An unsuccessful – and probably frustrating – shoot with a new battery (346 Siege Battery, RGA). It was unsuccessful because Greg couldn’t see the bursts of the shells, and he didn’t know why he couldn’t. Greg’s observer today was Lt Bett, but in another sortie Lt Mulholland has a lucky escape.
Log Book
Date: 15.9.18 Time Out: 14.10 Rounds Lewis: - Rounds Vickers: - Bombs: - Time on RE8s: 157 hrs 55 mins RE8: 2517 Observer: Lt Bett War Flying Time: 1 hrs 25 mins Height: 4000 Course/Remarks: Shoot with 346 SB, 6” How. Unsucc.
RE8 2517
Greg’s usual ‘bus’, RE8 E27, was presumably with the mechanics. He had described the engine as ‘rotten’ yesterday. Greg flew 2517 on one earlier occasion (21 July 1918), and would fly it more often as the war progressed.
Squadron Record Book
Type and Number: R.E.8.2517 Pilot and Observer: P. Lt Gregory. O. Lt Bett Duty: Art Obs on H.B. Destructive. Hour of Start: 16.20 Hour of Return: 17.45 Remarks: U. [unsuccessful] with 346 S.B. (4-6” Hows) on H.B. [Hostile battery] at N.17.c.15.52. (P). Called 16.40. K. 16.42. L. 16.45. G. 16.47. 10 ranging rounds:- 1 C. 9 W. Salvos unobserved. Battery firing, but unable to see any bursts. Vis. good and unable to account for inability to see bursts. C.I. sent 17.15. 16.50. fire in wood in J.18.d and 24.b. (Nth of LILLE). 17.00. sent N.F. [Now firing] N.12.a.5.0. (A). Result unobserved. 17.05. sent K.K. on flash in I.2.a. A.A. active. E.A. and E.K.B. nil. Vis. good. Height 4000’. Obs. by P. & O.
The locations in the above Squadron Record Book are shown on this map extract:
The hostile battery that was 213 SB’s target was near Fromelles (bottom left of map) not far from Aubers. This is where Greg saw a lighthouse in a pre-dawn patrol on 14 July 1918.
More about shoots here:
Lt Mulholland Shot Down
Greg’s observer three days ago, on 12 September 1918, was 2/Lt Arthur Mulholland. Today, Lt Mulholland was up with pilot 2/Lt R.M. Marshall on a counter-battery patrol in RE8 2649 (which Greg had earlier flown on 13 July, 7 August and 8 August 1918). According to a casualty report in file AIR 1/859 at The National Archives:
[C2649 RE8] Shot down by EA at Sh36G7 on artly patrol. 2Lt RM Marshall slightly wounded/2Lt A Mulholland Ok
‘EA’ is enemy aircraft. ‘Sh36G7’ is 1:40,000 map sheet 36, square G7, which is just north of Estaires:
Fortunately, where they were shot down was more or less over the British front line at the time. They made it back to safety. Greg was next to fly with Lt Mulholland at the end of October.
Thanks to airhistory.org.uk for the casualty information.