In the first of a couple of travelling flights, Greg takes up his old ‘bus’ E27, which he flew almost consistently from mid-June to mid-September, and flew to Chocques Aerodrome. Sgt Hewitt came with him. Greg’s log book rather gives the impression that he left the aircraft there. But the Squadron Record Book makes clear that they just inspected the new aerodrome from the air, so they would have come back to Rely.
Log Book
Date: 11.10.18 Time Out: 10.05 Rounds Fired – Lewis: - Rounds Fired – Vickers: - Bombs: - Time on RE8s: 169 hrs 15 mins RE8: E27 Observer: Sgt. Hewitt War Flying: 0 hrs 25 mins Height: 1000 Course/Remarks: Travelling flight to Chocques.
Squadron Record Book
Type and Number: R.E.8. 27 Pilot and Observer: P. Lt Gregory. O. Sgt Hewitt Duty: Practice Flight. Hour of Start: 1005 Hour of Return: 1030. Remarks: Inspection of CHOCQUES aerodrome from the air.
Location of Chocques Aerodrome
Chocques Aerodrome wasn’t actually quite at Chocques. It was a little north of the town, on the Oblinghem side of Gonnehem . Apparently, in the early days, the aerodrome was also known as Gonnehem. Somehow the name Chocques just stuck.
Château de Werppe
The former HQ and Officers’ accommodation was at the Château de Werppe, just across the road from the airfield. Today, the ruined building stands rather forlornly in some scrub land. Apparently there was at some point a project to renovate it as a number of apartments, but evidently that had not got anywhere by summer 2018.
I’m grateful to Great War Forum user ICM – RAF Retd for the above information on the location of Chocques Aerodrome and Château de Werppe.
Next up…
The next entry in Greg’s log book is for Sunday 13 October 1918.