15 October 1914

The entire front has closed down again. To the north lies a heavy overcast and rain. The Marne and Verdun regions are silent, with a heavy fog lying everywhere. Even it anyone could fly there's nothing to see.

16 October 1914

While the Verdun sector is still fogged in, to the north the rain has lifted a little

Saint-Omer, No 3 Squadron
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1023: Capt Williamson and I took a familiarization flight around the area. North to the coast and Dunkerque, then south to Clety and back to our field. I hadn't realized just how big the Saint-Omer complex is. It's HUGE!! Hangars everywhere, around thirty BEs parked or flying. It's an interesting place. 1 hour 24 minutes."

Saint-Omer, No 4 Squadron
Ries Meismer writes: "0906: Orientation flight east to Boulogne-Sur-Mer, up the coast and around to Calais, then home again. We are at the Saint-Omer extension, which is at the west end of a very large field. The main base is at the east end, with the hangars being about a half-mile apart. 1 hour 27 minutes."

Dunkerque
Filimor Hance writes: "1151: Flew up to Oostende again. Artillery exchange going on just east of Niewpoort. Looks like more trenches being dug. 1 hour 23 minutes.

17 October 1914

The rain has closed back in in the north, and today there is no flying again at all.

18 October 1914

While the fog continues over Verdun-Sedan and environs, the rain has lifted in the north.

Saint-Omer, No 4 Squadron
Ries Meismer writes: "1047: Group flight over to Boulogne-Sur-Mer, up to Calais, over to Dunkerque and back to Saint-Omer. Starting to get a feel for the area. 1 hour 17 minutes."

Saint-Omer, No 3 Squadron
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1201: The rain lifted long enough for us all to make another flight. We flew west to Boulogne, up to Calais and Dunkerque and back to Saint-Omer. 2 hours 21 minutes."

Dunkerque
Filimor Hance writes: "1028: Flight up to Niewpoort and the lines. South as far as Diksmuide and the westward back to Dunkerque. Several artillery engagements. 59 minutes."

19 October 1914

Verdun
Noel Kay writes: "Still foggy. We have been told that as soon as the weather clears a little we are being moved west, to Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise, for some rest."

Saint-Omer, No 4 Squadron
Reis Meismer writes: "1318: Another familiarization flight, over to Bailleul and back. 1 hour 3 minutes."

Saint-Omer, No 3 Squadron
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1436: Another short flight around the area, this time by ourselves. 45 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "The fog is still with us. Don't know what the officers are doing, but we enlisted pilots played a game of football. Not so easy when you can't see from one goal to the other, but a lot of fun."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1433: Transferred from Dunkerque to Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer, only a few miles away. 14 minutes."

20 October 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur -Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1333: Fog lifted just long enough to take off. Sgt Pelliers, the camp cook, made sure we had bottles of hot coffee and sandwiches for the flight. We flew west to Soissons, northwest to Amiens, then turned north to Doullens. Arrived at Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise after a flight of 2 hours 38 minutes.

Saint-Omer, No 4 Squadron
Ries Meismer writes: "1435: Flew over to Boulogne, then down to Hesdin, then back home. 1 hour 20 minutes. Time in aircraft: 78.17 hours."

Saint-Omer, No 3 Squadron
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1536: Late afternoon flight over to Boulogne, back up to Calais, then up the coast to Dunkerque and back to Saint-Omer. Landed just as it was getting dark."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1511: Still following the same plan - from our new field up the coast to Dunkerque and Niewpoort, then down the lines to Diksmuide, then home. There was a heavy bombardment going on by the British against the Germans, with no reply. After only a week of artillery fire the land is starting to look like a desert. The town of Diksmuide appears to be abandoned, and many of the houses are levelled. No infantry activity. 1 hour 16 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "The fog is a little less today, but still too much to fly. We played some more football. Ltn Boelcke was at the field, working personally with the mechanics on his machine. He came over and watched our game for a few minutes, then went back to work. The rest of the day was spent reading, playing cards and chatting with each other.

21 October 1914

Saint-Omer, No 3 Squadron
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0821: We made an experimental run today. As part of the coordinated patrol plan No 3 Squadron will be covering the area from Diksmuide down to Bailleul. We started a run at 6,000 feet to avoid Archie fire, and slowly descended through the cloud cover to 2,500 feet. Nobody shot at us anyway, but the recommendation for now seems to be only flying on clear days, so we can be high enough to guarantee a safe run. 1 hour 37 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0842: Another patrol from the coast down to Diksmuide. 1 hour 1 minute."

Saint-Omer, No 4 Squadron
Ries Meismer writes: "0910: We have been set up in a rotation to patrol distinct areas, giving the maximum coverage possible. Our part of the lines is between Bailleul and Loos. We made our first flights in that role today. 1 hour 21 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "0925: We've been transferred not for rest but to get us into the fight! High Command has organized a plan for squadrons to start flying patrols up and down the lines based on sector. Our patrol area is from Lens south to Arras. When we arrived on station there was an artillery exchange going on just to the north of us. We didn't get to watch as our patrol took us to the south. 55 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Still fogged in. We had a couple more games today. Ltn Boelcke was back to watch, and had two more officers with him."

22 October 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0857: Flew once again from the coast to Diksmuide. 1 hour 6 minutes."

Saint-Omer, No 3 Squadron
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1010: Started our regular patrols today, Diksmuide to Bailleul. 1 hour 38 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1034: Second patrol from our new field. Heavy artillery exchange west of Lens. Quiet around Arras. 1 hour 10 minutes."

Saint-Omer, No 4 Squadron
Ries Meismer writes: "1045: Patrolled from Bailleul to Loos. 1 hour 33 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "The weather turned good today, and we made good use of it. We all got to fly one patrol. The Boelcke brothers, in the other hand, flew five times, mainly because Hptm Wilhelm Boelcke was working with our artillery to develop better reporting techniques, without much luck. Our one patrol came in the mid-afternoon.
1428: Flew to Reims, then west along the lines to Verdun. 1 hour 35 minutes."

23 October 1914

The rain has returned to the Front, and once again the entire Flanders district is grounded. The Germans however are flying despite a light rain.

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "0717: Despite a light rain the visibility is good.Patrolled from Laon to Reims. 1 hour 41 minutes. The Boelcke brothers had success with the artillery today, guiding ours to destroy three enemy batteries."

24 October 1914

The Flanders district is still grounded due to the rain.

Meanwhile, at Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "0912: Despite some haze we were able to get aloft for awhile. Patrolled from Verdun some way to the east. 1 hour 42 minutes."

25 October 1914

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "1108: We were given a deep scouting raid, to Chalons, Epernay and Reims. Not much to see but a lot of fog on the ground. Lucky for us there was none when we took off. Luckier there was none when we landed. 2 hours 24 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1119: Everything seems to be quiet on the Diksmuide run. 1 hour 19 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1202: Flew again today. Same route - Lens to Arras. Heavy artillery over the trenches beside Lens. Smaller barrage in the outskirts of Arras. 1 hour 5 minutes."

Saint Omer, No 3 Squadron
Corrigan Aujla writes: 1202: Back flying. Diksmuide to Bailleul again. 1 hour 19 minutes."

Saint Omer, No 4 Squadron
Ries Meismer writes: "1233: Back flying again. The assigned route - Bailleul to Loos. 1 hour 23 minutes."

October 26, 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1252: Another quiet run. Some artillery along the way, not aimed at us. 1 hour 19 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1321: Lens to Arras again. Fighting for Lens continues. 1 hour 4 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1335: Same patrol - Diksmuide to Bailleul. 1 hour 26 minutes."

Saint-Omer Extension
Ries Meismer writes: "1410: Patrolled Bailleul to Loos again. Not much going on. 1 hour 26 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Cloud cover is too low for flying today. We could do it, but we would be too close to the ground fire. Hauptmann Wilhelm Boelcke has been awarded the Iron Cross, 1st class, and apparently this has caused some stress between him and the other officers. Our outdoor games continue."

27 October 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1427: Too much haze to really see anything, and no fighting to speak of. 1 hour 28 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1440: Heavy artillery battle outside Lens. No enemy troop movements. 1 hour 5 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1515: Fairly quiet today. Lots of haze and some fog. 1 hour 24 minutes."

Saint-Omer Extension
Ries Meismer writes: "1550: Same run, Bailleul to Loos. Same result - quiet. 1 hour 21 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Still too low a ceiling to stay safely above the ground fire. We had another couple games today, and Ltn Boelcke attended, with three other officers."

28 October 1914

Saint-Omer
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0753: Mild rain showers. Quiet in our sector. 1 hour 27 minutes."

Saint-Omer Extension
Ries Meismer writes: "0825: Morning patrol today. Light rain. Sector still quiet. 1 hour 29 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1549: Quiet patrol. Lots of mist and fog up around Niewpoort. 1 hour 11 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1559: Some rain, but still flying. Much artillery fire all down the line. 1 hour 9 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Cloud cover still keeping us down. We had a treat today. Ltn and Hptmn Boelcke both showed up, along with a couple of other officers I don't know, and asked if they could join us! Of course we said yes. Hptmn Boelcke and one other were on our team and Ltn Boelcke and the other officer were on the other team. Sad to say we lost both games. Still and all, it was a great change to our everyday pace. One almost hopes it stays this way for a few more days. Almost. Flying is still much more fun."

29 October 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0814: Routine patrol. Some artillery, no assaults. 1 hour 9 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "0922: Hazy day. The only artillery was by Lens. 1 hour 7 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0934: Hazy day. Very little activity. 1 hour 37 minutes."

Saint-Omer Extension
Ries Meismer writes: "1009: Average patrol. Hazy. Not much going on. 1 hour 32 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Still grounded. Cloud cover has settled in, leaving us in haze and fog. Played a couple more games today, but without officers. The Boelcke brothers had business to take care of, and the others didn't show up without them. Starting to feel like we're going to live here forever, unless they transfer us to the infantry."