Today was a day for reconnaissance. Greg, with Capt. Gordon as his observer, was among those flying reconnaissance patrols, which were to leave the ground every hour. B Flight’s Orders for the day, which were signed by Greg, said that patrols were to fire all their small arms ammunition before returning.
Log Book
Date: 9.11.18 Time Out: 10.10 Rounds Fired – Lewis: - Rounds Fired – Vickers: - Bombs: 4 Time on RE8s: 188 hrs 25 mins RE8: 2517 Observer: Cpt. Gordon War Flying: 1 hrs 10 mins Height: 7000 Course/Remarks: Reconn. Engine dud.
Later in the day, Greg took up Air Mechanic Corkhill to test the engine.
Date: 9.11.18 Time Out: 15.00 Rounds Fired – Lewis: - Rounds Fired – Vickers: - Bombs: - Time on RE8s: 188 hrs 45 mins RE8: 2517 Observer: A. M. Corkhill War Flying: 0 hrs 20 mins Height: 2000 Course/Remarks: Engine test – OK.
B Flight Orders
B FLIGHT ORDERS FOR 9.11.1918 6740 0700 Lt. Judd Lt. Elliott Reconn. Bombs. 2517 1000 Lt. Gregory Capt. Gordon – do – 2707 1300 Lt. Wallington Lt. Paton – do – 2872 Lt. Sewell Lt. Whittles Next job Lt. Bon Lt. Bett Next job 4889 0930 Ready for Major Hunter with bombs ------------- Patrols will leave the ground at every hour and may return after 1¼ hours on the line, providing that all SAA [small arms ammunition] has been fired and they have a decent report. Bombs are to be taken if clouds are at 2000 ft or over. C.E. Gregory, Lt for O.C. B Flight
Patrols left every hour. Reconnaissance was clearly the priority of the day. This was because a lot was happening on the ground. The British front line was moving rapidly eastwards from the River Scheldt as the German armies withdrew east from Tournai towards Ath.
The small arms ammunition was the .303 rounds that the Vickers and Lewis machine guns fired. For some reason, Greg and Capt. Gordon didn’t fire any. That could have been because the engine gave them trouble, and they went back to the aerodrome prematurely.
This was to be Greg’s last flight with Capt. Gordon before the armistice.