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01-19-19, 10:34 PM | #181 |
Eternal Patrol
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5 January 1914
Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "0815: My old friend Robbie Reinard and I have been assigned to make the first flight to Paris to pick up our new Morane parasols. Patchy fog on the ground, but we got off all right. We arrived at Le Bourget at 0956, after a flight of 1 hours 41 minutes. 1010: Took off from Le Bourget in our new Moranes for the return trip. Arrived back at Gonneham at 1212 after a flight of 2 hours 2 minutes. There was plenty of time for the riggers to fit the pintels to mount the machine gun. When next we fly we will be fully armed." Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "0924: Accompanied Captain Mapplebeck's plane on an artillery-spotting mission near Liévin. 2 hours 2 minutes." Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise Noel Kay writes: "1109: Patchy fog. No activity. Had to land in the fog. Not fun. 1 hour 6 minutes." Roesbrugge Filimor Hance writes: "1216: Routine patrol. Patchy fog. Heavy artillery near Diksmuide. 1 hour 8 minutes." Pontfaverger Odis Först writes: "The wind has died down. It is, however, still raining."
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-20-19, 10:59 PM | #182 |
Eternal Patrol
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6 January 1915
Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "0845: Robbie and I flew again together. Since we have the only armed machines in the squadron we were assigned to orbit an enemy airfield near Douai for awhile to see what happened. Nothing did. Meanwhile two more of our fellows went down to Paris to pick up their new Moranes, and now we have four! 2 hours 24 minutes." Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "1005: Followed Capt Mapplebeck on another artillery spot, this time near Ledegen. Forced down by engine trouble. Landed near the lines. 1 hour 22 minutes." Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise Noel Kay writes: "1230: Clear day. Routine patrol. Little activity. 1 hour 8 minutes." Pontfaverger Odis Först writes: "Our new Kommandant, Hptm Ludwig Schäfer, arrived today. Hptm Streccius was due to depart on the 1st but put off leaving until he could show the new leader around. 1304: Assigned to accompany Ltn Boelcke on a Photo mission. I'm not sure what happened, but I managed to crash on take-off. Neither Hptm Straub nor I were injured, and the machine received only minor damage and will be ready to fly tomorrow. I received a stern warning. To top it off the other two machines couldn't find the target. Not a good way to greet the new Kommandant. I understand that Ltn Boelcke is upset he wasn't allowed to fly with his brother this time, but it was pointed out that Hptm Boelcke is not qualified on the camera. Hopefully the next mission will be better." Roesbrugge Filimor Hance writes: "1354: Beautiful sunny winter day. Routine patrol. Heavy artillery near Zerkegem. Engine failed over Diksmuide. Managed to set it down safely on our side of the lines. 44 minutes."
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-21-19, 07:15 AM | #183 |
Eternal Patrol
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7 January 1915
Winter drags on as the rain returns and the Western Front is grounded again.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-21-19, 01:18 PM | #184 |
Eternal Patrol
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8 January 1915
Across the Front it is still raining, storming and foggy.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-23-19, 07:42 AM | #185 |
Eternal Patrol
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9 January 1915
Verdun Noel Kay writes: "We were told yesterday that on the first clear day we would be moving again – back to Verdun! We’re going home! It looks like the weather will be good enough tomorrow, so we made our preparations to fly early. They want us moving in the dark so as to keep our whereabouts concealed from any possible prying enemy eyes. 0513: We took off well before dawn, and headed south-south-east. Capitaine Provillard had arranged that after each turn he made he would fire a flare to let us know where he was. Over Compiegne we headed due south to stay well away from the lines. Near Soissons we turned east-southeast for awhile, then due east to Verdun. We arrived there with perfect timing, about twenty minutes after the sun rose. I’m horrified to see what has become of the city in the three months we’ve been gone. The enemy artillery has smashed the north side into rubble. The rest of the town looks okay, but it’s a real shock seeing our first home town in such a state. 3 hours 9 minutes. Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "0807: Accompanied Capt Mapplebeck on a photo-recce mission over Ledegen. 2 hours 9 minutes." Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "1015: Took off to accompany Capt Corwin and Lt Robert on a photo mission. Engine started spewing oil as we were circling for altitude. I put her down safely just half a mile from Merville. The other plane completed the mission safely alone. It will be a couple of days before our plane can be hauled back to Gonneham and repaired. 10 minutes. Roesbrugge Filimor Hance writes: "1453: Routine patrol. Once again I had the last flight of the day. Landed just before sunset.1 hour 6 minutes." Pontfaverger is still fogged in.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-23-19, 06:28 PM | #186 |
Eternal Patrol
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10 January 1915
Once again the weather has closed in, and pilots all over the front sit and wait.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-23-19, 10:37 PM | #187 |
Eternal Patrol
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11 January 1915
Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "1020: Flew with Capt Mapplebeck on an artillery spot over Passchendaele. 1 hour 44 minutes." Roesbrugge Filimor Hance writes: "1053: Routine patrol. Partly cloudy. Little activity. 1 hour 12 minutes." Verdun Noel Kay writes: "No sooner did we return to Verdun than we were beset by fog. Now we've been sitting for two days. I'm starting to wonder why we came back here." Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "Good weather, but engine still not repaired." Pontfaverger Odis Först writes: "This is our fifth straight day of fog. It's hard to tell there's a war on except for the occasional dispatch.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-25-19, 12:19 AM | #188 |
Eternal Patrol
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12 January 1915
Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "0800: No special operations today. Routine patrol. Perfect weather. Big artillery battle all up and down the line. 1 hour 31 minutes." Roesbrugge Filimor Hance writes: "0815: Another routine patrol. Cloudless sky. Very little fighting. 58 minutes." Pontfaverger Odis Först writes: "0951: Finally another clear day!. Recon patrol over Sillery then up to Reims. 1 hour 11 minutes.:" Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "1000: My first solo patrol, from Armentieres to Neuve-Chapelle. Heavy artillery fire around Lille. 1 hour 34 minutes." Verdun Noel Kay writes: "1251: The sky is clear today. We are assigned a reconnaissance mission over Grandpré. Took some damage crossing the lines on the return trip. 1 hour 11 minutes. Our new machines started arriving today – The Farman F.20."
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-25-19, 08:29 AM | #189 |
Eternal Patrol
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13 January 1915
Roesbrugge Filimor Hance writes: "0929: Routine patrol. Light rain. Some artillery opposite Niewpoort. 59 minutes. We are told that the next day of clear weather we are moving back to Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer." Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "0947: Took off in a light rain for a routine patrol. Everything is quiet. 1 hour 17 minutes." Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "1149: Second solo patrol, this time in the rain. Still, visibility was fair, and we made it home with no trouble. 1 hour 30 minutes." Verdun Noel Kay writes: "Foggy today, with a little bit of snow. No flying." Pontfaverger Odis Först writes: "The fog is back again."
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-25-19, 10:03 PM | #190 |
Eternal Patrol
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14 January 1915
Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "0823: Did my own Artillery Support mission today, with Capt Cottrell doing the spotting. We were accompanied by Robbie Reinard and Lt Ness. 1 hour 50 minutes." Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer Filimor Hance writes: "1043: MS 26 transferred back to Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer. As nice as Roesbrugge was, this feels like coming home. 37 minutes." Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "1339: Saw my first taste of combat today. I was leader of a flight of three planes on a mission to bomb a German rail yard. My observer was Lt Ronald Jefferson. The other two planes were manned by Sgt Crowe and Lt Winfrey, and Sgt White and Capt Fletcher. They say we caused some damage, but I don't know how they could tell. 2 hours 16 minutes. Verdun Noel Kay writes: "Still foggy." Pontfaverger Odis Först writes: "The fog is still with us, just like always."
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-26-19, 09:32 AM | #191 |
Eternal Patrol
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15 January 1915
Winter has moved in again with its attendant rain, snow and fog.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-26-19, 02:19 PM | #192 |
Eternal Patrol
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16 January 1915
It's still stormy everywhere.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-26-19, 05:43 PM | #193 |
Eternal Patrol
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17 January 1915
Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "0829: Accompanied 2nd Lts Newbury and Webb on a photo mission over the trenches near Pozieres. 2 hours 8 minutes." Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "0903: Accompanied Capt Mapplebeck on an artillery mission near Neuve-Chapelle. 1 hour 52 minutes." Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer Filimor Hance writes: "1136: Beautiful day! Routine patrol. 1 hour 18 minutes." The Verdun region is still covered in fog and rain.
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-26-19, 11:09 PM | #194 |
Eternal Patrol
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18 January 1915
The rain is again falling on Flanders, but the Verdun area has cleared up, if only for a day. Pontfaverger Odis Först writes: "0803: Clear enough to fly. Deep reconnaissance past Reims. 1 hour 52 minutes." Verdun Noel Kay writes: "1417: Overcast but dry. Short patrol over the lines near Varennes-en-Argonne. 39 minutes."
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
01-27-19, 11:47 AM | #195 |
Eternal Patrol
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19 January 1915
Gonneham Corrigan Aujla writes: "0801: Flying the standard patrol today. Much of the front lines obscured by low clouds. Just approaching Diksmuide when the engine started rattling and spewing oil again. Managed to set it down in a field near Ypres. They sent a lorry for the plane and us in the afternoon, and by dinner we were back at Gonneham. Saint-Omer Dugan Vystavel writes: "1000: Patrolled the lines again. Some artillery all down the line. Partly cloudy. 1 hour 36 minutes." Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer Filimor Hance writes: "1308: Routine patrol. Little activity. Scattered clouds, sometimes blocking view of ground. 1 hour 26 minutes." Verdun Noel Kay writes: "Rain has set in. Impossible to fly." Pontfaverger Odis Först writes: "The high winds are back, and have brought rain with them."
__________________
“Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo |
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