 Equipped with Sopwith Camel fighters , No. 4 Squadron deployed to Bruay , France , in December 1917 , and commenced operations on 9 January 1918 . That same day Malley , nicknamed " Garnie " ( or " George " , by No. 4 Squadron 's leading ace , Harry Cobby ) , was promoted lieutenant . On 16 March , he achieved his first aerial victory , sending a fighter belonging to Manfred von Richthofen 's Red Circus out of control above Annoeullin , near Douai . Early reports identified the German plane as an Albatros , but later sources record it as a Pfalz D.III. Malley claimed two Albatroses on 23 March 1918 , during an attack on German positions in Vaulx @-@ Vraucourt , near Bapaume . Three days later he was promoted captain and appointed a flight commander . 
