Sunday 10 November 1918 – Message Dropping

Things were moving fast on the penultimate day.  B Flight was fully engaged in reconnaissance, and then message dropping with the latest information.  But they had to see the C.O. or the Battalion Intelligence Officer before going up.  Greg and Lt. Bett had the first flight of the day.

Log Book

Log BookLog Book

Date: 10.11.18 
Time Out: 6.15 
Rounds Fired – Lewis: 200 
Rounds Fired – Vickers: - 
Bombs: 4 
Time on RE8s:  190 hrs 30 mins 
RE8: 2517 
Observer: Bett 
War Flying: 1 hrs 45 mins 
Height: 3000 
Course/Remarks:  Reconn.  Successful.

Allied forces were keeping up the pressure on the retreating German forces.  The Lewis gun was firing, and bombs were dropping from Greg’s aircraft.  But, for him, this was the last use of weaponry.

B Flight Orders

B Flight Orders - message dropping

B FLIGHT ORDERS FOR 10.11.1918
2517 0600 Lt Gregory    Lt Bett     Reconn: Bombs
4559 0900 Lt Sewell     Lt Whittles    – do –
2872 1200 Lt Bon        Capt Gordon    – do –
2707 1500 Lt Wallington Lt Paton       – do –
2500 0930 Lt Judd       Sandbags      MARQUISE.
2924 To be ready at 10.30.

All Pilots to report to the C.O. [Commanding Officer] or B.I.O. [Battalion Intelligence Officer] before going up.  All machines when coming home are to drop a message at Divisions giving position of the Hun front line troops, M.G.s etc. The same message to be dropped to our advanced troops.
                                          C.E. Gregory, Lt
                                          for O.C. B Flight

The position of the front line was changing rapidly.  In 24 hours it advanced 17 miles (27 km) from Tournai to just east of Ath:

Map of line held 10 November
Line held 9 November. Click for larger image. Map credit: Map Archive (adapted)

Lt Judd was nor part of the main action, though.  He was detailed to take RE8 2500 to Marquise, where No. 1 ASD was now based, as explained in the post for 3 June 1918.

 

© Copyright 2018- Andrew Sheard and licensors. All rights reserved.