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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0357.PDF
APRIL 12, 1917. German. Berlin, April 3rd. " In aerial fights the enemy lost four aeroplanes. Colonel Baron von Richthofen brought down two of this number." Berlin, April 4th. " Nine enemy aeroplanes and two captive balloons were shot down by our airmen." " Macedonian Front.—Our aerial squadrons extensively bombed the railway station of Vertekop (south-east of Vodena). We secured photographs of the conflagrations caused by our bombs." Berlin, April 6th. " Clear weather, during both the day and the night, resulted in very lively reconnoitring and attacking activity on the part of airmen, and numerous aerial combats. A British squadron, consisting of four aeroplanes, which had advanced as far as Douai, was chased by one of our chaser echelons and de- stroyed. All four machines now lay behind our lines. I>ieut. Baron von Richthofen brought down two of them, thus making the 35 th and 36th enemy machines which he has accounted for. Apart from these four machines the enemy lost eight aeroplanes, two of which were shot down from the ground. Three of our aeroplanes are missing." " Balkans.—In the Vardar Valley extern: ve munition •depots were blown up by means of bombs dropped by our airmen." Berlin, April yth. " Batteries, ammunition dumps, and works of fortification in Rheims, the existence of which has been revealed by photographs taken by our airmen, together with collections of troops which had been observed in the same city, were brought effectively under our fire. " With the objects of securing artillery observation and aerial reconnaissance, the enemy collected and used strong aerial forces. They suffered heavy losses. Several units belonging to the enemy squadrons may be regarded as having been destroyed. Lieut. Voss shot down his 24th enemy aeroplane, and Lieut. V. Bertrab his fourth,opponent, during aerial engagements. Between Soissons and Rheims the enemy undertook a concerted attack against our captive balloons_on this_ front. By prompt anti-aircraft fire and participation by our chaser echelons, the enemy failed to achieve the success he anticipated, and only two of the balloons were shot down. The observers landed by parachute. " Yesterday the enemy lost 44 aeroplanes, 33 in aerial engagements, eight by anti-aircraft fire, and three by forced landings behind our lines. The enemy also lost a captive balloon by an aerial attack. Five of our airmen have not returned." Berlin, April 8th. " Yesterday 12 enemy aeroplanes were shot down in aerial battles and one by anti-aircraft fire. The anticipatory development of our aerial fighting forces, the perfection in the building of aeroplanes on the basis of experience gained from the enemy and at home, the tutoring of observers for artillery and infantry, and the maintenance of the established attacking spirit of our fighting aviators have led to great results during March. In securing these results our anti- aircraft guns also played a considerable part. " Our opponents, including the Americans who were in the French aerial service for a long time prior to their country's declaration of war, have lost in the West, East, and in the Balkans 161 aeroplanes and 19 captive balloons by our attacks and anti-aircraft devices. Of these 143 aeroplanes and the 19 balloons were shot down in aerial attack and 15 aeroplanes were shot down by fire from the ground. Three enemy aeroplanes came into our possession by involuntary landing behind our lines. The German losses amount to 45 aeroplanes. No captive balloons were lost." Berlin, April gth. " Yesterday 17 enemy aeroplanes and two captive .balloons were brought down by our airmen and anti-aircraft guns. Cavalry Captain Baron von Richthofen was victorious for the 38th and 39th times in aerial battles. Lieut. Schafer brought down his 12th machine." Austrian. Vienna, April gth. " Enemy aeroplanes have dropped bombs on Sistiana (between Monfalcone and Trieste) without causing damage. Soon afterwards Austrian aeroplanes attacked the enemy barracks at Vermigliano and dropped bombs on them with success, but one is missing." The late Mr. Horace Short, eight years ago at the Isle of Sbeppey aeroplane factory of Messrs. Short Brothers, during the visit of the Wright Brothers to this country. From left to right : Messrs. Orville Wright, Wilbur Wright, Horace Short, and Griffith Brewer. The Death of Mr. Horace Short. AVIATION mourns another of its pioneers in Mr. Horace Short, who passed to his rest on Good Friday, at the early age of 44, at his residence in the Isle of Sheppey. In conjunc- tion with his brothers, Eustace and Oswald, who were balloon makers to the Royal Aero Club, in 1909 Horace Short, after an adventurous engineering career, started an aeroplane factory at Shellbeach, Isle of Sheppey. There the inventive genius of Mr. Horace Short brought forth several experimental machines for, among others, Mr. Frank McClean, the late Hon. C. S. Rolls, the Hon, Maurice Egerton, the late Mr. Cecil Grace, Mr. AlecOgilvieandMr.J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, whose Green-engined Short biplane won the £1,000 offered by the Daily Mail for the first circular mile flown in an all-British aeroplane. Among other noteworthy machines built by the firm were a number fitted with two engines, and a lengthy series of experiments were carried out with various arrange- ments of two and three propellers. Mr. Horace Short also designed a large seaplane, with folding wings, which has since been developed into a type which has done splendid work in various theatres of war from seaplane carrying ships. Of the machines which have been produced since the war began it is impossible to give details now, as the whole energies of the firm have been given to supplying the needs of the Navy, but when the time comes that the latest machines designed by Mr. Horace Short can be described, his foresight and originality will be evident. m * m m A New Zeppelin en Trial. REPORTS received in Berne from Constance state that a new and powerful Zeppelin made a trial flight on April 1st. In spiteToT the rain and low-hanging clouds over Lake Con- stance, the airship is said to have manoeuvred with great swiftness, vanishing behind the clouds and suddenly re- appearing at quite another point. German Balloon in Sweden. A LARGE German balloon landed near Cimbrishamn, Sweden, on April 3rd. Four German officers were found on board, and they were taken to Stockholm and interned. They stated that they left Berlin at 3 o'clock that morning for the Eastern front, but the wind changing they landed in Sweden. A large photographic apparatus and a number of maps, which were on board, have been seized. 357
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