Finally Got WOFF

[Sailor Steve]

28 August, 1914

Chappy:
Noel Kay writes: "Finally, our first patrol. We took off in shifts, one plane every two hours. We didn't see any Germans, nor did any of our flights. Everyone returned safely in their turn."

Bouvais:
Corrie Aujla writes: "We are still camped at Beauvais. Colonel Blayne has not been able to get in touch with his superiors, nor have we with ours. The war is at our doorstep, but you wouldn't know it from the tranquil atmosphere shrouding this place. Well, tranquil except for all the men and vehicles running to-and-fro.
.
La Fere:
Ries Meismer and Capt Ted Wimund make a shorter flight and then are informed that they are moving again tomorrow.

Jamoigne:
Odis Först and Hptmn Reinhold Straub make a somewhat longer flight than yesterday, getting to know the area and each other.

St Cyr:
A new French pilot, Filimor Oda Dion Isaïe Hance, begins training at Saint-Cyr, west of Paris.

[Sailor Steve]

29 August, 1914

Chappy:
Noel Kay and his observer are again part of rotating patrols. He finally sees some Germans. He will put that in his report though he is certain his superiors know exactly where this group is, since he has a front-row seat to a French-German artillery duel. They stick around until fuel concerns send them home again.

Beauvais:
Corrie Aujla writes: "Still no word from either command, which is odd because with the war going on right next door they must need those trucks somewhere. Twenty of them, just sitting. Our bigger worry is what will become of us when they finally do move. Do we go with them, or sit here and wait to hear from our Squadron? Or do we set out on our own hoping we're heading in the right direction? If we stay we have no means of support with the army gone. If we go with them we risk becoming part of the infantry war. If we go our own way we could get drafted into some other unit, or even captured by the enemy. There seems to be no definite future, and no easy choice to make."

La Fere:
Nos 3 and 4 Squadrons, with Ries Meismer in No 4, move yet again, this time to Compiegne.

Jamoigne:
Odis Först and Hptmn Straub make an even longer flight to the north, knowing full well that the fighting is to the southwest. Orders are orders, so they go where they are told.

[Sailor Steve]

30 August 1914

Chappy:
Noel Kay writes: "Patrolled over another battle between our forces and theirs. In a fit of rudeness their infantry decided to direct some machine gun fire in our direction! We even took some damage! All was well, though, and we got home safely. The Germans are still advancing."

Beauvais:
Corrie Aujla writes: "The day has come. Colonel Blayne has gotten through to his superiors, and they are indeed wanted at the front lines. Captain Carlson has decided that we should stay here in Beauvais. He has made a deal with a local hotel-keeper that we should be his guests on the Captain's word as an officer that he will be recompensed in full when we have the means. M Jumonde says it's "part of my duty to help fight the war by aiding our British cousins."

La Fere:
No 3 and No 4 Squadron transfer again, from La Fere to Senlis.

Jamoigne:
Odis Först writes: "Another long flight around. Three-quarters of the way through the motor quit running. We were in a forested area, but over a large patch of open grass at the time. I managed to put the plane down, though not without some damage to the wing. We stayed with the plane, and some time after we were due back they sent a plane looking for us. He landed and took Hptmn Straub with him. another hour and he came back for me. By dinner time a truck had gathered the plane and returned. Hptmn Straub is full of praise for "his" pilot, and tonight I seem to be the toast of the squadron. Tomorrow is another day."

[Sailor Steve]

31 August 1914

Chappy:
Noel Kay writes: "No flying to day. Escadrille moving tomorrow."

Beauvais:
Corrie Aujla writes: ":M Jumonde has come up with a different plan to pay for our rooms: we'll go to work for him. Capt Carlson will help with his books, and those of other businesses nearby, and I will do all the odd jobs around the area ̶ cleaning, clearing up trash, helping move things ̶ anything that needs doing. I joined the army and seem to have become a civilian through no doing of my own."

Senlis:
Ries Meismer writes: "Moved yet again, this time to Juilly."

Jamoigne
Odis Först writes: "We are grounded today, preparing for a move forward tomorrow."

[Sailor Steve]

1 September 1914

Chappy:
Noel Kay writes: "Transferred from Chappy to Clermont-en-Argonne today. Successful move with no problems."

Beauvais:
Corrie Aujla writes: "I went to work helping a man with a truck pick up trash in our neighborhood and finished the day helping Mme Jumonde with her garden. Late in the day a flight of aeroplanes passed overhead. They were at about 2,000' altitude and looked to be a high-winged parasol of some kind. I counted five of them.

Juilly:
Ries Meismer writes: "Made a scouting flight to the northeast of Paris. 1 hour 13 minutes."

Odis Först writes: " Transferred from Jamoigne to La Ferté sur Chiers. An easy flight. 46 minutes. Had some excitement later in the evening. At about 1930 an Aviatik came in and landed, not long before dark. It was a Leutnant Boelcke. We already have one! Ltn Wilhelm Boelcke is one of our observers. This one was his younger brother Oswald Boelcke. He is a rarity, an Officer Pilot. Apparently he was assigned to a different unit but took his plane and a mechanic and came here, claiming he was bound for another field but had to stop here for the night. It's a strange thing, and not for a poor flieger like me to understand."

Paris:
Filimor Hance writes: "Long training flight with our instructor leading us north to Beauvais, then over to Chantilly and back. 1 hour 59 minutes."

[Sailor Steve]

2 September 1914

Clermont-en-Argonne:
Noel Kay writes: "0622: Patrol over German territory. 2 hours 11 minutes."

Beauvais:
Corrie Aujla writes: "Helped pick up trash again all day, and haul it to a place they had picked out, where we buried it. Hard work, but it keeps my mind off what I'm missing."

Juilly:
Nos 3 and 4 Squadrons move again, from Juilly to Serris.

La Ferté sur Chiers:
Odis Först writes: "1256: Flew our first real patrol today, south to the lines then eastward for awhile. 52 minutes."

[Sailor Steve]

3 September 1914

Clermont-en-Argonne:
Noel Kay writes: "0849: Patrol over German territory. They are at Chateau-Theirry. 2 hours 19 minutes."

Beauvais:
Corrie Aujla writes: "The Germans are still moving westward. They are now at Chateau-Thierry, only 50 miles from Paris. We have still heard nothing of our own armies."

Touquin:
Ries Meismer writes: "Transfered yet again, from Juilly to Touquin."

Chatel:
Odis Först writes: "Yesterday the Boelcke brothers took off looking for a better field. They returned this morning and have found one. We spent the morning packing and took off at 1403, and after a short 15-minute flight we were at Chatel.

Saint-Cyr, just north of Paris:
Filimor Hance writes: "No flying today. Tomorrow we join the war!"