Sixty Squadron R.A.F.: A History of the Squadron from its Formation

CHAPTER VI

Chapter 79,470 wordsPublic domain

DEMOBILISATION

The latter half of November and the first week of December was a period of suspense. No one quite knew what was to happen, nor did the first circulars on the subject, even the famous one beginning, “And Joshua bade the people disperse every man to his own place,” clear up the situation very much. It was not, in fact, until Mr. Churchill had been appointed Secretary of State for War and Air, and had laid down the broad principle that men over thirty-five and those who had enlisted before January 1, 1916, were to be allowed to go and that the rest must stay, that we knew where we were at all. It was difficult, also, to find employment from day to day for the men. Association football, however, was always popular, concerts and boxing contests were frequently held, while horses and dogs were borrowed and hare-hunting was attempted.

One form of hare-hunting became very popular: the idea--which originated with Louis Strange, then commanding a wing--was to proceed as follows: All officers and men in the wing who wished to take part assembled, to the number of two or three hundred, at “the meet,” and filed away in opposite directions, the leaders of each file turning gradually inwards until a circle nearly a mile in diameter was enclosed by men about twenty yards apart. The circle being completed, they began to walk towards the centre. Usually three or four hares, and sometimes many more, got up within the cordon and ran frantically round until they either broke through or were knocked over with sticks. The shouting and noise arising during the proceedings testified to the popularity of this form of sport. Despite these diversions, time hung rather heavily on their hands until, at last, by the end of February 1919, all the demobilisable officers and men had gone, and those who remained were sent up by train as reinforcements to the R.A.F. with the Army of the Rhine. On a bitterly cold evening this remnant entrained in covered trucks, under sad skies with snow falling heavily, to commence their eastward journey, in typically military fashion, by travelling due west to Etaples. After this nothing remained but to dispatch the cadre with the records back to England, and the two officers and ten men remaining accordingly departed on February 28, bound for Sedgeford, in Norfolk.

The squadron remained dormant for a time, but was re-formed towards the end of the year, and is now equipped with De Havilland 10s, large twin-engined machines, and is stationed in India.

THE BATTLE OF AMIENS disengaged Amiens, until then in range of the German guns, and freed the Paris-Amiens railway. Our attack was then transferred to the north in

[Sidenote: _21st Aug.-31st Aug._ 23 Divs. defeated 35 German Divs.]

THE BATTLE OF BAPAUME which, turning the flank of the German positions on the Somme, compelled the enemy to withdraw to the east bank of the river. His new positions were then turned from the north by

[Sidenote: _26th Aug.-3rd Sept._ 7 Divs. defeated 13 German Divs.]

THE BATTLE OF ARRAS by which the Drocourt-Quéant line was broken and the enemy was forced to fall back on the outer defences of the Hindenburg line. As the direct result of these battles

The LYS Salient was evacuated by the enemy and we regained Lens-Merville-Bailleul-Kemmel Hill and freed Hazebrouck and the important railways there. Then came

[Sidenote: _18th Sept.-19th Sept._ 14 Divs. defeated 15 German Divs.]

THE BATTLE OF EPEHY which broke through the outer Hindenburg defences and brought us into position for attack on the main line in

[Sidenote: _27th Sept.-10th Oct._ 35 Inf., 3 Cav. and 2 American Divs. defeated 45 German Divs.]

THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN which in ten days of victorious fighting broke through the last and strongest of the enemy’s fully prepared positions, opening the way to a war of movement and an advance on the German main lines of communication. These great assaults fell into three main phases:--

1. The storming of the Canal du Nord on the left of our attack and the advance on Cambrai, followed immediately by

2. THE GREAT BLOW WHICH SHATTERED THE HINDENBURG LINE AND TURNED THE DEFENCES OF ST. QUENTIN.

3. The development of these successes by a general attack on the whole front which broke through the last of the German defences in the rear of the Hindenburg Line, forcing the enemy to evacuate Cambrai and St. Quentin and fall back on the line of the River Selle. These battles, striking at vital enemy communications, created a huge salient in his lines. Meanwhile further north in

[Sidenote: _28th Sept.-29th Sept._ 9 Divs. defeated 5 German Divs.]

THE BATTLE OF YPRES British and Belgians forced the enemy back from Ypres and drove a salient into his lines which endangered his positions on the Belgian Coast. This success was extended by

[Sidenote: _14th Oct.-31st Oct._ 7 British Divs. defeated 6 German Divs.]

THE BATTLE OF COURTRAI which widened and deepened this salient and resulted in the capture of Halluin, Menin and Courtrai. This series of battles north and south had as their immediate result, in the south,

THE EVACUATION OF LAON and the retreat of the enemy to the line of the Aisne, and, in the centre,

THE WITHDRAWAL TO THE SCHELDT in which Lille and the great industrial district of France were freed there, and in the north.

THE CLEARING OF THE BELGIAN COAST, whereby the enemy was deprived of his important submarine bases at Ostend, Zeebrugge and Bruges. The enemy was now back on the line of the Selle and Scheldt rivers.

[Sidenote: _17th Oct.-25th Oct._ 26 British Divs. defeated 31 German Divs.]

THE BATTLE OF THE SELLE forced him from the line of that river and drove still another salient into his defences. It was followed by the final blow--

[Sidenote: _1st Nov.-11th Nov._ 26 British Divs. defeated 32 German Divs.]

THE BATTLE OF MAUBEUGE, which struck at and broke the enemy’s last important lateral communications, turned his positions on the Scheldt and forced him to retreat rapidly from Courtrai. This victory completed the great strategical aim of the whole series of battles by dividing, in effect, the enemy’s forces into two parts, one on each side of the great natural barrier of the Ardennes. The pursuit of the beaten enemy all along the Allied line was only stopped by the Armistice. ]

Most of the officers and men are new, but such veterans as are available will be drafted back when circumstances allow, and there is no old member of the squadron who is not confident that the new formation will add to that high reputation which 60 has enjoyed from the day of its birth, and which we, who served in it, have helped to build, or, at all events, have tried our hardest not to damage.

Though the records, owing to a fire in the squadron office in November 1916, may perhaps be not quite complete, yet the destruction of 274 enemy aircraft can be traced.

The honours gained by officers or men, whilst serving in the squadron, are:

1 V.C. 5 D.S.O.s. 1 Bar to D.S.O. 37 Military Crosses. 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses.

The map which will be found at the end of this chapter is published by permission of Field-Marshal Earl Haig, and shows very clearly the ground gained and the prisoners taken by the victorious British armies during the last three months of the war.

APPENDIX I

LIST OF OFFICERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN 60 SQUADRON

TOGETHER WITH THE DECORATIONS GAINED BY THEM, NOT NECESSARILY IN THE SQUADRON; ALL OFFICERS ARE SHOWN IN THE HIGHEST RANK TO WHICH THEY ATTAINED DURING THE WAR.

APPENDIX II

BATTLE CASUALTIES

In this list each officer is given in the rank which he held at the time he was wounded or missing. It is very apparent that it was during April 1917 that the squadron went through the bitterest fighting. There were 20 casualties in this month alone. The worst month after this was September 1917, with 8 casualties, while in July and again in September 1918, 6 pilots “went west.”

These figures show clearly the increase in the intensity of air fighting as the contest wore on. In August 1916, when 60 was still a two-seater squadron with only one scout flight, we lost 5 pilots and 2 observers; this was thought at the time to be high, as indeed it was according to the standard of those days, though several other squadrons lost more heavily during the Somme. Nevertheless, the figures show only too clearly that the Arras fighting was far the severest trial 60 ever had, for during April 1917 the losses were 105 per cent. The total number of Battle Casualties is 115, sustained during 29 months of war flying, giving an average of just under 4 per month, or nearly one a week.

An analysis of the figures shows that 76 of these 115 were killed, while 39 are alive, unless, indeed, they were killed with another squadron later in the war: but this could only have happened to the 21 wounded who got back to their own side of the lines.

Of the 72 missing, 54 are dead, 17 were repatriated from Germany, while one, Ridley, escaped.

Though it was true to say that roughly half of our missing in the Air Force were alive, it will be seen that in 60’s case the average was much smaller, only 25 per cent. instead of 50 per cent.

FOOTNOTES

[1] By means of which the machine is tilted sideways.

[2] Anti-aircraft or high-angle guns on the ground.

[3] All flying machines were known as “grids” in the squadron.

[4] The F.E.8 was a “pusher” machine, that is with the engine and propeller behind the pilot. It was used for reconnaissance work at this time, but later became one of our night-bombing aeroplanes.

[5] Used for signals. It fired a kind of cartridge from which a flaming ball was discharged of red, green, or white lights.

[6] The weekly official record of work done by the R.F.C., including all scraps in which the Hun “crashed” or “went down out of control.”

[7] Anti-aircraft guns or shells.

[8] It is very difficult to fly by compass in clouds for any length of time.

[9] Kite balloon.

[10] These machines were some of the first to be used for reconnaissance purposes. They did about ninety miles an hour “all out,” and were therefore difficult to handle against the faster Albatros. It is very often the duty of reconnaissance machines not to engage in a fight, as their news may be lost.

[11] When every machine gets mixed up in a sort of mêlée.

[12] Either of the D3 or D5 type, which was generally used by the enemy at this time. It was an efficient machine for speed, but could not climb as well as our scouts.

[13] A machine is spinning when it is diving towards the ground turning in a corkscrew fashion.

[14] Most fighting is now done in “formation,” that is in an organised pack. Either the machines fly in the shape of a wedge or a diamond, or in some order which is most convenient to the “leader.”

[15] It is very often impossible to watch a machine after it has been hit until it “crashes.” It is, therefore, counted as out of control. Sometimes this was used as a “blind” by some pilots to escape. They simply let the machine do what it liked, and when near the ground took control again.

[16] A vehicle used for moving dismantled aeroplanes by road.

[17] A pet name used for artillery machines of the B.E. type.

[18] The Huns always used to bombard certain areas in the morning and evening. These bombardments were known as the morning and evening hate.

[19] These rockets were invented by a Frenchman and used for balloon strafing. They were placed in cases on the struts, and were fired by electricity. The rocket was about 1½ feet long and the stick about 3 feet.

[20] These are used, generally in the ratio of one to four ordinary or armour-piercing bullets, to show the general direction in which the burst of fire is going. Instead of being filled with lead like the ordinary bullet, they contain phosphorus, which commences to burn as soon as the bullet is discharged from the machine gun, and leaves behind it a trail of smoke and fire to mark its course.

[21] A number of balls of fire fastened together and shot up into the air in order to fall over the attacking machine and bring it down in flames.

[22] A type of machine gun. The bullets are fed from a “drum” which is automatically turned when the gun fires.

[23] The tail plane which is used to direct the machine up or down.

[24] Tennis.

[25] A pilot who has brought down five or more enemy machines.

[26] Corresponds to an Adjutant in an infantry battalion.

[27] Bishop.

[28] _A.M.L.O._: Assistant Military Landing Officer.

[29] Bishop, who got his V.C. for this.

[30] An indefinitely large number.

[31] Trick flying.

[32] A formidable line of trenches branching off from the main Hindenburg line of Quéant and defending Douai.

[33] A stream flowing north of Arras.

[34] Same as wind up, or fright.

[35] One of the most famous formations of enemy scouts, composed of the “crack” German pilots. Their machines generally had red bodies.

[36] A piece of aluminium shaped so as to cover the engine.

[37] A main plane is made up of two spars on which the ribs are fixed.

[38] Body of the machine.

[39] A barbarous word invented by the Army, and which means “alighting from an omnibus.”

[40] This, I am afraid, is not quite accurate, as a glance at Appendix II will show.

[41] Ypres.

[42] Cassel.

[43] A type of hangar invented by a Frenchman and generally used on our aerodromes in France.

[44] A method used to bring a machine down quickly without gaining speed.

[45] Air mechanics.

[46] Bishop.

[47] Scott.

[48] Scott.

[49] G. L. Lloyd.

[50] Penny.

[51] The S.E.5s.

[52] Bishop.

[53] Bishop.

[54] Home Establishment.

INDEX

“Ace,” a French, 60 _and note_[25]

Adam, Lieut. A. R., 128, 136

Adinfer Wood, 35; German trenches, 37-8

Aeroplane Supply Depot, No. 1, 112

Air Board Training Division, 87

Air Force Mechanical Transport, work of, 116-17

Albatros machines, 29-30, 31-2, 38, 42 _note_[10], 43 _and note_[12], 54, 55, 88, 103

Albert, 30

Allenby, General, inspection of 60 Squadron, 53, 56-7; sent to Egypt, 106

Americans, the, at Beugnatre, 118; men serving in English scout squadrons, 121-2

Amiens, 13, 106, 115-16; a dinner in, 118

Anderson, Lieut. J. R., 128, 137

“Archie” gunners, 8, 22, 34 _and note_[7], 35, 51-3

Armistice, the, 90, 122-4

Armstrong, Capt. D. V., 3, 8, 11, 15, 17-19; death, 72-3, 128

-- Lieut. J. L., 128

Army of the Rhine, 126

Arras, 26, 56, 67; battle of, 22, 30-64

Arras-Albert Sector, the German retreat, 32-3

Arras-Cambrai road, 11-12

Artillery horses, 83

Artillery registration, German, 58-9, 61-2

Aspinall, Sergt.-Major, 4-5, 23

Atkinson, Lieut. F. L., 128, 136

Ayling, 2/Lieut. W. R., 128

B.E. machines, 9, 41

B.E.2C. machines, 2

Baalman, Lieut. J., 128

Bacon, Lieut. D. H., 128, 135

Bailleul aerodrome, 105

Baisieux, 116

Baker, Lieut. C. G., 128

Balfour, Major H. H., 3, 90, 128; description of a flight, 11-13

Ball, Captain A., 15-17, 39, 73, 81, 128

-- Lieut. A. C., 88-9, 128, 137

“Balloon strafing,” 20-1, 38, 47-48; account by Captain Molesworth, 50-3

Bancroft, Sergt., 69, 136

Bapaume, 15, 17, 18, 36, 94, 118

Barnaby, Capt. H. O., of the “archie” gunners, 22

Barnett, Lieut. H. J. O., 128

Barrington-Kennet, Basil, 4

Bartlett, Lieut. J. N., 106, 128

Baths, camp, 95, 96

Battle, F/Officer H. F. V., 128, 138

Beck, Capt. A., 115, 122, 128

Belgian troops, rations and ammunitions for, 116

Belgrave, Capt. J. D., 73, 111, 128, 137

Bellevue, 105-6

Bell-Irving, Major A. D., 3, 15, 17, 21, 23, 128, 135

Bessoneau hangars, 94 _and note_[43]

Beugnatre, 116, 118

Bigood, 2/Lieut. J., 3, 128

Binnie, Capt. A., 39, 44-5, 128, 136

Biplanes, Morane, 5, 6

Bishop, Lieut.-Col. W. A., 40, 45, 47, 49, 61-3, 66, 73, 81, 90, 97, 101-2, 104, 112, 128

Black Boy, dog, 96

Black, Capt. C. T., 39, 128

Blake, Capt. C. L., 128

Blessley, Lieut. R. C. W., 128

Boffles, 60 Squadron at, 106, 116

Boisdinghem, 60 Squadron moved to, 8

Booby traps, 36, 38, 123

Boulogne, 83

Bourlon Wood, 118

Bower, 2/Lieut. F., 47-8, 129, 135

Brackenbury, Lieut. H. S., 45, 129

Breguet machine, 119-21

Bright, 89279 2/A.M. H. H., 137

Bristol machines, 2, 39, 115

Browning-Paterson, Capt. H. A., 3, 129, 135

Bruay mines, 57

Brussels, 9

Bryant, Capt. W. E. G., 3, 129, 135

Bryning, Lieut. H. E. W., 129

Buckingham bullets, 21, 51

Buckley, 2/Lieut. H., 115, 129, 137

“Bullets,” Morane, 5, 6-8, 11

Burbidge, 2/Lieut. E. A., 129

Burke, _Reflections on the Revolution in France_, _quoted_, 74-5

Burning machine, a, described, 102-3

Busigny, 15

Caffyn, Lieut. C. McH. M., 45-6, 129, 135

Caldwell, Major K. L., 28, 31, 39, 57, 66, 70, 73, 129

Callaghan, Lieut. L. K., 118

Cambrai, 15, 50, 56, 118, 122; attack November 20, 79

Camel machines on the Somme, 18; for 151 Squadron, 71; for 148 Squadron, 117

Campbell, Lieut. K. T., 129

Canada, the elections, 84

Canadian cavalry, 40

Canadians, first contingent, 40; in the R.A.F., 81

Capel, Lieut. L. H. T., 129

Carleton, Capt. C. W., 129

Carlyle, Lieut. W. M., 129, 135

Carter, Lieut. A., 70, 129

Cass, 2/Lieut. W. E., 129

Cassel, 70, 86

Casualties, the first Flying Corps, 13; list of, 134-8

Caswell, Lieut. G. F., 129, 138

Caudry Station blown up, 123

Caunter, Capt. J. C. A., 129, 137

Cavendish, Lord John, ideal of a gentleman’s character, 74, 78-9

Cecil, Lord Hugh, on the education of the future R.A.F. officer, 74, 124

Cemeteries, German, 36

Central Flying School, Uphaven, 3, 81

Chapman, 2/Lieut. L. C., 129, 136

“Character of a gentleman,” 74-9

Charles, Capt. L. S., 129, 135

Chidlaw-Roberts, Capt. R. L., 70, 73, 129

Chinese coolies, 83-4

Chipilly, 47

Christie, 2/Lieut. E. W., 129, 137

Church Army huts, 84

Churchill, Mr., 125

Cinema, the, 101

“Circus,” the, red-painted German machines, 30, 38, 54, 67 _and note_[35]

Cizancourt Bridge, 19

Clare, Capt. S., 129

Clark, Capt. F. W., 89, 129

-- 2/Lieut. L. L., 3, 129, 135

-- 2/Lieut. R. B., 48-9, 129, 136

Clarke, Major A. C., 114, 129; Armistice dinner, 123-4

Clay, T., Flight Commander, 118

Clouds, difficulties of flying in, 34-5

Cock, Lieut. J. H., 129, 136

Cole, A/Capt. E. S. T., 129

Collier, Capt. J., 129

_Comic Cuts_, 27 _and note_[6]

Compass, use in clouds, 34 _and note_[8]

Compass stations, 58-9

Conrad, on the west wind, 109-10

Cooper bombs, 18, 19, 70

Copeland, Capt. W. H. K., 106, 129

Courcelette, 15

Court, Lieut. G. F., 129

Craig, 2/Lieut. G. B., 129, 137

Crane, Lieut. F. D., 129

Crashes, 91

Crawford, Capt. K., 129, 137

Creech, Lieut. J. O., 118

Croisille, 34

Crompton, Lieut. H. D., 89, 90, 129

-- Lieut. J. B., 70, 129

Cros, Lieut. G. L. Du, 129

Crowe, Major C. M., 114, 129

Cunningham, Lieut. C. F., 129

Dainville, 32

Dalmeny, Lord, 106

Daly, F/Lieut. A. P. V., 31, 129

Davies, Capt. I. Meredyth, 111, 129

Day, Lieut. W. B., 129

De Havilland machines, 115; 60 Squadron equipped with, 126

“Debussing,” term, 72 _and note_[39]

Delay-action mines, 36, 123

Dell-Clarke, Capt. G. C., 129, 137

Demobilisation, 125-7

Densham, 2/Lieut. E. W. C., 129

Devastation by the enemy, 35-6

Dixmude, 119

Dobson, F/Lieut. G. W., 24-5, 129

Doby, batman, 14

“Dog-fights,” 43 _and note_[11], 54

Dogs of 60 Squadron, 84, 96

“Dope” treatment for aeroplane fabric, 28

Douai, 9, 42, 47, 54, 66 _note_[32], 88, 94

Doullens, 105

Doullens-Amiens road, 8

Doyle, Capt. J. E., 115, 129, 137

Drocourt Switch, 66 _and note_[32]

Drocourt-Quéant Switch, 94

Drummond, Lieut. L., 129

Drysdale, Capt. J. M., 129, 135

Duck-boards, 83

Dug-outs, German, 36-8

Duncan, Capt. G. M., 115, 116, 129

-- Capt. W. J. A., 73, 89, 90, 106, 111, 129

Dutch frontier escapes, 9

Eleventh Wing, the, 60 Squadron moved to, 65, 69

Elgood, 2/Lieut. J., 129

Elliott, Lieut. G. F., 129

-- Lieut. J. McC., 47, 130, 136

Engines, air-cooled rotaries, 25, 65; water-cooled stationaries, 25, 65-6

Epinoy aerodrome, 114

Estrées-en-Chaussée, attacks on, 18-20

Etaples, 63, 126

Evans, Lieut. C. D., 89, 130

“Evening hate,” 49 _and note_[18]

F.E.8 machines, 26 _and note_[4], 94, 95

Fampoux, 47

Fienvilliers, 106

Fifth Army, 70

Fighting in the air, conditions, 108-9

Filescamp Farm, 60 Squadron established at, 24, 57, 69-70

First Army front, night-bombing, 72; the Cambrai attack, 79

Fitzgerald, 2/Lieut. J. J., 130, 137

Flintoft, 2/Lieut. H. T., 130

“Flying Pig,” the, 43

Flynn, 2/Lieut. J. H., 130, 137

Foch, Maréchal, 119-20

Fokkers, produced autumn 1915, 2; not distinguishable from the “bullets,” 8; on the Somme, 12; the D7, 115; low-flying, 117-18

Folkestone, 62

Foot, Major E. L., 8, 15, 130

Football teams, 23, 82-3, 125

Formation, fighting in, 43 _and note_[14]

Forsyth, 2/Lieut. C. V., 130

France, Lieut. C. W., 130

French Flying Corps, 119-20

Frost, effect on Hun flying, 25, 31

Fry, Capt. W. M., 46, 50, 130

Gallais, Capt. P. E. M. Le, 130

Gallipoli, 39

Garnett, Lieut. W. P., 130, 135

Gavrelle, 67

German Flying Corps, 117, 122

German retreat, March 1917, 33, 34; prisoners at Cassel, 86-7; courtesy, 88

Gibbon, Lieut. F. O., 130

Gilchrist, Lieut. W., 130, 136

-- Major E. J. L. W., 8, 15, 17, 21, 31, 130, 135

Giles, Capt. G. A., 23, 130

Gnome Martinsyde scout, 23

Good, Lieut. H., 3, 130

Goodrich, Capt. F. E., 130

Gordon, Lieut. H. A., 111-12, 130, 137

Gosport School of Special Flying, 2, 14, 17

Gotha biplanes, 18

Gramophone Company factory at Hayes, 5

Grandin, 2/Lieut. R. J., 45, 130, 136

Graves, Major E. P., command of 60 Squadron, 23, 24; death of, 30, 31, 130, 135

Gray, Capt. D. B., 3, 130

Grenfell, Capt. E. O., 8, 15, 31-2, 130, 135

“Grids,” the term, 26 _and note_[3], 28

Griffith, Lieut. J. S., 90, 106, 111, 130, 137

Gunner, 2/Lieut. W. H., 130, 136

Gun-oil, non-freezing, 31

Guy, Capt. H. W., 130

Haig, Field-Marshal Earl, 116, 127

Hall, Lieut. C. S., 41, 47, 66, 130, 136

-- Lieut. J. G., 130, 137

Hamer, Lieut. H., 130

Hammersley, Capt. H. A., 70, 73, 89, 90, 106, 130

Hammond, Lieut. H. T., 130, 136

Hare-hunting, 125-6

Harlow, 2/Lieut. L. P., 130

Harris, Lieut. H., 3, 130

-- 2/Lieut. R. M., 130, 136

Havrincourt Wood, 15, 117

Hawtrey, 2/Lieut. J. J. A., 130, 136

Hayes, 5

Headlam, Lieut. J., 130, 137

Heenan, Major J. N. O., 3, 130

Hegarty, Capt. H. G., 89, 106, 111, 130

Hem, 106

Hemsworth, Lieut. G. W., 84-6, 130

Henderson, Lieut. C. R., 130

-- Lieut. N. P., 130, 136

Herbert, Capt. E. G., 31, 130, 135

Hervey, Lieut. H. E., 45, 130, 136

Hickson, 2/Lieut. F. A., 130

Higgins, Brig.-Gen. J. F. A., 22, 23, 57; account of Ball’s feats, 16-17

Hill, Sqdn.-Leader R. M., 8, 15, 17, 21, 130

Hindenburg Line, 34, 94, 99; German retreat to, 123

Hispano Suisa engine, 65, 66, 90

Holland, Capt. C., 130

Honours gained by 60 Squadron, 127

Hopper, 2/Lieut. R., 31, 130, 135

Horn, F/Lieut. S. B., 57, 66, 130

Hôtel Continental at Paris-Plage, 63

Howard, 2/Lieut. E. S., 130, 136; an adventure at Roeux, 46-7

Hun _Jagdstaffeln_, 65

Hunter, Lieut. G. D., 130, 136

Hussars, the 19th, 3, 24

Incendiary bombs, 19, 21

Independent Air Force, 120

India, 60 Squadron stationed in, 126

Iron Cross, 27

Izel le Hameau aerodrome, 21-4, 91

Jenkins, Lieut. W. E., 66, 69, 70, 130, 137

Johnson, Lieut. O. P., 116, 130

Johnston, Lieut. B. S., 130

Jones, Lieut. R. N. K., 130

Joyce, Lieut. P. S., 131, 135

Kate, dog, 96

Kean, Capt. R. C., 131

Keddie, Capt. G. D. F., 3, 131

Keen, Lieut. S. W., 131, 137

Kelly, Lieut. C. M., 131

Kemmel Hill, 120

Kent, 2/Lieut. W. M., 89-90, 131, 137

Kerr, Lieut. J. F. M., 131

Kight, 2/Lieut. J. L., 131

Kimbell, 2/Lieut. R. E., 131, 136

Kindley, F. E., 18

King, 2/Lieut. C. H. M., 131

Kingwill, Capt. A. N., 131

Kirkpatrick, Lieut. R. A., 131

Kirton, Capt. H., 131

Kite balloons, hostile, firing of, 20-21, 38

“Kite,” name applied to the Morane biplane, 6

Knowles, Capt. M. B., 41, 131, 136

-- Lieut. R. H., 3, 131

Langwill, Lieut. T., 47, 131, 136

Latta, Capt. J. D., 15, 17, 131

Laurie-Reid, 2/Lieut. J., 3, 131

Laurier, election of, 84

Law, Capt. J. K., 70-1, 131, 137

-- Mr. Bonar, 70

Le Cateau, 122

Le Hameau, 56

Le Prieur rockets, 20, 21, 51 _and note_[19]

Le Quesnoy, 123

Le Rhone engine, 6, 7, 28, 65

Leckie, 2/Lieut. L. H., 131

Lens, 44

Lewis, Col., 22

-- Lieut. H. M., 131

-- Lieut. R. G., 111-12, 131, 137

Lewis guns, 7, 28, 52 _and note_[22], 55, 90

Lille, 14

Lloyd, Capt. E. A., 131

-- Lieut. D. R. C., 50, 57, 131, 136

-- Major G. L., 50, 57, 66, 98-9, 131

Lobo, dog, 66

Locre Château, 72

London Colney, in Herts, 118

London, defence of, 19

Loraine, Robert, 22

Losses, calculation of, 107-8; German method, 108

Loughram, Lieut. L. B., 131, 137

Louw, 2/Lieut. J. C., 131

Low flying, 47

Lucheux, Château of, 98

Lund, Lieut. R. J. S., 131

Lys, the, 120

McCall, Capt. J. D., 131

McCarthy, Lieut. W. F., 131

McCracken, Lieut. E. J. C., 131, 137

McCudden, Major J. B., 112-4, 131

McEntegart, F/Lieut. B., 116, 131

MacGregor, Lieut. I. C., 70, 131, 137

Machines, faulty, 45-6

Mackey, 2/Lieut. N. C., 131

McKissock, 2/Lieut. C. D., 131, 136

McLean, Lieut. C. T., 118

Maclennan, 2/Lieut. R. D., 131, 137; his letters _quoted_, 80-7

MacVicker, Lieut. J. E. C., 131, 137

Marie Capelle aerodrome, 70, 80, 88, 91; described by 2/Lieut. R. W. Maclennan, 81-7

Marlborough in Flanders, 98

Marquise, 112

Martin, 2/Lieut. H. E., 131, 135

Martinpuich, 15

Mason, F/Officer S. J., 116, 131

Maubeuge, 123

Meintjies, Major H., 3, 8, 15, 17, 23, 31, 39, 131

Menin, 73

Mesopotamia, 70

Message-dropping, novel system, 72-3

Messines Ridge, 65

Metz, 120

Middlemas, Capt. P., 23, 131

Millar, 2/Lieut. S. C., 131

Milot, Major J. A., 45, 131, 136

Moislans, 19

Molesworth, Capt. W. E., 38, 47, 57, 131; letters of, describing fights, _quoted_, 25-7, 35-8, 42-4, 50-3, 66-9; on the feelings and emotions of a scout pilot, 92-105; honours for, 66, 105

Molyneux, Capt. H. A. S., 131

Monchy-au-Bois, 35

Monchy-le-Preux, 55

Mons, 13, 14

Moore, Major B. F., 88, 112, 131

Moranes (French machine) supplied to 60 Squadron, 3, 5, 6-8, 11, 91

Morey, Lieut. A. W., 88, 131, 137

Morris, Lieut. D. H., 131

Morse, Capt. F. J., 131

Mowle, Lieut. A. W. M., 132, 136

Murray, Lieut. D. C. G., 132, 136

Nancy, 118

Netheravon, 23

Newman, “Idea of a University” _quoted_, 74, 76-8

Newth, 2/Lieut. W. B., 132

Newton, 2/Lieut. H. J., 3, 132, 135

Nicholson, Lieut. B., 14, 132

Nicod, Sergt., 22

Nieuport machines, given to 1 Squadron, 2; 60 Squadron equipped with, 21-2, 54-5; description, 27-9, 65, 91; the Albatros and, compared, 38; given to 29 Squadron, 41

Night bombing, Hun, 71-2

Night Flying Squadron 151, 17

Ninth Division in Gallipoli, 39

Nissen huts, 24, 96

O’Beirne, Lieut. J. I. M., 3, 132

Offensive, March 1918, 92-124

Oliver, Lieut. A. R., 132

“Onions, flaming,” 52 _and note_[21]

Ormsby, Lieut. J. A. N., 132, 135

Orpen, Lieut. H. C. M., 116, 132

Ortner, Lieut. E. R., 132

Osborne, Lieut. F. H., 132

Osmond, Lieut. G. E., 132

Overy, Lieut. C. F., 3, 132

Oxford, 85

Painting the “grids,” 97

Parachutes, 115-16

“Parasols,” Morane, for 60 Squadron, 5-6

Paris, machines from, 45

Paris-Plage, 63

Parker, Capt. G. A., 132, 135

-- Major S. E., 132

Parkes, Lieut. F. C., 132

-- Lieut. G. A. H., 132, 136

Parry, Capt. C., 132, 137

Passchendale, 65-91, 119

Patrick, Major C. K. Cochrane, 65, 70, 87, 132

Patterson, Major C., 132

Penny, Capt. A. R., 46, 47, 100, 132

Percival, Lieut. E. W., 132

Pfalz scouts, 112

Phalen, 2/Lieut. R. M., 132, 136

Phillippi, Capt. G., 15, 21, 132, 135

Photographs taken by 60 Squadron, 42

Pidcock, F/Officer G. A. H., 50, 132

“Pink Lady,” the, 30

Pope, F/Officer S. L., 79, 132

Poperinghe, 66, 71

Portal, Lieut. C. F. A., 3, 132

Pretyman, Col., 22, 57

Price, 2/Lieut. O., 132

Priestley, Lieut. J. O., 89, 132

Proctor, Lieut. H. N. J., 132, 137

Quéant, 66 _note_[32]

Quievy, 116, 122

R.A.S., No. 1, 3

Radford (Basil Hallam), 11

Ransart, 35

Rayner, Capt. E. B. A., 132

-- Capt. J. W., 116-18, 132

Read, Lieut. F. K., 132

Recording Officer, work of the, 66 _and note_[32]

Richthofen, 38

-- Freiherr von, 30

Ridley, 2/Lieut. C. A., 3, 9-10, 132, 134, 135

Robertson, Lieut. N. McL., 132, 135

-- 2/Lieut. D. M., 132, 136

Roeux, attack on, 46-7

Ross, 2/Lieut. H. G., 46, 47, 132, 136

Roth, Lieut. J. A., 132

Roulers, 70

Roxburgh-Smith, Capt. B., 132

Royal Air Force, official formation, 88

Royal Flying Corps, number of squadrons, 2; ground operations, 46; amalgamation with the R.N.A.S., 88

Royal Military College, 40

Royal Munster Fusiliers, 92

Royal Naval Air Force, 2

Royal Naval Air Service, 88

Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 88

Roystan, Lieut. N. C., 132, 137

Rumpler or L.V.G., 113

Russell, Lieut. W. O., 132, 136

Rutherford, Capt., 66, 69, 70, 73, 132

S. E. 5s, 39, 54, 112; 60 Squadron equipped with, 65-6, 73, 81, 90-1, 101

St. André, 21

St. Omer, 3, 5, 83

St. Pol, 22, 88

St. Quentin, 15

Salmond, Gen. Sir J., 14, 88

Saunders, Lieut. A. W., 111, 112, 115, 132

Savy aerodrome and village, 22, 23

Scarpe, the, 67; valley, 41, 46

Scholte, Capt. O. J. F., 73, 111, 132

Scott, Major A. J. L., 132, 136; commander 60 Squadron, 30-1; wing commander, 65; honour for, 97-8; wounded, 98-101

Scouts, method of work in 1916, 8-9

Seabrook, Capt. J., 132

Second Army in Ypres Sector, 65; report centre, 70, 72

Sedgeford in Norfolk, 126

Seely, Gen., 14

Selous, Capt. F. H. B., 73-4, 132, 137

Sergt.-Major, technical work, 5

Sherwood, Lieut., 70, 132, 137

Sillars, Lieut. R. G., 132

Simpson, Lieut. J. H., 3, 11, 133

Sinclair, 2/Lieut. M. D., 116, 133

Small, Lieut.-Col. B. C. D., account of Capt. Armstrong, 17-20

Smart, 2/Lieut. G. O., 41, 133, 136

-- Sqdn.-Leader H. G., 3, 133

Smith, Lieut. J. E., 133, 137

-- Lieut. L. H., 133, 138

-- Lieut. R. H., 133

-- 2/Lieut. H. S., 137

Smith-Barry, Lieut.-Col. R. R., 133; flight commander, 3, 8, 11-13, 13-15; at Gosport, 17; a farewell dinner, 22-3

Smyrk, 5

Soden, Lieut. F. O., 73, 89, 133

Somers, Capt. A. S. M., 3

Somme, the, work of 60 Squadron, 11-29

Sopwith two-seaters, 30, 42 _and note_[10]

Southwell, Lieut. L. V., 133, 137

Sowrey, Sqdn.-Leader W., 133

“Spad,” a, given to Major Foot, 15

Spandau guns, 38, 55

Spencer, Lieut. J. M. J., 133, 135

Spies, method of landing, 9-10

Springs, Lieut., 118

Squadron, No. 1 Reserve Aeroplane, 2; 3 Squadron, 114; 7 Squadron, 40; 11 Squadron, 41, 114; 17 American Squadron, 118-9; 20 Squadron, 23, 70; 23 Squadron, 65; 29 Squadron, 41, 50, 71, 113; 40 Squadron, 66; 43 Squadron, 30, 90; 48 Squadron, 39; 56 Squadron, 39, 54, 113, 114, 119-20; 70 Squadron, 71; 74 Squadron, 39; 85 Squadron, 112, 114; 148 American Squadron, 117-119; 151 Squadron, 17-20, 71-2; 201 Squadron, 118

Squadron, 60, formation, 1-10; inspection by Gen. Allenby, 53, 56-7; honours gained by, 127

Stedman, Lieut. F., 133, 136

Steele, 2/Lieut. R. B., 69, 133

Stockwell, 2/Lieut. L. G., 133, 138

Stookes, T/Capt. V. A., 133

Strange, Louis, 125

Stuart-Smith, 2/Lieut. H. S., 133

Sullock, Lieut. E. A., 133

Summers, Capt. A. S. M., 15, 21, 73, 133, 135

Sussex Yeomanry, 30

Synchronising gear, none on the Moranes, 7

Talbot, 2/Lieut. H. E., 133

Taylor, Capt. H. S., 133

Temperley, Capt. G. J., 133

Tennant, Lieut. G. E., 133

Tennis at Files Camp Farm, 57

Tetus, M., demesne of, 24, 57

Thamer, Lieut. O., 133, 137

Third Army Front, Arras, 30, 31; night bombing on, 72; the Cambrai attack, 79

Third Corps attack, Aug. 1917, 69

Thirteenth Wing, 105, 117, 119

Thomson, 2/Lieut. S. A., 133, 137

Thornton, F/Officer E., 133

Tounshend, Mr. Thos., 79

Tower, Capt. H. C., 3, 15, 133, 135

Townesend, F/Lieut. E. J. D., 133, 135

Tracer bullets, 51 _and note_[22], 52

Trailers, 49 _and note_[16]

Trenchard, General, 2, 88, 120; orders of, 108

Trenches, German, 36-8

Triplanes, German, 89

Trusler, Lieut. J. W., 133

Two-seater fighters, 115

Uphaven Central Flying School, 3

Upton-Smith, 2/Lieut. F. E., 133

Valenciennes, 123

Vert Galant, 60 Squadron at, 8, 12, 21

Very lights, 104; pistols, 27 _and note_[5], 35, 38

Vickers gun, 90

Vimy Ridge, 50

Vincent, Capt. S. F., 15, 22, 133

Vis-en-Artois, 54

Vitry, 66

Wainwright, Lieut. B. M., 133, 135

Waldron, Major F. F., 2-4, 11-13, 133, 135

Walker, Lieut., 133

-- Sergt. A., 135

Walters, Lieut. A. M., 15, 133

Weedon, Capt. L. S., 31, 133

West Wind, Conrad on the, 109-10

Westergaard, 2/Lieut. A. N., 133

West-Thompson, 2/Lieut. M., 66, 69, 133, 137

Whitehead, Capt. L. E., 133, 135

-- Lieut. A. D., 31, 133, 135

Whiting, Lieut. J. O., 70, 133, 137

Whitney, Lieut. R. K., 115, 133, 137

Wilde, 2/Lieut. R. C. R., 133

Williams, Fleming, 106

-- Lieut. C., 133, 135

-- Lieut. G., 3

-- 2/Lieut. V. F., 133, 135

Winslow, 2/Lieut. J., 133

Wireless interception, work of 60 Squadron, 57-62

Wotan line, 123

Wright, Lieut. C. O., 133

Young, Lieut. G. C., 45, 70, 133

Ypres Sector, 65; desolation of, 85

PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD., LONDON AND AYLESBURY.

Transcribers’ Notes

Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.

Simple typographical errors were corrected; occasional unbalanced quotation marks retained.

Superscrpts are represented as ^{superscript}.

Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.

Index not checked for proper alphabetization or correct page references.

Page xviii: The five illustrations listed as being on pages 100, 112, and 118 were missing from this book.

Page 50: “_had_ be to” was printed that way.

Page 125: For clarity, Transcriber added a colon after “One form of hare-hunting became very popular”.

Page 126 (comments about map): Some “3”s and “8”s were indistinguishable.

Page 133: “Lieut. E. A. Sullock, A.F.C.” may be “Sulleck”.

Footnotes, originally at the bottoms of pages, have been renumbered, collected, and positioned just before the Index.

The Index references to footnotes have been renumbered to match the renumbering of the eBook’s footnotes.