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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0635.PDF
JULY 27, 1916. [/LIGHT AIRCRAFT WORK AT THE FRONT. OFFICIAL INFORMATION. British. General Headquarters, France, July 20th. " Yesterday our aeroplanes carried out successful bombing enterprises by day and night. Many tons of explosives were dropped with marked success on railway centres, enemy aerodromes, and other important points. One hostile aero plane was destroyed, and several others were forced to the ground in a damaged condition. " Since the 16th instant four of our machines have failed to return to our lines." General Headquarters, July 21st. " Taking advantage of the fine weather, the Royal Flying Corps yesterday continued their bombing operations against points of military importance, with successful results. " Hostile aircraft were inactive until the evening, when a good deal of fighting took place behind the German lines. One of our offensive patrols encountered 11 German machines, as the result of which 3 enemy aircraft were shot down, 1 bursting into flames. " Another encounter between four of our machines and six of the enemy's lasted for 45 mins. One Fokker was then shot down, and on another being badly damaged by our fire the remaining four broke off the fight. During many other combats in the air a fifth German aeroplane was forced to the ground. Our total losses during the day were one machine." General Headquarters, July 22nd. " Yesterday our airmen destroyed six hostile aeroplanes and forced several others to the ground in a damaged condition. One of our own machines was brought down by gunfire and two others are missing." War Office, July 22nd. " Egypt.—Hostile aircraft made an attack on Suez yesterday, causing a few casualties." War Office, July 23rd. •" Mesopotamia.-—Certain claims were made in the Turkish official communiqui of the 19th inst., to the effect that seven vessels had been captured on the Euphrates and the English detachments had been defeated in the neighbourhood of Basra, with the loss of an aeroplane. General Lake reports that these incidents are purely imaginary." French. Paris, July igth. Evening. " A German aeroplane was brought down by the fire of our special guns near Braine (east of Soissons). The aviators were taken prisoners." Paris, July 20th. Afternoon. " In the region of the Somme a German aeroplane was brought down yesterday afternoon by one of our pilots to the east of Peronne. Another enemy aeroplane, after being attacked by our machines, fell to the ground near Gremilly Verdun region) and was dashed to pieces." Paris, July 20th. Evening. " Our bombardment aeroplanes carried out numerous operations during the night of July ioth-2oth. The stations of Thionville, Montmedy, Brieulles, and bivouacs near Azannes (Verdun region), and the station of Roisel (Amiens region) were subjected to a rain of projectiles. " Another group of our aeroplanes also dropped eight heavy shells on the military establishments of Lorrach (north-east of Bale.)" Paris, July 21st. Afternoon. " During the day of the 20th and last night our air . squadrons bombarded several important points on the enemy front. The railway stations of Conflajos, Mars-le-Tour, Longuyon, Brieulles, and the railway junction at Ham were vigorously bombarded with heavy bombs." Paris, July 21st. Evening. " A German aeroplane this morning dropped several bombs on Belfort. The material damage was insignificant." • Paris, July 22nd. Afternoon. " Yesterday one of our air squadrons bombarded three times the railway station of Metz-Sablons. One hundred and fifteen large bombs were dropped on the station buildings and the sidings. Much damage was done. A German aeroplane which went in pursuit of our squadron was brought down. One of our machines, which was obliged to descend owing to engine trouble, has not returned. " This morning a German aeroplane dropped bombs on Belfort. No lives were lost, and no damage was done." Paris, July 2and. Evening. " Contrary to what was stated in this morning's com muniqui, all the French aircraft which took part in the bom bardment of the railway station of Metz-Sablons returned to our lines." Paris, July 2jrrf. Evening. " During the day of July 21st, our aircraft bombarded the railway station of Vigneulles, and during the night of July 2ist-22nd the station of Thionville, where three large fires broke out, the station of Arnaville, and those of Laon and Saint Erne. " During the night of July 22nd-23rd our aircraft again bombarded the station and military establishments of Thion ville. One hundred and fifteen bombs were dropped altogether during these expeditions. " On the morning of July 22nd a group of 12 French aeroplanes bombarded the military establishments of the town of Mulheim, on the right bank of the Rhine. Many projectiles were dropped on the railway station and the barracks, and most of them are reported to have struck their mark. On their return from this expedition our aircraft fought .111 engagement with an enemy squadron. Four German machines were brought down by our aviators, and were smashed. Two of ours had to land in the enemy's lines. " This morning a German aeroplane bombarded Belfort, causing only material damage*." Paris, July 24th. Afternoon. " Last night a German aeroplane dropped bombs on Lurrf- ville. One person was wounded. '' Sub-Lieutenant Chaput yesterday brought down his eighth enemy aeroplane, which fell near Fresnes-en-Woevre. " A second German aeroplane, attacked at close range by one of our airmen, fell and was smashed near the Vaux Fort. " During the night of the 22nd-23rd and the day of the 23rd our bombarding aeroplanes dropped eight shells on Conflans Station, 40 on the barracks near Vigneulles, and 25 on the barracks and aerodrome at Drieuze." Paris, July 24th. Evening. " One of our pilots, Sub-Lieutenant Delorme, already mentioned six times in Army Orders, has just distinguished himself by a series of bombardments on the railway stations held by the enemy." Russian. Petrograd, July i-jth, " One of our reports describes a fight in the air which took place over the enemy's encampments west of the Dvinsk positions, and which was remarkable for the coolness and courage displayed by our airmen. The volunteer airman, Puchkel, and the observer, Second-Lieutenant Kovenko, set out on an air reconnaissance. Beyond Aheli railway station our machine was suddenly attacked from the rear by a Fokker. The first shots wounded Lieutenant Kovenko in the hand, but this did not prevent our machine from wheeling round, and in its turn attacking the enemy, who was put to flight. After that our machine continued its reconnaissance, which it carried to a successful conclusion. Beyond KakLshki railway station the Fokker agailf attacked our machine, damaging it in several places by well-aimed fire. Nevertheless, under our machine-gun fire tie Fokker rapidly flew off out of sight, but it soon returned and attacked our machine for the third time, just when Lieutenant Kovenko, in spite of his wound, was stopping up a hole which a bullet had bored in" the radiator to prevent leakage of water, which would have forced our machine to land all too soon. Lieutenant Kovenko received a second wound, this time an explosive bullet in the stomach, but in spite of the gravity of the wound he completed his task and «at down again at the machine, opening fire. The Fokker was soon brought down. Puchkel, in spite of the serious damage to his machine, which was gradually coming down, and of the fire of the enemy batteries below, continued his flight, and with amazing courage and presence of mind brought the machine back to the aerodrome, with Lieutenant Kovenko gravely wounded and unconscious." Petrograd, July igth, " Early yesterday morning four enemy aeroplanes dropped thirteen bombs on the town of Reval. " Enemy aviators have shown great activity on the front south of the Dvina region to the district of the Pinsk marshes." 633
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