Today Greg was ‘on photos’ – on photographic duty. But camera trouble means that only a small proportion of the plates exposed were useful.
Log Book
Date: 16.7.18 Hour: 12.10-1.15 Machine type: RE8 RE8: E27 Observer: Lt. Hodgson Time: 1 hr 5 m Height: 6500 Course/Remarks: Photos. 52 plates exposed, only 19 any good.
Diary
Tuesday July 16th. E27. On photos, took up 54 plates but shutter of camera stuck open after 19th. 16 of the 19 were serviceable.
Squadron Record Book
Type and Number: R.E.8.27 Pilot and Observer: P. Lt Gregory. O. Lt Hodgson Duty: Photos. Hour of Start: 12.10 Hour of Return: 13.15 Remarks: 52 plates exposed over Q.A. Q.B. and R.A. Height 6500โ. 12.40. 3 E.K.B. [enemy kite balloon] behind ESTAIRES. 12.45. 5 E.A. [enemy aircraft] over M. square. A.A. battery firing from approx K.29.c.3.3. [see below] A.A. active. Vis. good. Obs. By P. & O.
Zones QA, QB and RA are all just south or Merville. QA, the westernmost of the three zones, contains the German front line and about 500 yards to the west of it the British front line.
The same view today on Google maps. Much of zone QB is now occupied by Merville-Calonne Airport.
The anti-aircraft battery at K.29.c.3.3 is probably feature 51 in zone KD, just underneath the two circles. The site today is in the garden of the rather elegant house at 52 rue de Marรฉchal Joffre in Merville: