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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0477.PDF
MAY IJ, 1917. THE BOMBING OF A DUTCH TOWN. EXHAUSTIVE enquiries mads by the Government have, it is stated, proved conclusively that it is out of the question that the bombs dropped on the Dutch town of Zierikzee on April 29th-30th could have been dropped by any British aircraft. The only British aircraft which might conceivably have been concerned were two naval aeroplanes which left the vicinity of Dunkirk on the night in question in order to attack Zeebrugge mole, over which they dropped 16 bombs. Both machines took the same time, within 14 minutes of each other, to reach their objective and return to their base. Both were slow machines, and vthere was _ an adverse north- east wind of about 20 m.p.h. velocity. The time taken by both to carry out the attack on Zeebrugge and to return be recognised probably as British 111 imitations of British marks ; others cannot be identified, and have no resemblance whatever to any known British markings. The Government have informed the Netherlands "Government to this effect. It is worthy of note :—• (1) That on the night of May 3rd—4th British aeroplanes operating near the Belgian coast reported having observed an aeroplane (presumably enemy) near La Panne, which was carrying a powerful light. (2) That in November last 3 false statement that British aircraft had dropped bombs at Rheinfelden, in Swiss territory, was published by the Strassburger Post. It was affirmed that the bombs were of British manufacture.' It happened, however, that no damage was done, and no recognisable fra£- By courtesy of " Net Vliegveld." Some views of the destruction brought about by a bombing aeroplane's destructive visit to Zierikzee, Holland. makes it quite impossible that either of them could have got so far east as Zierikzee, even had it been possible that their pilots could have mistaken the well-known objective of Zeebrugge. Each machine carried eight bombs. A German com- muniqui, issued later and reproduced in the Dutch Press, stated that on this night 15 bombs were dropped by British aircraft and fell into the water in proximity to German naval vessels at Zeebrugge. Neither of the British machines carried any searchlights, star shells, or other ground-illuminating apparatus. The machine which bombed Zierikzee is reported to have operated with searchlights. As regards the marking of the parts of bombs picked up by the Dutch authorities at Zierikzee, certain markings can ments were picked up, and consequently the purpose of the 'German Government (which was no doubt to embroil Great Britain and Switzerland) was not effected. Shortly before that occurrence the Germans had captured a British aeroplane carrying bombs. (3) That German aircraft of all descriptions have re- peatedly and for many months manoeuvred over Dutch territory, and on at least one occasion dropped objects on to Dutch territory. (4) That the armed forces of the German Government have shown little, if any, respect for the lives or property of neutrals, as is universally proved by the deliberate sinking of neutral vessels,of all nationalities and the murder of defenceless neutral subjects. Fatal Accidents. A VERDICT of " Accidental Death " was returned at an inquest on May 7th on 2nd Lieut. Trollope and 2nd Lieut. Cauldwell, who were killed while flying on May 4th. The former, a qualified aviator, had charge of the machine, the engine of which is stated to have failed. A similar verdict was returned at the inquest on Cadet G. V. Smirnov, a Russian, and Capt. Lylewain, R.F.C., who were killed in a flying accident. The machine fell from about 200 ft., and upon contact with the ground the petrol tank burst and the machine was enveloped in flames. Captain Lylewaln was killed instantaneously, and the cadet died a few hours later at the Southall military hospital from syncope. Lieut. Peter Orme, R.F.C., died in the Military Hospital at Brighton on May 7th as the result of an accident while riding a motorcycle near Horsham earlier in the day. Lieut. L. E. Baker, while flying in Yorkshire, got into difficulties on a left-hand turn when about 700 ft. up.. His machine nose-dived to earth and he was killed instantly. Flight-Lieut. L. Morgan, R.N. and Prob. Flight Officer H. Seed were killed near Edmonton on May nth. They were flying at a height of about 5,000 ft. when apparently some- thing went wrong with the engine and the machine nose-dived to the ground. 2nd Lieut. A. D. Merchant, R.F.C., met with fatal injuries while flying an aeroplane at an aerodjojne in Yorkshire on May 12th. The machine fell, and he was picked up in an unconscious condition, and conveyed to 'military hospital, death taking place on the way there. An officer attached to the R.F.C. was killed whilst flying over Hounslow Heath on May 13th. Whilst engaged in manoeuvring about 6 o'clock he was observed to be in diffi- culties, and the machine crashed to the earth. When the officer was picked up life was found to be extinct. Whilst testing a new biplane at Roundhay, Leeds, on May 12th, Mr. W. Rowland Ding was killed. According to reports the machine was "looping the loop when the wings collapsed. The machine fell to the ground and burst into flames. A Fatality in America. ONE of the best-known of American pilots, Victor Carlstrom, and an Army pupil, Were killed.at Newport News, Virginia, on May 9th, their machine collapsing at a height of 3,500 ft. A Fatality in-Japan. . LIEUT. SHIYU SAWADA, of the Japanese Army, was killed at Tokorozawa on March 8th. He had only returned on February 25th from France, where he had bsen for six months studying military aviation at the Maurice Farman school. 477
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