Squardon Commander Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, 19 Victories 1 Rfc Sqn Clarmarais Flanders, France.
July 31, 1918. Assumed Command of the Sqn during Morning Parade. Broke up C flight and scattered the pilots among A and B Flights. This way the Sqn will fly and fight in a 12 a/c group Assigned the Sqn Ace to A Flt while B flight will always leed. In case of combat all a/c are to gang up on the enemy machine when possible. One on One combat is to be avoided. I then tagged along on a Flight after being shown the Taps on the 180 HP SE 5 Viper. Found a Flight of Huns but only 2 came around to attack the other nosed down and went home. The Sqn knocked down both e/a.
Squardon Commander Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, 19 Victories 1 Rfc Sqn Clarmarais Flanders, France.
Aug 1, 1918.
I picked out a New a/c from the stores she's running fine. I like these nose heavy Vipers. Then Hq called and wanted a strike on a Hun AF at Zeldelgem. I led with B flight's 6 bomb carrying a/c. Top Cover would attack with MG's after us. The attack went in at 2500 ft. Good Hits,but we lost 2 a/c both forced down due to ground fire.
March 2 German forces captured Kiev in the Ukraine. March 3 The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Russia and the Central Powers. Russia recognised the independence of Ukraine, Georgia and Finland while handing over Poland and the Baltic States to Germany and Austria-Hungary. March 4 German forces occupied Narva in Estonia. March 5 Representatives from Romania and the Central Powers, Bulgaria and Turkey signed a preliminary peace agreement at Buftea. March 6 Shipping loss figures were released in Britain on the same day as the British steamer HMS Kalgan was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-53. March 7 Germany and Finland signed a peace agreement. March 8 The first case of Spanish influenza was reported. The disease quickly spread and the resulting worldwide epidemic ended up killing more people than the war. March 9 The Marxist revolutionary Georgy Vasilyevich Chicherin was appointed as the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs in Russia. March 10 The British hospital ship HMHS Guildford Castle was torpedoed, but not sunk, by a German U-boat in the Bristol Channel while she was flying the Red Cross flag. March 12 Lenin and the Russian Bolshevik Government left Petrograd for the new capital city of Moscow. March 13 German forces occupied Odessa on the Black Sea. March 14 The Congress of Soviets met at Moscow to ratify the Brest-Litovsk treaty of peace with the Central Powers. March 15 Prince Lichnowsky's pamphlet, which had accused the Russian Government of failing to support him in efforts to avert the war, was published in the Swedish journal Politiken. March 17 On Saint Patrick's Day cartoonist Clifford Berryman published a cartoon depicting Uncle Sam rolling up his sleeves and preparing to use a large club to deal with the many German propagandist snakes slithering in the grass around him. March 18 The Entente Governments issued a Note which formally refused to recognise the German-Russian peace treaty. The Dutch Government accepted the Allied terms for the use of Dutch shipping in United States and Entente ports, with reservations. March 19 President Woodrow Wilson signed up to the Standard Time Act, setting federally mandated time zones across the nation and calling for daylight saving time (DST) to begin on 31 March. March 21 The Second Battle of the Somme was launched as a series of attacks against British forces along the Western Front. The offensive was made up of four separate German attacks, codenamed Michael, Georgette, Gneisenau and Blucher-Yorck launched in that order. March 22 In Operation Michael German forces continued to make gains in the northern sector, capturing Vracourt, Tergnier and the Oise Canal. March 23 The Paris Gun, a German long-range artillery weapon, was used to bombard Paris from 120 km (75 miles) away. German forces continued to press their advantage on the Somme as British troops pulled back. March 24 In the First battle of Bapaume the towns of Peronne and Bapaume were captured by German forces as Operation Michael succeeded in forcing a retreat by the British Army. March 25 In further action during Operation Michael, the town of Noyon was captured by German forces. March 26 The Doullens Conference was held between French and British military leaders in order to better coordinate British and French military operations on the Western Front. March 27 At the Battle of Rosieres the Germans captured the strategically important communications centre of Montdidier. March 28 Under the codename Operation Mars the Germans attacked the southern Arras sector, but were defeated sustaining heavy losses. March 29 A single shell from the Paris Gun hit the roof of the St-Gervais-et-St-Protais Church in Paris whilst a Good Friday service was in progress, collapsing the entire roof on to the congregation and resulting in a high number of casualties. March 30 The First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux saw the renewal of a German assault on the French position on the south of the newly formed Somme salient whilst another attack was launched towards Amiens.
(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys, The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain, From out of my arse take the camshaft, And assemble the engine again."
July 1 The US troop transport ship USS Covington was torpedoed by German submarine U-86 off Brest, France. July 3 Turkish Sultan Mohammed V of the Ottoman Empire died at the Yildiz Palace in Constantinople and was succeeded by his brother, Mohammed VI. July 4 The Battle of Hamel took place. The successful attack was launched by the Australian Corps and American troops against German positions in and around the town of Hamel in northern France. July 5 The Treaty of Bucharest, which had been signed between Romania and the Central Powers in May, was ratified by the Romanian Senate. July 6 Wilhelm von Mirbach, the German ambassador to Russia, was assassinated in Moscow. He was succeeded by Karl Helfferich. July 8 Ernest Hemingway was severely wounded when he carried a fellow worker to safety while working as a Red Cross ambulance driver on the Austro-Italian front. Hemingway was sent home and later received the Italian Silver Medal of Bravery for his heroism. July 9 Paul von Hintze succeeded Richard von Kuhlmann as Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs. July 10 The Russian Constitution was adopted by the Congress of Soviets. July 11 Henry Ford's innovative new type of anti-submarine vessel, the first Eagle class patrol craft was launched in the United States. Prince Wilhelm of Urach was elected King of Lithuania with the regnal name Mindaugas II. July 12 The Imperial Japanese Navy battleship IJN Kawachi sank in Tokuyama Bay after an ammunition magazine exploded. July 13 Turkish forces attacked British positions on the Jordan River and began their final offensive to recover Jericho. July 14 US Air Service pilot and son of former US President Theodore Roosevelt, Quentin Roosevelt was shot down and killed by a German Fokker plane over the River Marne in France. July 15 The Second Battle of the Marne began and marked the final phase of the German Spring Offensive when German divisions attacked French troops. July 16 Austro-Hungarian commander-in-chief Field Marshal Conrad von Hotzendorf was relieved of his command. July 17 In the early hours of the morning, Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their children Alexei, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia were executed together with other members of their household by the Bolsheviks in the town of Ekaterinburg. July 18 A French led counterattack halted the German forward momentum during the Second Battle of the Marne and seized the initiative for the Allies on the Western Front. July 19 The British troopship HMS Justicia was sunk after she was torpedoed by the German submarines UB-64 and UB-124 off the coast of Scotland whilst sailing from Belfast to New York. July 20 The British destroyers HMS Marne, Milbrook and Pigeon attacked UB-124 with depth charges and sank the German submarine with gunfire after she surfaced. July 21 The Attack on Orleans took place when a German U-boat opened fire on the US town of Orleans, Massachusetts and several merchant ships nearby. A tugboat was sunk but the town only sustained minor damage in the naval and aerial action. July 22 The Battle of Soissons between French and American troops and the German armies ended after four days with the Allies recapturing most of the ground lost to the German Spring Offensive in May 1918. July 24 French and American troops advanced south of Ourcq towards Fere-en-Tardenois and along the Marne in the Forest of Fere. July 25 Baron Max Hussarek von Heinlein replaced Ernst Seidler von Feuchtenegg as Prime Minister of Austria. July 26 A coup d'etat overthrew the Bolsheviks in Baku and launched the Battle of Baku between the Ottoman-Azerbaijani coalition forces and Bolshevik forces. The battle was fought as a conclusive part of the Caucasus Campaign. July 28 Allied forces recaptured Fere-en-Tardenois as the northward advance continued from Marne. July 30 General Field Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn was assassinated in Kiev by the Socialist-Revolutionary Boris Mikhailovich Donskoy.
(From The Great War - Unseen Archives by Robert Hamilton)
"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys, The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain, From out of my arse take the camshaft, And assemble the engine again."
Four of us answered an alert to intercept a Rumpler. We found it up near the lines on our side in the midst of white schrapnel bursts and went after it but were jumped by 6 Fokkers, like amateurs. We had a real dust up with the Huns, most of the time just trying to keep them off our tails. One got me pretty good, damaged Babygirl's motor and cut the cable to her left aileron. We went into a spin and he left us alone, too busy with the others to follow us and probably thinking I was done for. I was able to get her out of the spin and when I got though being dizzy, I made my wobbly way, covered in vomit, to Champaubert to get the cable fixed before going home. The Fokker shot through one magneto and one cylinder but that good old Gnome rotary still functioned well enough to get me home. Amazing things! Dewey and the others were mighty pleased to see me when I got in. They thought for sure I was the next one gone west.
The 27th had a peach of a fight with 15 or 16 Huns. They claim five. They lost some of their own, I don’t know how many yet.
Strafing party today. No troops on the roads. Saw no sign of any EA. Attacked a camp where supplies were being loaded up then stumbled onto a Railroad Train with a dozen or so box cars and flat cars attached. Fired all but 200 rounds put lots of holes in the boxcars and engine but no discernible effect exced possibly making the engineer and brakeman fill their lederhosen full of saurkraut.
Many thanks to4L0M for his fine work on the boxcars.
Squardon Commander Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, 19 Victories 1 Rfc Sqn Clarmarais Flanders, France.
Aug 3, 1918.
# 20 ! I took 6 a/c with me on a Offensive Patrol as the weather began to close our sector of operations down. I say, good thing too ! we caught some Huns ( 4 a/c ) by surprise. My target was one that appeared to be heading after a wing mate so broke right and slid right on his tail After a few bursts his wing broke off. The Flight lost 1 SE for 3 e/a. After RTB the Adjutant said that HQ ordered our Sqn Transferred to Fienvillers AF. Nice the Met says 3 to 5 days rain no flying. The a/c will go by road. The rest u s by Horse Wagon.
Rain this morning but did an Infantry Morale Patrol in the afternoon. We passed up and down along our own lines at 600 meters to let the Doughs see us overhead. We were continually Archied and machine gunned from the ground. Hope the mud crunchers got a lot of lift in their morale because these low levels certainly do put our wind up. Saw a formation of Huns above but they didn't try to molest us.
The 27th lost 5 in that dust up with Richthofen's Circus on Thursday. Beauchamp, Sands, Hunt, Martin, and Whiton. (1)
(1) Nieuports were credited to Ltn Ernst Udet, Johannes Jessen, and Egon Koepsch of Jasta 4 and Ltn Richard Wenzl and Vzfw Franz Hemer of Jasta 6.
Dud for flying. Went over to pick up Pup from the Army Vet. She put on a little weight and is much more lively, tail up and wagging, probably didn't think I was coming back. He gave me some pills and a couple of bottles of dip for the mange and skin critters in general, and some general advice, will have to dip her again in 2 weeks. I'll represent it to anyone who asks that the dip is just for fleas. I won't be able to take her back to him, he's returning to his Vet Hospital unit, was just attached to the Battery. Cpt. Johnston wouldn't accept any money, mighty white of him, (1) so I just gave him the other thing I brought to show my appreciation, a piece of the wing fabric from the Albatros I didn't get credit for awhile back. He collects war souvenirs like most of us who can and was very pleased with it. Had me sign it and put the date, place and aircraft type on one corner of the canvas.
Got Pup all settled in, played a bit of tug-of-war with a sock. Dewey warmed up to her now that she's more playful. We talked about her and came up with the idea of presenting her to the boys as a new live mascot for the Squadron, Mickey III, even if she is a girl. That way there'd be someone to look after her if something happens to me.
Nothing on Jack, assuming the worst.
(1) Mighty white of you - an American expression that, at that time, meant "that was very fair of you, thank you."
Whitey led an attack on the enemy balloon line in very bad weather conditions, mixed formation of SPADs and Nieuports. Very difficult to maintain formation because of the different flight characteristics. I stayed up as top cover. We didn’t get any of the sausages, took very heavy Archie fire. On our way back, we saw a lone Fokker below them but Ken spotted 13 more in the sun above us. The Huns were trying to decoy us into a trap. The refueling station at Coicy is operational now.
This pic. shows the new, heavier Archie protection for balloons from OldHats MOD
Got a big pile of mail from home. Clippings from home papers of my first aerial victory back in June. Sounds more heroic than it was. None of my fights have been exactly what you would call heroic, mostly just trying to save my tail and occasionally sneaking up and hitting someone from behind.
Dewey, on the other hand, is brave as a lion, goes right at whatever there is. He’s going to get himself killed if he doesn’t give more respect to the rear gunners on biplace.
Low clouds today but took a trial flight to spot landmarks now that there have been so many changes in the lines over the past week and landed to look at tthe new forward refueling fields. We can still hear the guns, but the Front has been running away so fast we can hardly fine it.
Presented Pup to the mess tonight. Most of them didn't know I had her in quarters with me. Meissner eyed me but didn't make any comment. I put her on the table, introduced her and told her story, leaving out the incriminating details. Everybody agreed that, even though Mickey II was still our mascot, he wasn't here to fill the slot, she would do fine as a #2, even if she was a German...and a #%&*$#. I assured them she was 100% loyal, applause and toasts all around for Mickey III, long may she live. She spent the evening in one lap or another taking tidbits until she looked like a Hun sausage. Threw it all up when I got her back to the shack. She'll spend most of the day in the orderly room with lots of people around and I'll pick her up in the evening.
Squardon Commander Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, 20 Victories 1 Rfc Sqn Fienvillers, AF Flanders, France.
Aug 7, 1918.
Finally, the Sqn was set up. I took 6 a/c with me on a Balloon mission. The boys knock down the gas bag while I stayed high. As we reformed I spotted 2 e/a so led the attack. The flight got 1 Balloon, 2 Recon types. Our losses were 1 SE destroyed + 4 damaged. Mind had holes in the fuel tank so had to put down near a road on our side. Those 2 seat machines are dangerous. Cpt Hoidge led the Sqn on the afternoon Defensive Patrol No contact
Squardon Commander Cyril Woolly, DFC., DSO Maj , Rfc, 20 Victories 1 Rfc Sqn Fienvillers, AF Flanders, France.
I took B flight ( 6 a/c ) and went along on a Bombing mission. I say, not to shabby a job. I stayed high and bounced a 5 a/c flight of Huns so the boys could gain height. No score for me,but the flight knocked down 2 for loosing 1 SE.
We crossed the lines to attack the verdammt Amerikaner who have just established themselves at Gengoult Aerodrome, near Toul. We caught a flight of them as they were taking off and massacred four of them, two of which were mine. We will make the interfering Swine wish they had not come here! They are flying some sort of new rotary engine plane, perhaps a new version of Nieuport.
Dud for flying, rain and storms. A big black storm blew up in the afternoon, did some damage around the aerodrome but no planes damaged.
One of our 2 missing months pay arrived today. Some fool paymaster has it all balled up. The whole crowd was getting penniless, or rather centimeless. Even I wasn't as flush as usual and even more so after everyone hit me up for a loan. I've gotten partial payment on some of the I.O.U.s but I'm not going to try to dunn anybody, maybe after the next month's back pay shows.
Pup spent her first day in the orderly room, or most of the day. She was so exhausted after all the activity there and all the attention she was getting, that I took her back in the afternoon so she could rest. She's out of it now and snoring.
Thursday, August 8th 1918
Fog in the morning and heavy, low clouds all day. The only thing going was Alert, which the 95th pulled today. With the weather and the Front 80km away, it was a mere formality. Any German would be long gone before we got there.
Jack Steven's wrecked plane found near Mereuil by groundpounders, but no body or grave. Believed to be POW (1)
Dodd’s plane was reported found 2 km west of Dormans. (2) Meissner and Brew loaded a casket, cross and digging equipment on one of the Fiat trucks, Dewey and I hopped in the back and we took off on the Chateau-Thierry – Dormans road.
We found the crash site in an orchard between the railroad and main highway. The Germans had taken the rudder with it’s number #6210 and nailed to a nearby tree. They were in retreat and probably in a hurry but they took the time to strip him naked and leave the body in a nearby depression in the ground. Guess they could have done worse. He was badly torn up but we recognized him by his red hair. Awful sight that I'll never forget.
We dug a grave in the mud next to the tree and gave him as proper a burial as we were able. After we covered him we placed the cross, marked with his name and organization. I took the Mickey off the right side of his Nieuport and nailed it to the tree under the rudder. Brew searched the wreck and found his overseas cap under the cushion, hope never to see a man cry like that again.
(1) 2nd Lt. John H. 'Jack' Stevens fell victim to Ltn Emil Rolff of Jasta 6. His grave was found by burial parties after the war between Chateau-Thierry and Dormans.
(2) 1st Lt. Daniel W. 'Dodd' Cassard, shot down July 16th, possibly by Ltn Walter Blume of Jasta 9.
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