Meanwhile, in France…
On the day Greg begins flight training, the RE8s of 42 Squadron RFC, his future squadron in France, arrive at Fienvillers in the Somme department from Poggia Renatico, near Ferrara in Italy. The squadron had been in Italy since November 1917. Fienvillers is some 16 miles/25 km NNW of Amiens.
42 Squadron had been formed on 1 April 1916 at Filton, near Bristol. It left for France in August 1916 and was successively located at St Omer, La Gorgue (near Merville, on the Lys, west of Lille), Ballieul and Fienvillers/Candas (Somme). A tour of Italy followed (Santa Pelagio, Istrana, Grossa, Santa Luca and Poggia Renatico), before returning to Fienvillers on 14 March 1918. Hat tip to Trevor ‘fetubi’ of The Great War Forum for the list of 42 Squadron locations.