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a scattering and a scurrying; they sure did "beat it", those who moved at all, for we took our toll.

It wasn't a great deed, it was only another Boche party broken up; but it meant a few less wounded and dead Americans, it saved anxiety and heartache for the loved ones "back home", and brought to Lieut, Crede and myself that feeling of satisfaction, a sense of work well done that is always a soldier's greatest reward.

From October 26th to November 1st the lines were see-sawing back and forth, with little advantage to either side. The big offensive was being planned and the squadron was called upon for unremitting work, watching the movements of the enemy, and taking photographs of his works and emplacements for men and material. The enemy was not unaware of our intentions, and made the work as difficult as possible. It was about this time that the Reichtoffen Circus got most active and the Archie batteries from the recently evacuated Belgian coast showed us how accurately they could shoot.

On November 1st, at 5:30 in the morning the infantry went over the top, for the advance which ten days later brought about the defeat of militarism and the signing of the armistice.

The First Aero Squadron played its part in the great drama nobly and well, and there are many stories of difficulties overcome, of combats against great odds and of individual heroism of which the nation may be justly proud.

Lieut. Baucom tells of his mission on the morning of November 1st, 1918.

On November 1st the drive started again. For a third time Erwin and I played the role of the "lead off" men. But we had hard luck that morning. There was a heavy ground mist, and visibility was impossible. Long before we reached the lines it was impossible to see the ground. Above 500 meters the sky was clear, but you couldn't see anything below you. However, we thought we would go to where we believed the lines were and stick around for awhile. Perhaps we would stumble onto some lone Boche which we could knock down. I had three of them to my credit, and I wanted two more so as to become an ace. Just as we reached the lines, (judging by a baloon we could see sticking up through the clouds) we spotted a boch bi-place machine. But just as we started to attack our motor "pooped". Erwin juggled it along for a few seconds then yelled back through the speaking tube, "Boy, get ready for a hell of a crash."

That scared me a little, I had so much confidence in his ability to handle motors that I knew she must be pretty bad if he gave it up. Since we couldn't see the ground even at twenty-five meters altitude we knew what a forced landing in that rough country meant. I could hear the artillery down below us in the fog coughing away, and had  a picture of ourselves and our wreckage piled up on top of some 150 mm long. But shortly after we started down Erwin got the motor to start again and we started home. About this time they pulled the baloon down, as visibility was impossible and that removed our only landmark. We then had to fly by instinct and with a stick motor. Erwin nursed it along until we got far enough south that we could see the ground. Then we picked a place and landed. We were at Dommartin, about eight kilometers west of St. Menehould and not more than fifteen kilometers north of our own field.

November 1st, seven successful missions were accomplished by the squadron, and the reports showed that the Boche were moving a great deal of material further to the rear. It was an unusually bad day for serial work, the clouds were very low, at times the fog made even terrestrial observation impossible.

The next day was also one of those days which try the soul of Observers and pilots, low hanging mist and clouds making observation difficult. Lt. Bastow, pilot and Lt. Gaalaas, observer went up, however and located both the enemy and our own troops and reported their location to the command posts.