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The R.E.8 was used throughout the war and steady in flight, but very vulnerable combat-wise...
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Well here's some actions from the Ypres area for the second half of 1917:
16Aug17 - 7 Sqn RE8 attacked by two Albatros. One destroyed, other broke off.
16Aug17 - Another 7 Sqn RE8 attacked by 8 Albatros. One destroyed, others broke off.
7Aug17 - 21 Sqn RE8 attacked by 9 EA. One OOC, others broke off.
12Aug17 - 5 Sqn RE8 attacked by 4 EA. One OOC, reached lines, then resumed art. obs.
21Aug17 - 21 Sqn RE8 attacked by Albatros. Commander of Jasta 6 (and ace)
Eduard von Dostler shot down and killed.
9Jan18 - 21 Sqn RE8 attacked by several EA. Acting commander of Jasta 28 (and ace)
Max Müller shot down and killed.
No.5 Sqn even took to calling themselves a 'circus' after one incident when 5 RE8s successfully beat off 12 Albatros in the summer of '17. The RE8 has had a bad press - with a good crew it was as deadly as any other two-seater.
Vig.