Finally Got WOFF

[Sailor Steve]

8 December 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0930: Beautiful day for flying. Some fighting near Diksmuide. 1 hour 24 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1113: Beautiful day. Very heavy fighting opposite Lens. 1 hour 13 minutes."

Ypres
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Captain Williamson and I are in a military wing of a small hospital in Ypres. Yesterday evening the doctor told me that I had sprained my ankle and would be able to walk out in four days. The Captain is a little worse off. He twisted his hip and is lucky it's not broken. He will be here for a week at least, and maybe on crutches for a few days after that."

Gonneham, No 4 Sqdn RFC
Ries Meismer writes: "Eleventh day on restriction. I have kept busy helping the adjutant organize reports, and try not to think about the fellows up flying on this beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky."


Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "The air has warmed up somewhat. The snow has turned to rain again."

[Sailor Steve]

9 December 1914

The rain has returned again, and air squadrons all over the front try to occupy themselves with different ways to fight the boredom.

[iambecomelife]

Very sorry to hear that Steve! I have been having my own problems with vision as I get older; make sure you take care of yourself.

By the way, I will PM you about WWI aircraft soon, if you don't mind. Or we can talk on facebook. Thank you!

[Sailor Steve]

Either one will be fine.

[Sailor Steve]

10 December 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1108: Routine patrol. Another lovely day. 1 hour 17 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1240: The sun is back. Routine patrol. South of Lens the engine started giving off a horrible screeching sound. We managed to find a nearby airfield. Their mechanics determined that we had a bearing going bad. It should be repaired tomorrow. 1 hour 11 minutes."

Gonneham, No 4 Sqdn RFC
Official Report: "Sergeant Ries Meismer was killed in a landing accident today, at 1253 hours.After twelve days on restriction for a prior landing accident, Sgt Meismer was practicing take-offs and landings when on approach to the field and apparently watching the low hedge that caused his crash on the 27th November he became distracted and flew straight into a tree. The family, of Launceston, Cornwall, UK, will be notified."

Ypres
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Second day a Ypres. Captain Williamson and I had a good long talk about the future of The War and Aerial Reconnaissance. I'm hobbling around with a cane but feeling better quickly."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "We had a clear day today. We didn't do any flying, but Ltn Boelcke received a brand-new Fokker two-seat monoplane from the factory, courtesy of Lt Parschau, Herr Fokker's leading trainer. We all turned out to watch him give his fellow officers a ride. The machine is unusual in that its seats are side-by-side rather than fore-and-aft."

[Sailor Steve]

11 December 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1239: Light fog up to 400 metres. Usual patrol. 1 hour 25 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1406; The usual patrol. Misty weather, a little fog. 1 hour 14 minutes."

Ypres
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Third day in Ypres. Ankle is much better. Captain Williamson managed to walk from his bed to the privy, leaning on a nurse."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "The weather is good enough to fly but Hauptmann Streccius had a planning meeting involving all the observers, and they were discussing plans for the Unit most of the day."

[Sailor Steve]

12 December 1914

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "0922: Moderately clear day. Hptm Streccius had us up practicing, re-learning our flying skills. 1 hour 28 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: 1418: Partial overcast, 300 metres, mainly over the lines. Couldn't see a thing. 1 hour 23 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1534: Heavy overcast made it seem later than it was. Routine patrol, returning home in the dark. The artillery duel in the dark was quite beautiful. Finding the field was easy enough. Judging the altitude for landing was not. Still, we made it down safely. 1 hour 10 minutes."

Gonneham, No 3 Sqdn RFC
Corrigan Aujla writes: "This morning Capt Williamson and I had a discussion of what I should do next – remain here with him while he recovers or return to base. He was of the opinion that I should return and get as Much time in on the new Moranes as possible. He wrote a note to that effect and then sent a cable to Gonneham to have a car sent for me. It arrived shortly before lunchtime and by 1600 hours I was back in my cot at the aerodrome. I'm walking quite well now and should be able to fly tomorrow."

[Sailor Steve]

13 December 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "0859: A little fog, low overcast. Routine patrol. 1 hour 12 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1442: Because I wasn't part of the regular rotation learning to fly the new Moranes I had to wait all day for my turn. I finally got off late in the afternoon. Still I managed to fly a good turn around area and land just before dark. 1 hour 11 minutes.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1536: Another night patrol. How I hate these things. Take off right at dusk, the sun is completely gone when you reach your patrol line. Can't see anything except for the occasional artillery, and then have to land in the dark. The fire-pots are lit, but judging distance is still difficult. Crossed the 100-hours mark. 1 hour 27 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Just when we're ready to go on patrol, it starts snowing again."

[Sailor Steve]

14 December 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0815: Straight from last patrol of one day to first patrol of the next. High winds aloft, lots of clouds, some rain here and there. Last night's barrage has ceased and the sector is fairly quiet. 1 hour 18 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0907: Today they had me take off first, but only gave me a limited amount of time. 18 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1053: Heavy overcast, some rain. Massive artillery duel near Lens. 1 hour 20 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Still grounded by the snow."

[Sailor Steve]

15 December 1916

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0940: Was allowed more time in the Morane today. Took it up to 3,000 metres. 38 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0947: Good day for flying. Broken clouds. Not much happening. 1 hour 20 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1214: Sky is fairly clear Much artillery around Lens and Arras. 1 hour 14 minutes."

Pontfaverger
FFA 13 is still snowed in.

[Sailor Steve]

16 December 1914

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "1006: Gorgeous day! Hptm Streccius only allowed us to practice again. 41 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1033: More time in the Morane. Flew up to St. Omer and back. 53 minutes. Capt Williamson is back. If he's feeling fit enough we fly again tomorrow. We lost one of our new Moranes today. Sgt Bodley had a mishap. He is fortunately unharmed, but the machine is only good for engine parts.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1122: Beautiful day. Good patrol, though fairly quiet. 1 hour 15 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "1344: Beautiful day. The artillerists think so too. Lots of fighting. 1 hour 17 minutes."

[Sailor Steve]

17 December 1914

Once again the entire region is rainy and snowy, and no one is flying. There is not much ground activity either.

[Sailor Steve]

18 December 1914

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "0815: High clouds. No rain. Not much fighting. Routine patrol. 1 hour 8 minutes."

Northolt, Britain
Dugan Vystavel is the new pilot I've created to replace the lost Ries Meismer. He hails from a tiny village in New Zealand called Okato. He came to Britain for advanced studies in science and mathematics in November 1913, and due to his aptitude in those fields he was taken into the army as a 2nd Lieutenant. He immediately started learning to fly on his own, and now has many hours in Bleriots and Boxkites. He has spent his first few months in the army studying the principles of photography. Now he has been taken into flight school. Because of his previous experience and new field of study he is earmarked to be rushed through training on the BE.2 and thence to No 4 Squadron at Saint-Omer where pioneering work is being done in the field of aerial photography.
Dugan Vystavel's first log entry: "0815: First solo flight. 15 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "1133: Good enough to fly again. Long practice flight getting ready for action again. 1 hour 49 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1141: No sooner had Capt Williamson and I taken off for our first patrol in a week than the controls jammed. We made a stuttering circle of the field. I managed to put her down on the field, but the plane wouldn't level off. We snagged the left wing and then nosed over. Neither of us was harmed but yet another BE has been written off as a total wreck. 13 minutes.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1251: Another clear day, with a few random clouds. Quiet again. 1 hour 17 minutes."

[Sailor Steve]

19 December 1914

Northolt
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0845: Touch and goes plus a little fly around the area. 37 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Ternoise
Noel Kay writes: "0937: Hazy day. Ordinary patrol. Very quiet. 1 hour 16 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1208: The machine we have today seems to be holding together alright. The patrol was quiet. 1 hour 16 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1422; Late afternoon patrol. Returned home just before sunset. All quiet. 1 hour 20 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Fog has moved in again."

[Sailor Steve]

20 December 1914

Northern Europe has been het by a massive storm. It's raining everywhere - even in England.