Air Stories — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

NAVAL ONE Ten Victories in a Fortnight responsible for all Naval air co-operation HE Squadron’s next big engagement on the Belgian coast. was the Third Battle of Ypres and A month later the Wing was handed their most notable day’s work was done over to the Commander-in-Chief of the on August 16th when three enemy British Forces to help stem the great machines were brought down in flames German offensive which had_ been before breakfast, several others driven launched on March 2ist, and the Squadron off and numerous enemy ground-targets was transferred, within the space of two bombed from a low altitude. The days, first to the 2nd Brigade and then to Squadron also played a prominent part the 13th (Army) Wing of the 3rd Brigade, in the operations against the Menin with headquarters at Fienvillers. Three Ridge and in the attack on Polygon Wood days later, on April Ist, 1918, the on September 26th. Most of their work Squadron had ceased to exist for, on the at this time consisted of ‘‘ground amalgamation of the R.N.A.S. and the strafing ’’ the enemy trenches and gun’ R.F.C. into the Royal Air Force on that emplacements, but they also managed date, it automatically became No. 201 to find time for offensive patrols and Squadron, R.A.F.* accounted for ten enemy machines in the The change of name, however, resulted last two weeks of September alone. in no change in the Squadron’s aggressive The Squadron’s attachment to the spirit and in the following month, flying R.F.C. ended on November 2nd and they on the Third Army’s front, they encoun- were moved to a new aerodrome at Bray tered 200 enemy aircraft, fought 112 Dunes and re-equipped with Sopwith combats and destroyed 24 machines. Camels, fitted with 150 h.p. Bentley T £-these victories were scored engines—not altogether a welcome change ithin a few minutes of each other on to the speedy triplanes which they May 15th, when the Squadron’s 15 come to like so well. Once mofé their Camels, led by Captains C. B. Ridley and work consisted of Fleet co-operation, S$. M. Kinkead,{t surprised a formation bombing raids and high and low offensive of thirty E.A. which were playing havoc patrols. Enemy machines were now far with several Bristol Fighters. They at more numerous than when last the once shot three down in flames and Squadron had been on the coast, and caused twelve others to withdraw, either there are many records of combats and damaged or out of control. not a few reports of confirmed victories. The following month the Squadron was The Secret Squadron transferred to England for a well-deserved HERE followed, in July, a short period of leave and their twelve Camels period of attachment to the 11th Wing flown to Dover for overhaul and replace- of the 2nd Brigade for line patrols between ment. Early in the New Year, however, Ypres and Nieppe Forest, and then the they were back in action again, this time Squadron was transferred to Poulainville as a unit in the Home Defence Force carry- to join the 5th Brigade in readiness for ing out night patrols against London’s the Battle of Amiens. The authorities, air raiders. But the intensiveness of the anxious to keep the coming offensive anti-aircraft gunfire and the lack of an _ secret from the enemy, were at great efficient warning system prevented them pains to avoid any indications of a strong from ever getting to grips with a raider force being assembled on this front and, and it was not altogether with regret that the Squadron found itself posted ; NE ‘ ae back to Belgium in mid-February. Still esiens oe ea being Gadedl VA. thaie equipped with Camels, and now thirteen original number. o Teteghem + Flight Lieutenant S. M. Kinkead, R.A.F., was sete) Hie on ae a member of the 1928 Schneider Trophy team and on February ss 4th and reported for duty lost his life in a flying accident while testing a with No. 1 Wing which, at that time, was racing seaplane. 57 comiclooks