June 27th, 1918

Roberts bombed 2 factories

Hudson bombed 2 railroads

Hartney, RMC, and Ruckers on leave

from Royce #20

Went on two bombing sorties deep into enemy territory. First with #18 and #11. A factory in XX-X was the target and #18 damaged it. #11 went south toward RR and I lost sight of him. Returned to field #6 where I met up with several Spads #3 #5 #7 I believe. I had some mech. trouble and had it attended to as others took off for second sortie. When I was able, #5 stayed around and covered me all the way in to factory at XX-X. We came in at XXXXm and in my exuberance to destroy the target, I totally forgot to pull out at 1000m as the mission required. I actually went right down to rooftop level for my bombing run. That's the bad news. The worse news is...I didn't damage a brick on that factory! Four eggs and not a hit..and this from so close you could light a match from the smokestacks!

So..I am recommending that Sottotenente Royce be penalized 1 point for forgeting the bombing regulations and two straight days of bombing practice for being a terrible bombardier!!

from Flint #3

EA engaged: Yes

Took of with #5 Vas and #7 Dawson. We headed for the target area our assigned bombers were to hit. Circled the area for several minutes until the bombers showed up, 3 of them. I watched one head for the railyard and then left my sight. The other 2 stayed by the factory and I elected to stick with the two of them.

After several minutes they seemed to have finished their job and headed home. We followed them out across the lines. They seemed a little jittery, not following a direct path to any base. I began to wonder if they thought us huns. Either way they eventually headed to and landed at base #XX. I took our flight in and landed with them. Turns out we had been escorting #20 and #18.

I developed engine troubles there and was not able to continue with them for the next target. I got the problem fixed promptly and eventually met up with two bombers east of #XX as they prepared to cross the lines. Met a lone HD.1 possibly. He went by me a couple of times checking me out then disappeared in my rear view as I followed the two bombers into hun land.

We had just crossed the lines when at my high 1oclock I spotted a lone hun. He had 1000 meters on me prolly flying at around 4000 meters or so. Couldn't tell if he was scout or 2-seater at that distance, but figured him a hun scout. He seemed to spot us and began shadowing our flight confirming my hunch of a hun scout.

The bombers had climbed a little higher by this time and I was able to drop only 400 meters to signal them of the hun behind us now. They continued on to the east and I took up a spot to the rear of them. Soon the bombers turned to the south to head on to the target. I continued on to the east hoping the hun would follow.

It seemed he had locked onto me and I began drawing him to the north and away from the target area. I circled and eventually was heading back west when he attempted to engage. He sprayed a couple of long bursts at me, but they fell short. I dove away to gather speed then zoomed up. I intended to get above him if I could and began to circle him climbing all the time.

I had just gotten to a point where we were co-alt, maybe a slight advantage for me. I started to turn towards him when he suddenly had vanished. I looked about, but he had gone. Wasn't sure if he dove to one of the bases below for help or had dove south to where our bombers were. Either way I headed south to the target area and hoped the other spads were their protecting the bombers.

I had just gotten near the target area when I spotted a friendly off to my 2 and headed in the same direction. I tried to close on him, but couldn't gain any ground. Had to be one of our spads so I followed him to the target area. Over the target I spotted another high friendly. It seemed Vas and Dawson were over the target. Below I could see two low friendly planes, undoubtedly the bombers.

I tried to close up with my other spads, but one of them dove low and swooped down towards a bomber. At this point I wondered if they mistook me for the enemy or what. I kept trying to get into visual range when I noticed a low hun coming in.

I turned back and kept an eye on him, but he didn't seem to see the bomber who was very nearby. Just then I spotted another hun very high. At this point I resumed my attempt to contact my fellow spads and get them organized into an attack. I spent a very frustrating 15 minutes or so doing this. It seemed they always zoomed out of reach just as I got close. I witnessed the high hun fire at one of our spads, but it was another vain attempt at long range. Finally the whole mixed up flight headed for our lines. I followed what I believe was two bombers and 1 spad. The other spad had ran north a bit earlier I believe.

I attempted to signal the spad in front of me. He was agonizingly close, but he didn't seem to see me. I could of done something drastic to get his attention, but feared scaring him off. I watched the 2 huns follow behind us for awhile. The high one dove down towards the low one then disappeared from view. I circled back hoping to catch one alone, but couldn't find them again.

Heading over the lines I spotted a friendly high. Figuring it to be a spad I let off several flares and then began firing my guns hoping to get his attention. Finally he came to see what I was about. He carefully circled onto my rear and for a second I wondered if he knew what I was and hoped he wouldn't open up on me. He didn't and I saw it was Vas.

I began heading us to base, but decided we had enough fuel to take another peek behind the lines and maybe find those two hun scouts. At that moment Vas developed engine trouble and had to rtb. I went on without him, but after 15 minutes more over hun land I saw nothing. Headed to #XX to land as I was very low on fuel. On final approach I heard sirens. I aborted the landing and climbed back up to see what was up. Nothing was spotted and aa guns never fired so I landed now extremely low on fuel.

from Ivan Roberts # 18

claims two factories at d2-x and d2-x direct hits

from Dawson #7

I took off with Flint and Vas and headed across the mud to meet up with the bombers over the first targets. We made contact with our bombers who were apparently having a good time of it below us. There was no enemy contact and we escorted some bombers back to their home field for refueling.

Just after Flint had some mechanical trouble I experienced the same. After I got up and running again I took off solo and headed for the next target area. I got there and began circling high over the target. On several occasions I spotted aircraft but I was not sure if they were friendly or enemy. Then as I allowed one fellow to close on me he began firing and I thought I saw a second hun behind him. Being alone and outnumbered I headed away from him and safely outdistanced him. Later I saw another aircraft on my six and thought it was the same enemy but reconsidering now, he stayed with me so long that it must have been one of my fellow Spades. Eventually I headed home and landed without incident.

from Rowland #14

Took off from home base . Made two sweeps of my patrol area seeing no EA. I saw our bombers heading off on their second mission with at least one escort. As I landed I heard the Air Raid sirens going off in the distance .I was forced to retire for the day due to mechanical problems (work)

from Hudson # 11

claim 2 railyards damaged D2-4 & D2-3

witnessed - D2-3 was witnessed by Roberts

Took off with Roberts and Royce heading into hunland to comduct a bombing mission. The other 2 were going for a factory and I was to hit a near by railyard. I lined up following the railroad tracks and at the last moment the tracks turn before the railyard. Those tricky huns lol. I kept dropping bombs barely missing the target below. I was just about out of bombs when I had a direct hit on the engine of the train closest to the trainstation. (D2-4 north railroad)

Returned to base and refueled and grabed another box of bombs. I was heading to D2-3 railyard this time. One the first pass I hit a railcar on the north train. I was waiting for Roberts to finish the factory off, so I dropped a couple more bombs and hit the other trains railcars. Not wanting to press our luck we headed home.

Vasconcells

no report

from Fuches

KIA
Plane Destroyed (BRF2b)

hit one depot, sector d2-7

I took off from our aero on schedule headed north until Apres and then went east. My elevation was low, and the view was scenic encountered no difficulties whatsoever. I approached the mud scanned for enemy activity to find no one in my vacinity. As I approached my target, I dropped down to tree level if not lower and locked on to the supply depot. Not comfortable with my height I edged a little bit lower to the ground, watching the grass sway to the wind from my prop. I was over the depot, smiled smugly to myself as no Archies fired at my plane. I then saw my target: a nice tent that would do nicely with a bomb in it. I dropped my bomb. Impact, perfect I thought to myself. Then my tail careened up, uncontrollably, my nose kissed the earth and it was done. One minute of cockiness lent me an eternity of damnation. I died.