There was another air combat today at Neuf Berquin near Merville:
Air combat report. Click for larger image
Time: 6.30 a.m.
Locality: MERVILLE
Pilot: Capt. R. A. Archer, M.C.
Observer: 2/Lieut. H.C. Grimes
5 Albatros Scouts of whom only 3 persisted.
While over NEUF BERQUIN saw 5 aeroplanes patrolling about same height over ESTAIRES. Went on South. the 5 aeroplanes who proved to be hostile got into the sun over us. We turned towards our own lines. When about over L'EPINETTE, L.7.c, 3 dived on us firing. Seeing none of our own machines about we side-slipped home, recrossing the line at about 1500' at LE SART. During the whole of the fight, the Observer fired his gun at the E.A. but Pilot made no effort to get the Vickers on. 3 of the E.A. persisted in the attack until our lines were reached.
Map extract of Neuf Berquin, Estaires and Le Sart, from 1:40,000 series. Estaires is 15 miles (24 km) west of Lille and 4 miles (6 km) east of Merville. Each numbered square is 1,000 yds. Click for larger image. Credit: IWM/GreatWarDigital
Looks a bit like a late realisation that the aircraft were hostile. And then the pilot was fully preoccupied in getting them back to safety.
…almost 70 miles (110 km) to the north of the battle at Cantigny, 42 Squadron was having a busy day dealing with enemy aircraft, with three ‘Combats in the Air’ reports being filed about activity over Calonne and Le Sart, either side of the River Lys to the west of Merville, itself 17 miles (30 km) west of Lille:
Calonne and Le Sart, near Merville, from 1:40,000 scale map. Click for larger image. Map credit IWM/GreatWarDigital
1. Capt. Davis and Lt Chatterton
This crew had a tough time against 12 aircraft only three days ago on 25 May 1918.
Air combat report – click for larger image
Time: 5.15 a.m.
Locality: CALONNE
Pilot: Capt. A. E. Davis
Observer: Lieut. J. Chatterton, M.C.
Three small two-seater Fighters, and one with slight extensions on top plane.
While doing a shoot 4 E.A. appeared over CALONNE. I turned West but one machine dived on our tail and fired continuously.
Observer fired about 100 rounds into this E.A. which then turned away. The second then dived and also fired continuously. Observer fired another drum at about 200 yards into this E.A. which also turned East.
A third machine then dived on us but after firing about 100 rounds on us the whole formation withdrew East.
Vickers gun fired about 50 rounds at E.A. after they had turned East.
2. Lt. Welsh & 2/Lt. Watkins
Air combat report – click for larger image
Time: 10.30 a.m.
Locality: LE SART
Pilot: Lieut A. W. Welsh
Observer: 2/Lieut H. Watkins
Two seater, possibly Aviatik
R.E.A. [Reconnaissance Enemy Aircraft] obviously trying to bomb our trenches dropped 3 at LE SART, during which time he was fired at back by back and then front gun. He immediately flew back over MERVILLE to ESTAIRES.
3. Lts. Puckle and Nicolson
This was another crew that had seen air combat recently: on 19 May 1918 and 22 May 1918.
Air combat report – click for larger image
Time: 4.35 p.m.
Locality: CALONNE
Pilot: Lieut H. Puckle
Observer: Lieut J. F. W. Nicolson
Four two seaters, one with extensions, type unknown. Machine which fired on our tail had two guns. Machines had a blue bottom plane (underneath) and large blue patch under the fuselage. Very small black crosses.
While flying over CALONNE 4 E.A. two seaters were sighted. Pilot fired 25 rounds into 1 E.A., then gun jambed. E.A. then turned on R.E.8. and got one on the tail. Observer fired 250 rounds into this E.A. which turned East and flew with the others towards MERVILLE.
One machine had a kidney-shaped tail (not the one with extensions) thus: [see image] The extensions on the only E.A. which had them were short and square.
