Carrick; valuable points you raise sir! I must say that with Ankors shadow mod on, I have had a few instances where sun reflection off my windscreen almost blinds me and obscures my opponent with the dazzle. How realistic is that!

I never seem to check my six enough IMHO! I've been lucky but that will not always be the case.

I like the vid you listed. It brought back memories of the film.

New beginnings and a narrowly escaped death for Sgt. Alan 'Cam' Mardling formerly of RFC-15.
After much intimidation at the hands of the Huns, I've moved to my new home a few miles west of Marieux at Fienvillers/Candas, SW of Vert Galand, flying for RFC-19 in the familar but new BE12 fighter variant.



My first sortie with the lads was rewarding and terrifyingly troubling.

We took off and formed up NE of the airfield, then followed the road N of Doullens towards Arras.
Mission for a Offensive Patrol behind enemy lines, targeting the German Airfield at Lagnicourt.
We had a good sized flight of seven machines, five of us in echelon left (myself as tail end) and two more just behind and above us. Sgt. Augustus Henry Orlebar flew high above us lone wolf and left out some time before we moved in (to arouse the interest of the Huns no doubt.) We crossed the lines at 10,000ft just as he was headed back and as we neared the airfield, our flight leader Lt. Phillip Schellden signaled the attack, spotting two Fokker machines circling down to land.

He and the lads dove sharply, myself and gents to my rear came down less aggressively and I watched the initial meeting. Lt. Schellden made a pass at the nearest Fokker, who saw the attack at the last minute and broke into a tight turn. By then two others tailed him and put rounds into him. I saw an opening and made a pass, hitting him and he went into a tight turn, seemingly losing power, and went down crashing between two rows of trees a short way from his field. I leveled out and starting looking, for had by now lost sight of the lads. I quickly saw one and dove to form up, and on his lead we headed back towards the lines for home.

What followed was idiots luck. As we made our way away from the scene I noticed the remaining Fokker force land just left of his field in a grassy area and could see no other machines around, so I focused mostly on maintaining formation. A few moments in, I heard something ( presumably Flak ) but looked and could see no sign of it. Dropped a bit away from my winger so I throttled up and got back to his side. Heard a pop, looked around, and saw nothing. Seconds later, like ghosts from the other side, Two huns right behind us maybe 50-100 yards. Breaking sharply, I went to the left and around they came after me, ignoring my winger who seemed to miss the predicament set upon me.

After a very tense, short combat with them, I sent one down smashing into the ground, and the other broke off and headed home, I assume due to my height advantage. We parted ways and I made my way home, landed and counted my lucky stars.

I recorded the encounter and upon review(Look at 7:42), the Fokkers came up from behind and below.

They are clearly visible in my view several times, but I somehow never caught it. They were behind me long enough to send me down thrice over. I confused his shape with my tail section. A mistake i'll not make again when cking 6.

I submitted my claims and received immediate confirmation (odd I thought).
Hope my senses don't fail me again. This easily should have been the end of Sgt. Mardling.

Cheers lads,
Off to the mess for chow and then some R&R.

Salut

missions 3&4 with 19 RFC.

First was a loooong Patrol ourside. Nothing seen till I give the order to land and then 2 Rolands show up. Put the wind up one forcing him to leave, crashed the other one...but no claim allowed ?????

Second my first sausage run. Wingman and I dash over low (not good) and find the thing. We dive on the Bag and my damn vickers jams....wingman gets the credit.

Have to say that the scout pilot has a lot more freedom and can decide to fly where and for how long you want. My 2-seater missions were much shorter...and with good reason too.

Thx Lou for the heads up!

It seems the BE12 'fighter' was nothing but a BE2 with a fuel tank where the observer/gunner had sat. It was actually designed as a long-range reconaissance aircraft and was far too stable to be a fighter. Withdrawn from France very quickly for training in England. The most memorable thing one did was to shoot down a Zeppelin later in the war.

All: After my last pilot died due to a friendly collision (that makes two this campaign!), I've learned to keep your friends close. Just not too close.



Squad: RNAS-5
Aeroplane: Sopwith 1.5 Strutter No. 674
Name: Flight SubLt. Dudley Doorite
Observer: Lieutenant Eric Askew

Date: 03 August 1916
Time: 8h16m
Duty: Bomb front lines east of Ypres
Lead: Flight Lt Parker

Hostiles Encountered: About 5 EA Fokker Eindeckers

Narrative: Flight of four took off at 8.16, weather clear with cumulus clouds. Encountered and escorted by 5 Airco DH.2s towards Ypres. At Ypres, Flt Lt. Parker noticed a number of EAs at lower altitude and signalled pursuit. Came in behind one Eindecker and fired a number of shots into its fuselage. Other than veering away, no clear sign of damage and ultimately overshot ditto. Joined fight of about 3 on 3 over friendly trenches and saw one hostile fall. Fired into second aircraft, no obvious damage.

Lost sight of FA or EA and returned to base without further incident.

Claims: None.

---------------
Time: 16h03m
Duty: Bomb target east of Armentieres
Lead: Flight Lt Gamm

Narrative: Flight of six took off at 16.03, weather clear with cumulus clouds. Passed over lines without incident, dropping ordinance on enemy troops east of Armentieres from about 9,000 feet. Encountered no appreciable resistance and returned without incident.

---------------
Date: 04 August 1916
Time: 6h43m
Duty: Bomb rails at Vimy Junction
Lead: Flight Lt Parker

Hostiles Encountered: Two flights totaling 5 EA Fokker Eindeckers

Narrative: Flight of five took off at 6.43, weather clear with cumulus clouds. One turned back due to engine trouble. Over forest near Strazeele, flgiht leader climbed and engaged two Eindeckers. Gave chase and engaged one EA, who retreated east. Pursued into no-man's land and fired at 150-300 yards until drum was empty. EA seriously damaged and having trouble maintaining altitude, but refused to land. Passed hostile and Observer Lt. Askew fired a number of bursts until aeroplane crashed.

Rejoined group, now numbering three including self, who continued east towards Vimy. Encountered three Eindeckers climbing rapidly to engage. I attacked, hoping to use Lt. Askew's gun to distract the enemy and relieve pressure on my team. Eindeckers broke contact and we chose not to pursue. Crossed lines and landed at La Gorgue, then continued home.

Claims: (1) Fokker E.III, witnessed by Flight Lt. Parker, believed downed/destroyed in No Man's Land east of Strazeele

Wow, I sleep one night, and - whopper! - there are a dozen of new reports, pics and videos!
Great stuff guys - the greatest is always to see, when you still made it.

Lou, I had recommended "Escadrille Lafayette", because I had thought they were listed under
"USA" - so LtCasey could later continue in any official American unit.
But that is not the case.
I checked it and found the Escadrille Lafayette in the "French" airservice.

Did anyone ever try to transfer from one nationality to another?
I guess it wouldn't be possible, or would it?

So, what could we do here? Any ideas?

Some of the Escadrille Lafayette US pilots stayed in the French service throughout the war. Some transferred to the USAS like Lufberry but only once the US had joined the war. I think with the RFC pilots it was somewhat different because to get around the rules of neutrality they were 'officially' Canadians though they never tried to hide the fact that they weren't. Example is Bill Lambert DFC of 24 RFC who was 'demobbed' from the RAF in 1919. He joined up in Canada and was trained there. This most likely saved his life as the training in England was useless compared to that given in Canada. This explains why so many Canadians became aces and so many English pilots were cannon fodder.
The US pilots on the French side joined the Foreign Legion first before becoming pilots so were 'officially' French.

Note that in WWII when the training was good on both sides of the Atlantic the Canadians did well, but not so overwhelmingly well as they did in the First War. And then many British pilots were trained in Canada and the USA (and other places like South Africa with better weather for training).

Catknight - after being taken out by my own wingman (never saw him) and lucky to crash wounded I avoid my own flight like the plague! Normally 500ft higher and off to one side so I can keep an eye on them