During September, the monthly wastage (losses from all causes) in RFC fighters and long-range reconnaissance aircraft was 75 percent and the new faster, more manoeuvrable German fighters coming into service, threatened Anglo-French air superiority on the Somme. At on 1 October, observers of 34 Squadron and 3 Squadron watched the attack by III Corps and the New Zealand Division of XV Corps on Eaucourt l'Abbaye and the defences either side, on a front. The attack on Eaucourt failed but on the rest of the attack front the infantry followed a good barrage onto their objectives and were also able to send patrols into Le Sars. The commander of 34 Squadron, Major John Chamier reported that