▁ ▁With ▁the ▁Royal ▁F lying ▁Corps ▁ ▁Haw ker ▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁France ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 1 4 , ▁as ▁a ▁captain ▁with ▁No . ▁ 6 ▁Squadron , ▁Royal ▁F lying ▁Corps , ▁flying ▁Henri ▁Farm ans . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁converted ▁to ▁the ▁B . E . 2 c ▁and ▁he ▁under to ok ▁numerous ▁reconna issance ▁miss ions ▁into ▁ 1 9 1 5 , ▁being ▁wounded ▁once ▁by ▁ground ▁fire . ▁On ▁ 2 2 ▁April ▁he ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Service ▁Order ▁for ▁attack ing ▁a ▁German ▁ze ppel in ▁shed ▁at ▁G ont ro de ▁by ▁dro pping ▁hand ▁gr en ades ▁at ▁low ▁level ▁( below ▁ 2 0 0   ft ) ▁from ▁his ▁B . E . 2 c . ▁He ▁used ▁a ▁t ether ed ▁German ▁bal lo on ▁to ▁help ▁shield ▁him ▁from ▁enemy ▁ground ▁fire ▁as ▁he ▁made ▁success ive ▁attacks . ▁During ▁the ▁Second ▁Battle ▁of ▁Y pres , ▁Haw ker ▁was ▁wounded ▁in ▁the ▁foot ▁by ▁ground ▁fire . ▁For ▁the ▁remainder ▁of ▁the ▁battle ▁he ▁had ▁to ▁be ▁carried ▁to ▁and ▁from ▁his ▁aircraft , ▁but ▁refused ▁to ▁be ▁ground ed ▁until ▁the ▁fight ▁was ▁over . ▁ ▁Return ing ▁to ▁ 6 ▁Squadron ▁after ▁hospital isation , ▁the ▁squad ron ▁now ▁received ▁several ▁single - se at ▁sc outs , ▁and ▁some ▁early ▁F . E . 2 ▁' push ers '. ▁One ▁aircraft ▁received ▁was ▁a ▁Br istol ▁Sc out ▁C