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HIS MACHINE WENT DOWN UNDER ATTACK OF 15 GERMAN PLANES
Fred Reilly Was Engaged in an Important Expedition
Comrade Writes That Pilot and Observer are Probably Safe As Machine Was Under Control
[Welland Telegraph, 28 June 1918]
That Flight Lieut. Fred Reilly, reported missing on May 28th, is probably safe in Germany was the cheering news received this week by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joliffe D. Reilly, from a comrade in the air forces in France. With his observer, Hall of Woodstock, Fred’s plane separated from the British formation, was attacked by fifteen German planes, and brought down. It was, however, under control and the writer inclines to the opinion that he landed safely. When attacked he was engaged in one of the most important bombing operations that have been carried out by the British recently.
The letter says in part:
“We trained together in Canada and England and worked off the same aerodrome in France. While we were not in the same squadron, but had our huts near each other.
Fred’s Flight Commander being ill, they were sent out over the flight under the leadership of an inexperienced man to bomb__________. Arriving there, they were severely shelled by anti-air craft guns and the formation was split up. Fred and his observer, a Canadian, Hall by name, from Woodstock, were separated from the rest and fifteen Bosche machines sat on his tail and shot him down.
I have made cheerful inquiries from other pilots who went over and they tell me that the machine was under control as it went down, so I think you can hope he is safe in German hands. We will drop a note shortly in Germany and enquire exactly how he is.”
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