Smith, Ross – August 1917

Aug 2^nd. 
Practiced night landings with flares on BE2C 4312

Aug 3^rd. 
Photos with Bowd out at SHARIA

Aug 4^th. 
Sutherland reported a Hun machine on the ground at BIR IFTEIS near SHARIA so we were sent out to bomb it. Jones was on a 2E, Morgan on a 2E & Austin, Potts L. & I were on 12 A’S. I had 2 -100lb. bombs. We got out to the machine but it was a dummy! Some of us started to drop our bombs & 2 Huns came up at us, one 2 seater & 1 Albatross Scout. We all had a go at them and drove them down to SHARIA. I took on the 2 seater first & he was a very dud pilot but could easily out dive me & so got away. The Scout pilot was not up to much either. Jack Potts & Sutherland were with us on a 2E as well.

Aug 6^th. 
Was going out on a job in a ‘tinsyde but had a forced landing on the aerodrome with a beetle in my petrol pipe.

Aug 8^th. 
We have just got a Bristol Scout (Clerget) for practice flying. It’s a nice little machine & we have great sport on it, looping it etc. Rogers crashed it later on.

Aug 10^th. –17^th. 
Out on various jobs, mostly escorts or photos.

Aug 17^th. 
Nearly got let down by a 2E, the engine was very dud when I was testing & I only just got back into the aerodrome

Aug. 20^th. 
Photos with Bowd out at BEERSHEBA.

Aug 23^rd. 
Photos with Jones at BEERSHEBA

Aug 24^th. 
8 Bombs on BEERSHEBA camps. 3 other machines came too.

Aug 30^th. 
Bomb raid to HARIERA. Bowd & I went on Martinsydes, with 12 bombs each

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