Thursday 7 November 1918 – B Flight Work Continues

Although Greg was not flying again today, it was business as usual for B Flight, 42 Squadron RAF at Ascq.  Reconnaissance and counter-battery patrols and shoots were in today’s daily orders.  An apparent dual role for Lt Sewell is resolved.

B Flight Orders

B Flight Orders

B FLIGHT ORDERS FOR 7.11.1918
2517  6.0  830 Lt Wallington Lt Bett     Recon & CBP
4889 1200 1430 Lt Bon        Capt Gordon  – do –
6740           Lt Sewell     Lt Sewell   Shoot
2707           Lt Judd       Lt Whittles    do
E27            Capt Ledlie   Lt Paton       do
                             Lt Mulholland

Pilots and observers who have not passed all tests will please arrange to do so tomorrow.
The early machine will send down a weather report at 6.45 so that, if fit, the people on shoots can get into the air without any loss of time.

                         W.  Ledlie, Capt.

There are obviously a couple of mistakes here.  I have corrected Capt. Ledlie’s implication that he himself was still a lieutenant.  But then there is Lt. Sewell’s designation as both pilot and observer in 6740!  Judging from other entries in the B Flight Orders, he was in fact a pilot.  And he often flew with Lt Whittles as observer. So probably Lt Sewell’s name should just be deleted from the observer’s column, and those named beneath him shunted up. 

Lt Denis Charles Sewell

Lt Denis Charles Sewell was born on 31 October 1898.  Prior to being commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in 42 Sqn, he was in the Honourable Artillery Company.

‘Tests’

The nature of the ‘tests’ that both pilots and observers must pass is not explained.

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