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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0836.PDF
I/IIGHT SEPTEMBER 28, 1916. THE "X" AIRCRAFT RAIDS. IN view of the decision of the Government not to allow details of places visited by enemy aircraft to be published, we are, as before, giving to each one an index number. Eventually, when details are available, we shall give the respective in formation under these index numbers, which wijl facilitate easy reference to each particular raid. ••X 47" Raid. The following communiqut has been issued by the Field- Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, Home Forces ;— September 2.2nd, 4.50 p.m. " A German seaplane appeared near Dover between 3.5 and 3.10 p.m. this afternoon. Anti-aircraft guns at once came into action, and several aeroplanes went up in pursuit of the raider, which at once made off in a north-easterly direction. Three bombs were dropped, but there were no casualties." German Version. Berlin, September 22nd. "One of our aeroplanes, stationed in Flanders, dropped bombs on the military barracks near Dover." «'X 48" Raid. THE following communique's have been issued by the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, Home Forces :—" September 23rd, 11.55 p.m. " A number of hostile airships visited the East and South- Eastern coasts to-night. Bombs have been dropped in various places and the raid is still in progress. No report of casualties or damage is yet to hand. A further communiqul will lie issued in the morning." September 24th, 2.50 a.m. " An attack b 7 hostile airships was made on Lincolnshire, the Eastern Counties, and on the outskirts of London. The latter attack was from the SNorth-East and South-East about midnight and was beaten o'ff by the anti-aircraft defences. " One airship was brought down in flames in the southern part of Essex, and reports have been received that another fell on the Essex coast; the latter report is not yet confirmed. No reports of casualties or damage have yet been received." 12.15 p.m. " Fourteen or fifteen airships participated in the attack on Great Britain last night. The South-Eastern, Eastern, East Midland Counties, and Lincolnshire were the principal locali ties visited. An attack on London was carried out by two airships from the South-East between 1 and 2 a.m., and by •one airship from the East between 12 and 1 a.m. Aeroplanes were sent up and fire was opened from the anti-aircraft gun defences, the raiders being driven off. Bombs were dropped, however, in the Southern and South-Eastern districts, and it is regretted that 28 persons were killed and 99 injured. " Two of ths raiders were brought down in Essex. They were both large airships of a new pattern. One of the raiders fell in flames and was destroyed, together with the crew. The crew of 22 officers and men of the second were captured. " Detailed reports of casualties and damage have not yet beer eceived." 5.20 p.m. " Latest reports show that probably not more than twelve airships participated m last night's air raid. Police reports from the Provinces indicate that the damage done by the raiding airships was slight. At one town in the East Midlands, however, a number of bombs were dropped, and it is regretted that two persons were killed and eleven injured. It is feared that two more bodies are buried under some ruins in this town. Some damage was caused at a railway station, and about a dozen houses and shops were wrecked or damaged, and a chapel and a storehouse were set on fire. With this exception no other casualties have been reported outside the Metro politan area, and although a large number of bombs were dropped promiscuously over the districts visited by the air ships the material damage is insignificant. A great number of bombs fell in the sea or in open places. *' In the Metropolitan area 17 men, 8 women, and 3 children were killed ; 45 men, 37 women, and 17 children being injured. A considerable number of small dwelling-houses and shops were demolished or damaged ; a number of fires were caused ; two factories sustained injury ; some empty railway trucks were destroyed, and the permanent way was slightly damaged in two places. " No reports ha%'e been received of any military damage." September 26th, 5.20 p.m. " It has now been established that the two airships brought down in this raid were the naval Zeppelins ' L 32 ' and ' L 33.' Both were of very recent construction. The first airship was finally destroyed by an aeroplane after passing through effective gunfire. The second airship was hit by gunfire from the London Defences, and forced to descend in Essex through loss of gas. " Owing to deaths from injuries having occurred and to casualties not having been reported to the police imme diately, some amendment must be made to the list of casualties caused during the raid on the night of September 23rd-24th. Corrected figures are as follows :—Killed : 23, men, 12 women, 3 children ; Total, 38. Injured: 56 men, 43 women, 26 children; total, 125." German Version. Berlin, September 2$lh. " During the night of September 23rd several naval air ships dropped bombs on London and places of military importance on the Humber, and in the Midland Counties, including Nottingham and Sheffield. The result was every where observed by big fires, which could be seen for a long time. On their way, before crossing the British coast, the air ships were taken under fire by guard vessels, and during the attack itself under extraordinarily heavy fire with incendiary shells by numerous anti-aircraft batteries. They silenced some batteries by well-directed volleys. " Two airships fell victims to the enemy anti-aircraft defences of London. All the others returned undamaged.— (Signed) Chief of the Admiralty Staff." It is officially stated that, in addition to the fact thai no anti aircraft defences or places of military importance -were damaged, the account is full of the usual misstatements. " X 49 " Raid. THE following communiques have been issued by the Field- Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, Home Forces :— September 2$th, 11.45 p.m. " Several hostile airships crossed the East and North-East Coasts between 10.30 and midnight. Bombs are reported to have been dropped at several places between Northern and North-Midland Counties. An airship has also been reported off the South Coast. No reports of damage or casualties have been received." September 26th, 3.15 a.m. " Several hostile airships, probably six in number, visited the North-Eastern and Southern Counties during the night. Bombs were dropped in the Northern Counties, and some casualties and damage are reported. Full reports have not yet been received." 12.10 p.m. " Seven airships carried out a raid on England last night and in the early hours of this morning. The districts attacked were the South Coast, East Coast, North-East Coast and North Midlands. The principal attack was aimed against the industrial centres in the last-mentioned area. Up to the present no damage to factories or work of military importance has been reported. It is reported, however, that a number of small houses and cottages were wrecked or damaged in some places, and 29 deaths have been reported. " No attempt was made to approach London. " The raiders were engaged by the anti-aircraft defences and were successfully driven off from several large industrial centres." September 26th, 5.20 p.m. " In the raid of last night-the total casualties so far re ported are : Killed, 36. Injured, 27. '* Very slight damage was caused, and none whatever of military importance." • an German Airship Casualties. A SECOND list of German Army airship losses gives (in addition to the one including the name of Captain Schramm) 17 names, 16 registered as missing and 1 died of sickness, says the Daily Mail correspondent at Amsterdam. The list includes 1 infantry captain, 2 lieutenants, 10 engineers, 2 helmsmen, 1 N.C.O., and 1 private. 832
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