[R Gannon]

Steven

Good to hear you like this information.
Here is some more:

As is well known Udet returned to the fray as staffelfuhrer of Jasta 4. During the summer they along with the rest of JG I were engaged on the French sector. Here Udet added 22 victories to his score - however as French sector is not my specialty I cannot provide any additional material in regards nature of these victories.

8 Aug 18 was the 'Black Day' of the German Army when British Fourth Army crunched over the defences of German 2 ARMEE. This saw JG I hurriedly flown north to the battle area.

vic # 45 - this was most likely over Lt Touchstone USAS serving with 1 Sqn RAF. He was part of a 5 strong low bombing mission led by Capt Allen to area of Peronne. Two SE5's dropped out with engine trouble leaving only three. Capt Allen saw 6 DVII's at 1615 above them over Cappy, but these disappeared into some clouds. At this point the remaing SE's became separated and on return it was found that Touchstone was missing (POW). Clearly Udet picked off the lone low flyer. However that said, there is also a good claim same area & time for an SE5 by Vfw Juncke of Js 52 - and as Touchstone is the only viable loss for either claim, it may be both had a hand in his demise. Both pilots submitting separate claims through different Kofl's - Kofl 2 for Udet & Kofl 6 for Juncke.

vic # 26 - again 1 Sqn - Capt KC Mills (4 vic) mia / kia
Mills had led a later 7 strong low bomb of Peronne area which saw bombs dropped on military huts, bridges, rolling stock and an aerodrome east of Peronne. Returning pilots also reported seeing 10 Fokkers & 17 2-seaters on an aerodrome SE of Cappy. The low flying SE's having come under attacke from Fokkers. Lt Pegg would claim of in flames whilst Lt Smart, Lt Newman & Lt Arning were each chased by a pair of Fokkers each, back to British lines. Mills however failed to return and one can deduce from Udet's accounts that he made two straffing runs on JG I aircraft bunched up on the aerodrome SE of Cappy - Udet getting airbourne and shooting Mills down from below - SE bearing penants and pilot killed.

vic #47 - Lt Taylor POW of 54 Sqn on Camel D9481. Udet would claim that he attacked a pair of low flying Camels, one which made off west and the other which crashed after colliding with Udet's Fokker. He would further claim they were dropping surrender leaflets! Taylor in fact had led (his flight commander Gonne had been lost on earlier mission) a 6 strong low bomb which was attacked by 10 Fokkers - Taylor being driven down & taken POW. Apparently he had no recollection of any collision. That Udet was not alone, as one might deduce from his later accounting, is confirmed by the fact that Js 4 pilots Maushanke & Reinhardt witnessed the victory - Udet's original CR is preserved in Bodenchatz's original JIHF.

9 Aug 18

vic # 48 - 'Sopwith' - time & loc of claim match a combat by 60 Sqn but no losses or indeed any SE with any serious damage. The 60 Sqn pilots claimed 5 DVII's in this fight. Pointedly Lt Reinhardt of Js 4 is recorded as missing from a patrol on this date - forced down wounded.

vic # 49 - another 'Sopwith' - this was most likely 65 Sqn - Sinclair MIA POW - again missing from a low bomb.

10 Aug 18

vic # 50 - 'Sopwith' - probably 3 Sqn McIntosh MIA KIA Camel B7399.

3 Sqn patrol had attacked 6 DVII's (Js 19?) when attacked in turn by 13 DVII's. 3 Sqn pilots made 6 claims during fight including a 'red' EA OOC to Lt Hughes. McIntosh was last seen attacking an EA.

vic # 51 - 'Sopwith' - probably Lt Wood (US) of 201 Sqn POW DOW
during a combat with 10 DVII's - 201 Sqn claimed one OOC in return.

Cheers Russ