Hi Steve
That fog of war must have been a right pea-souper!
All six claimed victories were in the vicinity of Mansue aerodrome within a period of 11 minutes; these were claimed as one each for Carpenter, Eycott-Martin and Jerrard at 11:40, two more by Jerrard at 11:45 and 11:50 and the last by Eycott-Martin at 11:51.
Jerrard himself claimed only to have shot up one enemy aeroplane and as far as I know remained silent about the exact events until his death in May 1968.
The evidence provided for the VC recommendation was Carpenter's hand-written report, headed "Original Evidence":
Whlie leading a patrol composed of Lt Jerrard and Lt Martin, I attacked 1 Rumpler 2 seater, escorted by 4 x DIII scouts, which were attempting to cross our lines, evidently on a photographic reconnaissance at Fontna.
Thet were 14,000 feet high, we were 12,000 feet but we chased them back to the Mansue group of aerodromes, when I observed them losing height preparatory to landing.
I got to close quarters with 2 DIIIs, shooting one down while Lt Jerrard shot the other one into flames, after following it to 100 ft of the ground. While attacking other machines I lost Lt Jerrard for a moment, but on looking down, observed him flying up & down the enemy aerodrome at about 50 ft from the ground, shooting up the Aerodrome & attacking machines landing & taking off [appended is the comment "one of which he destroyed"]. At this time I was at 6000 ft over the aerodrome with Lt Martin. I then saw Lt Jerrard putting up a terrific fight with 6 DIIIs who were trying to get away in the South Corner of the Aerodrome. We went down to his assistance & immediately became hotly engaged. Lt Jerrard, who had a DIII helpless, & who was at the same time being fiercely attacked, turned away to rush to Lt Martin's assistance & succeeded in shooting an EA off Lt Martin's tail, which was seen to crash.
Lt Jerrard now turned into the other EA to again attack, & we now all got split up, the air was now thick with enemy machines, all the fighting taking place practically in the centre of the Aerodrome. Without hesitation, Lt Jerrard attacked the Huns in all directions, engaging one after another he still being about 50 ft up. I now dived to his assistance in the hope of getting him back & managed to get him to the edge of the Aerodrome. He was at this time fighting weakly & knowing his capabilities as a Pilot, I think he was wounded. At this time he was engaged with five Huns, while others were rushing up from the Aerodrome to join in the attack on him. Lt Jerrard however continued to attack the Huns despite numbers. Once more he joined me & started off home, fighting all the way, but he again turned round into the Huns & attacked again. He again & again turned round & attacked the Huns himself & in this last attack I lost him. On circling round I found that at last he had been driven down by superior numbers in a field about F 53 & eight Hun machines were circling round the spot he had crashed.
I'm not prepared to say who, if anyone, lied or stretched the truth but will leave it as another incident where one side's version of events is at odds with the other's.... keeping head well below parapet
Graeme