The war experiences of 2nd Lt. C. E. Gregory RFC/RAF in 1918
Greg’s recovery continues and he takes to the air again, but only as a passenger with his friend Charlesworth at the controls of Greg’s new aircraft:
Date: 7.6.18 Remarks: Did not fly
Friday June 7th 1918. Feeling much better all round. Went up as passenger with Lt Charlesworth, testing engine of RE8 E116 – our new bus. Engine apparently OK.
Rather unsurprisingly after yesterday’s crash, Greg was in some pain and did not fly:
Date: 5.6.18 Remarks: Did not fly
Wednesday June 5th 1918. Did not fly. Found I had flattened my nose and blackened my eye. Shoulder painful.
On this day of being confined to the ground, 42 Squadron’s CO’s Daily Orders noted that Greg and the three others who came with him from Berck Plage (Cooper, Charlesworth and Mesinger; see link below) were posted to the squadron with effect from 3 June 1918:
Greg is allocated the wireless number 48, which he will include in signals from the aircraft to an artillery battery or the Central Wireless Station.
In Berck Plage, at the HQ of 2 Aeroplane Supply Depot, Greg learnt that he was posted to 42 Squadron, one of the RAF’s ‘corps’ squadrons. That evening, he began his journey to Aire-sur-la-Lys, the railhead for the squadron’s base, but didn’t get very far…
Saturday June 1st. Posted to No 42 Squadron, together with Cooper, Charlesworth & Mesinger. Left Bercque [sic] at 8 pm by lorry for Rang du Fliers, for train to Aire. Caught a train as far as Etaples. Stayed the night at the Officers’ Club.
So he travelled about 11 miles (18 km), going north back towards Boulogne:
