March 21

Weather very misty but great deal of low flying took place. Thirteen hostile batteries were successfully engaged from aeroplane observation. 711 photographs were taken, and 152 tons of bombs dropped.

Enemy Aircraft : EA were active, much fighting taking place during the day. In addition to EA brought down in combat, one EA was brought down in our lines by infantry.

2nd Lt D.R. MacLaren, 46 Squadron, while returning from low bombing saw an LVG below him flying east. He dived on the EA's tail, fired about 100 rounds, and EA went into a spin and crashed at the western corner of Douai. He then attacked an enemy balloon and it's Observer jumped out with a parachute; the balloon burst into flames. On getting over the lines the same pilot saw a two seater below him over Graincourt. He dived on it from the front, firing about 50 rounds. The EA immediately turned east and went down out of control. 2nd Lt MacLaren gave chase, firing in all another 50 rounds and the EA finally crashed completely out of control just east of Marquion.

Lt H.W. Sellars and Lt C.C. Robson, 11 Squadron, attacked an Albatros two seater doing artillery observation. The EA dived vertically and then spun out of control after three bursts had been fired at it from the Bristol Fighter. Lt Robson observed smoke coming from the it's engine andit crashed this side of the line north of the Bapaume-Cambrai road. Shortly afterwards Lts Sellars and Robson were attacked by three Albatros scouts. Two bursts were fired at the nearest which burst into flames and crashed north of Morchies.

An Offensive Patrol of 3 Sqn RNAS attacked an EA two seater and shot it down out of control and the wreckage fell near Vaulx. Lt C.R. Keary, 23 Squadron, was attacked by two EA Scouts simultaneously. He managed to get on the tail of one, fired both guns, and the EA went down and was seen to crash. Capt W.L. Wells and Cpl W Beales, 48 Squadron, shot down an EA Scout which was seen to crash. Capt J.F. Morris, 23 Squadron, observed tracers coming up past his right wing as he was attacked from below by an EA Scout. He dived on the EA, fired 200 rounds at close range, and the EA dived straight into the ground and crashed. Lt R St J Dix and Lt R. Richardson, 62 Squadron, shot down an EA Scout which crashed near Magny-la-Fosse. 2nd Lt W.E. Staton and Lt J.R. Gordon, 62 Squadron, in a general engagement between a patrol of Bristol Fighters and a formation of EA triplanes and scouts, engaged a triplane at very close range. Tracers were seen to hit the EA pilot and the triplane went into a vertical nose-dive, then fell in flames. Capt T.L. Purdom and 2nd Lt P.V.G. Chambers, 62 Squadron, in the same engagement, show down an Albatros scout and it's top plane came off. Capt J.A. Slater, 64 Squadron, shot down an Albatros scout which was seen to crash, Lt A.G. Vlasto, 46 Squadron, attacked an EA doing contact patrol work, getting on his tail and opening fire at 400 yards and continuing to fire till within 50 yards. The EA went down vertically into the ground.

EA were driven down out of control by the following; Capt P.W.S. Bulman, 3 Squadron; Lt F.L. Hird, 3 Squadron; 2nd Lt J.L. Butler, 3 Squadron; 2nd Lt A.D. Shannon and Sgt M.B. Maisey, 11 Squadron; Lt E.E. Stock and Cpl J.H. Bowler, 48 Squadron; 2nd Lt H.B. Richardson, 24 Squadron (two); 2nd Lt A.K. Cowper, 24 Squadron (two), 2nd Lt H.M. Arthur and 2nd Lt J. Bruce-Norton, 62 Squadron; Capt J.A. Slater, 64 Squadron; 2nd Lt V.W. Thompson, 64 Squadron; Lt H.N.C. Robinson, 46 Squadron; Lt M.E. Mealing; 56 Squadron; Lt T. Durrant, 56 Squadron; Lt E.D.G. Galley, 56 Squadron; Lt H.J. Burden, 56 Squadron; Flight Cdr L.H. Rochford, Flight L J.A. Glen, 3 Squadron RNAS (one); Flight Cdr F.C. Armstrong, 3 Squadron RNAS; Lt A.E. Robertson, 4th Squadron AFC; Lt A.H. Cobby, 4th Squadron AFC (two); Lt E.F. Pflaum, 4th Squadron AFC.