Lt Joel Gordon Hurst Chrispin DFC RAF - Log Book – Operations Flown – May 1918 to November 1918
Chrispin was posted to 103 Squadron in the UK in April 1918 and departed for Serny in France with the Squadron in May 1918. 103 Squadron were part of 80 Wing who were tasked with bombing and reconnaissance operations between the German front line up to and around the Lille area. The bombing targets were mostly railway stations, sidings and airfields.
Serny was situated about 50 miles west of Lille and 20 miles from the German front line and these operations were no more that 3 hours in duration.
As the Germans started to retreat the Squadron moved forward to a new airfield at Floringhem for 5 days. By November the Squadron hand moved to Ronchin airfield in Lille itself and from where they attacked targets further east.
The reconnaissance operations undertaken by Chrispin were both visual observations and photographic.
The DH9 is derided due to the poor performance of its engine. However there is no evidence of this in Chrispin log as he was only involved in 1 early return with engine trouble out of 87 sorties.
Chrispin, flew 66 bombing operations and 19 reconnaissance from June to the Armistice with one early return and 2 aborted - 85 times across the front line.
During WW1 103 Squadron lost 19 aircraft from operations. There are others damaged beyond repair due to battle damage or crash landings on return.
103 Squadron Killed or Missing aircrew on operations on the Western Front numbered 29 plus 1 POW Died of Wounds, 5 POW Wounded and 7 POW.
There are a number of 103 Squadron personnel who died of non operational or unspecified causes at this time. Enemy action of some sort or accident or illness.
Considering the amount of war flying they were doing that is not excessive.
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Summary
87 sorties.
Bombing - 66
Reconnaissance - 21
Early returns – 1 - Engine trouble. Oil pressure
Aborted - 2 bad weather.
Combats - 13
EA Sightings – Several
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Abbreviations
AA – Ack Ack
EA – Enemy aircraft
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Date - Serial - Observer - Time - Height - Target - Comments
19/05/18 - C2200 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 20 mins - 14000 ft - Douvrin - 112 lb bomb. Hit house near lock gate. Slight AA damage
21/05/18 - C2204 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 15 mins - 15000 ft - Provin - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Direct hit on railway station.
25/05/18 - C2213 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs - 11000 ft - Merville - 1 x 230 lb bomb. Hit house E of Merville. Engine died at 11000 ft - and left - formation
28/05/18 - C2213 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 55 mins - 15000 ft - Libercourt - 2 x112lb bombs Bursts unobserved. AA very good.
30/05/18 - C2213 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 15 mins - 15500 ft - Hardbourdin - 1 x 230 lb bomb. Hit cross roads SW of town
31/05/18 - C2213 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 25 mins - 16500 ft - Douai - 1 x 230 lb bomb.. Half a mile W.
01/06/18 - D5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 3 hrs - 15000 ft - Tournai - 1 x 230 lb bomb. Unobserved owing to clouds
05/06/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 15 mins - 14000 ft - Roye - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved. Combat. Lewis 350 rounds
07/06/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 30 mins - 15000 ft - Nesle - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Bursts on town AA good. Combat attacked by 12 fighters
09/06/18 am - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 25 mins -13000 ft - Ognolles - 2 x 112 lb bombs. 12 bursts on tow and airfield No AA.
09/06/18 pm - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 20 mins - 1000 to 2000 ft - Rallot - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Direct hit on MT. Fired 600 rounds Lewis and Vickers
11/06/18 am - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 45 mins -2000 ft - Piennes - 2 x 112 lb bombs. One hit on road and 1 in field. No AA. Fired 600 rounds Lewis and Vickers.
11/06/18 pm - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 55 mins -1500 ft - Boulogne – La - Grasse - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Missed MT. Fired 800 rounds Lewis and Vickers.
16/06/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs - 13000 ft - Roye - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Bursts unobserved. AA fairly good Combat
17/06/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 25 mins - 14500 ft - Conchy - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Cloudy. Escort provided. Slight AA damage
18 /06/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 45 mins - 14000 ft - Roye - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Bursts unobserved owing to cloud. AA accurate and active
25/06/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 50 mins - 13500 ft - Courtrai - 8 x 25 lb bombs. No hits observed owing to cloud. Slight AA
26/06/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 30 mins - 13000 ft - Tournai - 2 x 112 lb bombs. 5 hits observe on railway. AA good
27/06/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 25 mins - 14000 ft - Hellemmes - 2 x 112 lb bombs. 3 hits on railway. 3 near gasometers. 7 near factory
07/07/18 - C5577 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 30 mins - 14000 ft - Bac-St-Maur - 2 x 112 lb bombs. No EA or AA
09/07/18 - C6155 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 20 mins - 16350 ft - Waverin - 2 x 112 lb bombs. One hit on railway. No EA. AA fair. Slight damage
09/07/18 - C6155 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 20 mins - 9000 ft - Recon – Armentiers area - Combat. AA good
10/07/18 - C6192 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 5 mins - 15000 ft - Marquillois - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved due to clouds. EA nil. Slight AA
13/07/18am - C6192 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 15 mins -10000 ft - Dawn Recon – Estares area - EA nil. AA nil. Visibility fair
13/07/18pm -C6192 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 25 mins - 11000 ft - Dusk Recon – Armentiers area - EA nil. AA active and accurate.
18/07/18 noon - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hr 45 mins - 13500 ft – Bac-St-Maur - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved due to clouds. EA nil. AA active
18 /07/18 pm - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 55 mins - 14800 ft – Bac-St-Maur - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved due to clouds. EA nil. AA active. 18 photo plates exposed
15/07/18 - C6253 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 45 mins - 12000 ft - Sainghin - 2 x 112 lb bombs. EA seen in distance. AA active. Fired 200 rounds Lewis
16/07/18 - D7249 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 10 mins - 12000 ft - Sainghin - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Burst unobserved. Clouds. EA nil. AA nil
17/07/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 40 mins - 9000 ft - Dawn Recon – Armentiers area - EA nil. AA active.
17/07/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 45 mins - 8000 ft - Hardbourdin - 2 x 112 lb bombs. One hit railway N of aerodrome
19/07/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 50 mins - 13000 ft - Armentiers - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved due to clouds. Combat. AA active. 18 photo plates exposed
20/07/18 am - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 20 mins - 9500 ft - Dusk Recon – Fives area - Visibility poor due to low cloud
24/07/18 pm – B9343 - Lt Henderson - 1 hr 25 mins - 10500 ft - Dusk Recon – Front Line - Visibility fair. EA nil. AA nil.
28/07/18 – B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 55 mins - 13500 ft - Marbullies - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved due to clouds. Escort. EA nil. AA active
29/07/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 55 mins - 10000 ft - N/K - N/K
29/07/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 30 mins - 13000 ft - Aubers - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved owing to mist. AA active.
30/07/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs - 13000 ft - Bac-St-Maur - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved owing to mist. AA active.
31/07/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 50 mins - 14800 ft - Armentiers - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Unobserved. 7 photo plates exposed. Combat.
01/08/18 am - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs - 13000 ft - Bac-St-Maur - 2 x 112 lb bombs. 4 on factory near canal. EA nil. AA active.
01/08/18 pm - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 5 mins -13500 ft - Bac-St-Maur - 2 x 112 lb bombs Hits on dump near railway. EA nil AA active.
07/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 5 mins - 13800 ft - Marquillelies - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Bursts unobserved due to cloud.
10/08/18 am - B9343 - Lt Tussaud - 1 hr 10 mins - 7000 ft - Dawn Recon - 2 x112 lb bombs EA nil. AA fair
10/08/18 pm - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 35 mins -12500 ft - Peronne - 2 x112 lb bombs. Bursts unobserved due to cloud. Combat 4 EA shot down
12/08/18 am - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 45 mins -1000 ft - Dawn Recon - Visibility good. AA active. Fired 200 Vickers and 300 Lewis. EA nil
12/08/18 pm - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 45 mins -13800 ft – Peronne -2 x 112 lb bombs. Hits on town. AA active. Combat
13/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 30 mins - 13500 ft - Peronne - 2 x 112 lb bombs. AA active. EA nil
14/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 15 mins - 16000 ft - Photo Recon – Lestrem - 15 plates exposed.. AA nil. EA nil
15/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 30 mins - 13000 ft - Sailly-Sur-La-Lys - 2 x 112 lb bombs.Bursts unobserved owing to cloud. AA fair. EA Nil
16/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 50 mins - 13500 ft - Bac-St-Maur - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Hit railway and dump. AA fair. EA nil. 12 photo plates exposed
17/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 40 mins - 13500 ft - Don - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Bursts unobserved owing to cloud. EA nil. AA fair
19/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 20 mins - 10000 ft - Dawn Recon
20/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 55 mins - 13800 ft - Fournes - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Good bursts on billets and 3 on railway. EA nil. AA active
21/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 55 mins - 14000 ft - Fournes - 2 x 112 lb bombs. EA nil. AA active
22/08/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 5 mins - 14000 ft - Fournes - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Bursts observed on huts and village. EA nil. AA active
13/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 1 hr 30 mins - 12000 ft – Douai - 2 x 112 lb bombs. EA nil. AA nil.
15/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 5 mins - 13500 ft - Fives - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Bursts on buildings E of station. EA nil. AA accurate. A/C damaged
16/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 25 mins - 10000 ft - Dawn Recon - Visibility good. EA nil. AA very accurate
17/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 45 mins - 8000 ft - Fives - Early return. Oil pressure went down to 5 lbs.
18 /09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 2 hrs 5 mins - 15000 ft - Harbourdin - 2 x 112 bombs. Bursts unobserved. EA 3 sighted but did not attack. AA active.
19/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 30 mins - 12000 ft - Dawn Recon - Visibility good. EA nil. AA very accurate
20/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 50 mins - 12000 ft - Harbourdin - 2 x 112 bombs. Bursts unobserved on town. EA nil. AA active.
21/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 45 mins - 13500 ft - Dusk Recon – La Meterie - Combat 5 EA. AA accurate and active
22/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 30 mins - 9500 ft - Lomme - 2 x 112 lbs. Bursts unobserved due to thick cloud. EA nil. AA fair
23/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 50 mins - 10000 ft - Dawn Recon - Visibility poor. EA Nil AA nil
24/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 40 mins -14000 ft - Santes - 2 x 112 lbs. Bursts unobserved due to cloud. Combat. 25 EA. Bannerman shot one down
25/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Wadsworth - 2 hrs 10 mins - 13000 ft - Dusk Recon - Visibility poor. AA active. EA seen
27/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 2 hrs 10 mins - 10000 ft - Wasnes - 2 x 112 lbs. 5 plates exposed. Combat 12 EA.
28/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 2 hrs 20 mins - 13000 ft - Wasnes - 2 x 112 lbs. EA nil. AA active and very accurate.
29/09/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 2 hrs 15 mins - 14000 ft - Fives - 2 x 112 lbs. EA nil. AA active and accurate.
01/10/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 30 mins -13000 ft - Dawn Recon - EA nil. AA fair
02/10/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 2 hrs 15000 ft - Fives - 2 x 112 lbs. EA nil. AA nil.
03/10/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 45 mins -14500 ft - Fives - 2 x 112 lbs. EA nil. AA nil.
04/10/18 am - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 35 mins -13500 ft - Dawn Recon - EA nil. AA slight. Visibility good
04/10/18 pm - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 35 mins -13500 ft - Dusk Recon - EA nil. AA slight. Visibility good
07/10/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 10 mins - 8000 ft - Fives - Aborted due to cloud
09/10/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 50 mins -12500 ft - Dawn Recon - EA nil. AA active. And accurate
14/10/18 - B9344 - Lt Bannerman - 2 hr 45 mins -15000 ft - Tournai - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Combat 7 EA. AA active. Led formation for first time. Good show
18 /10/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 50 mins -2000 ft - Tournai - 2 x112 lb bombs. Several fires. Wing show with 88 and 264 Sqns AA nil
26/10/18 - B9343 - Lt Bannerman - 2 hr 50 mins -14000 ft - Leuze - 2 x 112 lb bombs. EA observed but did not attack. AA fair
28/10/18 - B9343 - Lt Slater - 1 hr 25 mins -3000 ft - Ath - 2 x 112 lb bombs. Bursts very accurate. EA nil. AA active.
29/10/18 - D2213 - Lt Bannerman - 1 hr 5 mins -2000 ft - Dawn Recon - Visibility very poor. Aborted
30/10/18 - D2213 - Lt Bannerman - 2 hrs 40 mins - 15000 ft - Ath 2 x 112 lb bombs. Combat 8 EA. AA fair.
01/11/18 - D5577 - Lt Butters - 1 hr 45 mins -16500 ft - Photo Recon - EA nil. AA nil
04/11/18 - D667 - Lt Butters - 1 hr 20 mins -15000 ft - Chapelle Wattines - 2 x 112 lbs. Wing formation of 58 aircraft - . EA nil. AA active. Airfield wiped out. All returned safely
Compiled by David Fell with photos from my archive.
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