▁On ▁ 1 0 ▁August ▁he ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁Daily ▁Mail – sp ons ored ▁" Circ uit ▁of ▁Britain " ▁race , ▁which ▁was ▁not ▁cancel led ▁despite ▁the ▁declaration ▁of ▁war . ▁He ▁fle w ▁a ▁German - built ▁D F W ▁Mars ▁( No . ▁ 1 5 4 ), ▁which ▁the ▁R N AS ▁had ▁bought ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 3 , ▁and ▁ref itted ▁with ▁a ▁Be ard more ▁ 1 2 0 ▁h p ▁engine . ▁Unfortunately ▁mechanical ▁problems ▁forced ▁him ▁to ▁make ▁an ▁emer gency ▁landing ▁at ▁Sc ar borough ▁race course , ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁prompt ly ▁arrested ▁and ▁question ed . ▁After ▁rep airs ▁were ▁made , ▁Col let ▁completed ▁the ▁race , ▁coming ▁second . ▁ ▁Col let ' s ▁unit , ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Wing ▁Commander ▁Charles ▁Rum ney ▁Sam son , ▁initially ▁fle w ▁pat rol s ▁along ▁the ▁North ▁Sea ▁coast , ▁but ▁on ▁ 2 7 ▁August ▁ 1 9 1 4 ▁was ▁moved ▁to ▁France . ▁Ren amed ▁No . ▁ 3 ▁Squadron ▁R N AS , ▁they ▁were ▁based ▁at ▁Saint - Pol - sur - Mer ▁near ▁D unk irk , ▁and ▁operated ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁aircraft ▁and ▁some ▁impro vised ▁arm oured ▁cars . ▁ ▁The ▁Düsseldorf ▁Ra id ▁On ▁ 2 2 ▁September ▁ 1 9 1 4 ▁Col let , ▁flying ▁a ▁S op with ▁T ractor ▁Bi plane , ▁led ▁a ▁ra id ▁by ▁four ▁aircraft , ▁which ▁fle