20 January 1915

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "1300: Standard patrol. Mostly quiet. 1 hour 24 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1448: Routine patrol. No activity apparent, but view often blocked by low clouds. 1 hour 12 minutes."

Verdun
Noel Kay writes: "Still raining today."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "The wind and rain are still with us."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "My plane is being repaired again. The engine is a total shambles, so they're putting in a different one. Hopefully this one will hold together."

21 January 1914

Winter sets in again and everyone is grounded.

22 January 1915

The winter is still here, and everyone is still bored and sulking.

23 January 1915

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0814: Sky clearing. Routine patrol. 1 hour 17 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0823: Scouting patrol over Loos with Capt Mapplebeck and Lt Burr. 2 hours 1 minute."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0902: Accompanied Lts Newbury and Ness on an Artillery mission. Engine ran well. 1 hour 49 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "0905: Clear enough to fly. Ltn Müller and Hptm Liezka led Ltn Boelcke and Oberltn Bertram and Myself with Hptm Straub on a long test flight. Once we had checked out our machines we were free to do as we wished, and Ltn Müller wished to stay aloft as long as possible. We didn't stay up all that long, returning before we had used half our fuel. Everyone has noticed that the Boelcke brothers aren't flying together anymore. We all wonder why, but nobody dares ask. 2 hours 21 minutes."

Verdun
Noel Kay writes: "1510: Beautiful day, except for the freezing part. Quick patrol over the lines. 59 minutes"

24 January 1915

Flanders is washed out again, but Verdun is livable for the second day in a row.

Verdun
Noel Kay writes: "0925: Flew down to Commery, then up the lines to Saint-Mihiel. Over Saint-Mihiel we were hit in the engine by a round from the DCA. We managed to land safely near a village and call for help. 54 minutes in the air."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "1028: Ltn Boelcke led Lt Müller and me on a scouting mission over the lines near Verdun. The weather was quite misty, but we had no trouble seeing the enemy positions. I had some motor troubles on the way home, and it cut out entirely as we were circling to land. We made it down safely but hard. The Aviatik will be ready again in two days. There is a spare I can use until then, so no time will be lost on my part. 1 hour 43 minutes."

25 January 1915

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0900: Heavy overcast. Standard patrol from Hooge to Neuve-Chapelle. Heavy fire near Messines. 1 hour 32 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0901: Routine solo patrol. Passchendaele to Hooge. 1 hour 18 minutes. Passed the 20-hour mark in the Morane."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0947: Routine patrol. Not much going on. 1 hour 18 minutes."

Verdun
Noel Kay writes: "The weather has turned foggy."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "The fog has settled in again."

26 January 1915

The entire front is rained out again.

27 January 1915

The rain and fog continue.

28 January 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0904: Accompanied Lts Carlson and Webb on an Artillery spot up by Passchendaele. 1 hour 55 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "1004: Led a scouting mission over the German aerodrome at Phalempin, with Sgt Crowe and 2nd Lt Stewart accompanying. Captain Mapplebeck flew above us watching for the enemy. My observer this flight was Capt Buckingham. 2 hours 15 minutes.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1119: Some high clouds, but mostly clear. Routine patrol. Some fire near the coast. 1 hour 13 minutes."

Verdun
Noel Kay writes: "Still foggy. I’m beginning to wonder why we came back here. At least at Saint-Pol we were flying most of the time."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes nothing, but is still grounded.

January 29 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1008: Artillery Spot near Miramont, with Lts Cruikshank and Webb. 1 hour 39 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "1105: Took off to lead an Artillery mission with Lt Crowe following Suffered an engine failure and forced to land. Lt Crow managed to complete the mission. 18 minutes.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1246: Routine Patrol High overcast. Some artillery near the coast. 1 hour 22 minutes."

Verdun is still fogged in.

30 January 1915

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0801: Went with Capt Mapplebeck on a scouting mission. Hit by Archie – no serious damage. 2 hours 7 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1120: Trench photography near Lens, with Maj Salmond. Big push by the Germans. 1 hour 23 minutes"

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1423: Routine patrol. Took a newcomer in tow to show him the route – Cpl Roman Becquerel. 1 hour 29 minutes."

The Verdun area is still totally grounded.

31 January 1915

Once again the weather closes in and the region is rained out.


1 February 1915

Flanders is still pouring rain. Verdun is still fogged in.


2 February 1915

Nothing has changed. Everything is still grounded.

3 February 1915

Most of the Front is still washed out.

In Wilhelmshaven a new pilot begins his career. Alongside the Zeppelin sheds where he has been training the last several weeks, Leutnant Lennart Jarman Altendorf makes his first solo flight.

4 February 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0902: Still raining, but not enough to deter us. Photo mission with Lts Newbury and Webb. 1 hour 40 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0909: Rain is slightly less. Able to fly. Routine patrol. Not much happening. 1 hour 16 minutes."

Wilhelmshaven
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0911: Hptm Podalski took each of us on a flight in turns, assessing our skills. 38 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "1001: Followed Capt Mapplebeck and Lt Crowe on a scouting mission over Haubourdin. 2 hours 15 minutes."

Verdun is still covered in fog.

5 February 1915

The whole world is shut down due to weather...or at least the parts my pilots are all flying in.


6 February 1915

The storm is massive. Everything everywhere is still shut down.