WAR

the independent Royal Air Force had been established by the nominal amalgamation
of the RFC and the RNAS, but there was little outward change in the
field save for the renumbering of RNAS squadrons which simply added 200.
Thus No. 9 Squadron RNAS, stationed at Bertangles north of Amiens, became
No. 209 Squadron RAF.
Leading the Camel-equipped No. 209 was Squadron Commander C. H.
Butler; Deputy CO. was Captain A. Roy Brown, a Canadian.
On the morning of April 21, 1918, ground mists hampered operations, and
the squadron got off an hour late. From 9:35 to 9:45 a.m. three flights of five
Camels each took off at five-minute intervals. Butler was leading; off to his left
was the flight led by Captain O. C. Le Boutillier, an American; off to his right
was the flight led by Brown. Among Brown's men were two Lieutenants named
Mellersh and May. Lieutenant J. F. W. Mellersh was an experienced man, his
final score was nine confirmed victories; Second Lieutenant Wilfred R. May was
on his first offensive patrol. He eventually won the D.F.C., a Captaincy, and
seven confirmed victories, but on April 21, that was all ahead of him. He had
everything to learn,
and had been told that he was to keep out of a general scrap,
should one develop; that he was to stay over it
air around him, and dive and run for home if
and watch, keeping his eye on the
he got in trouble.
After some three-quarters of an hour of patrolling, the lead flight broke
away to chase a brace of Albatros two-seaters,
whereupon Brown assumed command
of the squadron. The other flight closed up behind him. The two flights
continued their assigned high offensive patrol,
reaching the end of the beat several
miles south of the River Somme near Corbie. Two machines dropped out with
engine trouble and returned to base. Brown carried on, leading a half-strength
squadron of eight aeroplanes in a northerly direction toward the Somme.
April 21, 1918, dawned cold and misty at Cappy, but as the morning grew
old the sun began to shine through. The wind began to pick up and was soon
blowing hard. It played an important part in the day's events because it was from
the east rather than from the west. The Circus had been augmented by the temporary
addition of Jasta 5 which, like 4, 6, 10, and 77 of J.G. 1 , was under the
command of von Richthofen. By the time the mists had cleared enough for a
patrol to be mounted it was almost noon German time (10:30 British time).
The Rittmeister led five men of the first Kette, or flight: his cousin Leutnant Wolfram
von Richthofen, for whom this was the first patrol, Vizefeldwebel Edgar
Scholz, and Leutnants Wenzl, Wolff, and Karjus. The second Kette of Jasta 11,
which was led by Leutnant Hans Weiss, was also composed of six Triplanes. In
the air, Jasta 11 was joined by the Albatros D V's of Jasta 5 and together they
headed west along the Somme valley.
Wolfram von Richthofen had been given the same instructions as Wilfred
May. Wolfram followed his orders; Wilfred didn't, with what results shall be seen.
As Brown led his eight men north toward the Somme at about 12,000 feet,
von Richthofen led his 20 Dr I's and D V's west at about 3000 feet. West of
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