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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 1394.PDF
DECEMBER 27, 1917. > Casualties. Captain THOMAS VICARS HUNTER, Rifle Brigade, attached R.F.C., who was killed on December 5th, aged 20, was the younger of two sons of Mr. H. C. V. and the Hon. Mrs. Hunter, of Abermarlais Park, Llangadock, Carmarthenshire, and Kilbourne Hall, Derby. He was educated at Ladycross (Mr. Roper's) and at Eton (Mr. C. H. K. Marten's house). He left Eton at the outbreak of war for Sandhurst, and received his commission in the Rifle Brigade in December, 1914. In January, 1915, he met with a severe accident, which resulted, after many months in hospital, in the loss of a leg. He worked for some time at the War Office, and was eventually passed fit for home service and rejoined his regiment in November, 1915. Early this year he joined the R.F.C., and went to the front in June as a pilot, being promoted flight commander in October. He was gazetted captain in the Rifle Brigade on December 14th. Lieutenant CLAUDE WILLIAM MICHELIN NOSWORTHY,R.F.A., attached R.F.C., who it was recently stated died of wounds on December 6th, was the third son of Mr. andMrs. Richard Nosworthy, of Jamaica. Born in 1895, he was educated at Exeter School and at McGill University,-Montreal,where he was studying engineering at the outbreak of the war. He returned to England and obtained a commission in theR.F.A. in September, 1914. He received his promotion three months later, and, in November, 1915, became adjutantto his brigade, being, in October, 1916, gazetted to the Regular Army. He fought with distinction through the battles ofLoos and the Somme, possessing the full confidence of his commanding officer, who reported most favourably on him.Last February he was attached to the R.H.A., and in September he joined the R.F.C. He received his fatal wound in aerialcombat within one week after his return to the front. Lieutenant RUSSELL WINNICOTT, M.C., R.F.C., who* was killed in action on December 6th, aged 19, was the. youngest son of Richard W. and Annie Winnicott, Hyperion, Manna-mead, Plymouth. . _ * To be Married. The engagement is announced between Captain GERALD ALLEN, Connaught Rangers ' (Major, R.F.C.), son of Mr Robert Allen, of Coolgrena, Rushbrook, Co. Cork, and MINA, only daughter • of Brigadier-General Sir Owen and Lady THOMAS, of Anglesey. The marriage arranged between Captain P. E. L. GETHIN,R.F.C., and Miss NORAH STAPLEDON will take place veryquietly«pn January 17th in Exeter, leave permitting. The marriage between Second Lieutenant TREVLYN GREY,Australian Flying Corps, only son of Mrs. Grey, of Sydney, N.S.W., and KATHARINE, younger daughter of the vicar ofBatheaston, Bath, and Mrs. DOWNES, will take place onJanuary 2nd at Batheaston. The engagement is announced of Captain W. W. HIGGIN, King's (Liverpool) Regiment, and R.F.C., only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Higgin, Freshfield, Lanes., and Miss OLIVE EARLE, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Earle, The Old Hall, Puddington, Neston, Cheshire. An engagement is announced between JOHN TREVOR KYFFIN, R.F.C., only son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Kyffin,R.A.M.C., of Penrhyn, Alverstoke, Hants, and MARGARET JOYCE DE WINXON WILLS, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Wills, Ramsbury Manor, Wiltshire. Items. The will of 2nd Lieut, the Hon. FRANCIS WALTER STAFFORD MCLAREN, R.F.C., M.P., for the Spalding Division since 1910, of Little College Street, Westminster, who met his death on August 13th while flying, younger son of Lord Aberconway, has left unsettled estate of £8,381. AIRCRAFT WORK AT THE FRONT. OFFICIAL INFORMATION. British. Admiralty, December nth. " During December 10th, several patrols were carried out by naval aircraft, in the course of which three of our machines attacked and drove back five enemy scouts and seven large seaplanes. Two enemy machines were also destroyed and two kite balloons attacked. Enemy trenches and an active anti-aircraft battery •were attacked by machine-gun fire. At noon a bombing raid was carried out on Varssenaere aerodrome [south-west of Bruges], many bombs being dropped. Two direct hits are reported, and bombs were observed to drop close to and among sheds in aerodrome. All our machines have returned safely." General Headquarters, December nth. " On the 10th instant the weather became suitable for flying, and great activity took place in the air on both sides. The enemy's machines were particularly active west of Cambrai, making repeated attacks on our artillery machines. Our aeroplanes dropped many bombs and fired many rounds from their machine- guns on the enemy's villages, hutments, and trenches. In the evening, hostile machines dropped bombs in our Army areas, but only slight damage resulted. During the day two German aeroplanes were brought down in air fighting, and two others were driven down out of control. A hostile balloon was also brought down and another German aeroplane was shot down by our infantry. Three of our aeroplanes are missing. " At 11 o'clock on the nth instant our machines left their aerodromes in fine weather to bomb certain factories in Germany. On reaching the area of their objectives, our pilotsfound their target obscured by clouds, but seeing a clejr gap farther north-east they continued their flight in that direction. Through the gap in the clouds they recognised the large railway junction north-east of Pirmasels and .dropped their bombs upon it. The closing of the gap in the clouds prevented observation of the results. " Although the whole sky was covered by low clouds during the return journey all our pilots succeeded in reaching their aerodrome safely. " Admiralty, December 12th. !" During the night of December ioth-nth naval aircraft carried out a bknbing raid on Oostacker aerodrome and Bruges Docks. Many tons of bombs were dropped on both objectives. On the former, owing to poor visibility, results were difficult to observe, but at the latter good shooting was made and a fire started. All our machines returned safely." War Office, December izth. " Salonica.—Our aeroplanes have twice bombed Rupel, causing damage to buildings and stores. On December 10th an enemy machine was brought down out of control near Njkolic (north of Lake Doiran)." " Palestine.—Our aeroplanes bombed" troops and transport about Bireh withgood results." • Admiralty, December 13th. " On the night of December 1 ith a bombing raid was made by naval aircraft on Bruges Docks. Visibility was bad, with low-lying clouds. One of our machines is missing. The usual fighter patrols were carried out; one enemy air- craft was driven down out oi control and observed to crash." General Headquarters, December 13th. " On the 12th in*>.,iu spite of low clouds and mist, a great many of our aero- planes were in the air. The enemy's troops were engaged with machine-gun fire during their attack on our positions at Bullecourt, bombs were dropped, and low reconnaissances carried out. There was much air fighting, in which a Gotha aeroplane and one other German machine were brought down, and three other hostile machines driven down out of control. Another hostile machine wa; shot do.vn in our lines by anti-aircraft gun fixe. All our aeroplanes returned." General Headquarters, December nth. " On the 13th inst., one German aeroplane was shot down by our infantry There is nothing further of special interest to report concerning aerial activity on either side." War Office, December 15 lh. " Palestine.—Since Wednesday three enemy aeroplanes have been destroyed and one has been driven down out of control." General Headquarters, December 16th. "Although thejweather was fine on the 15th inst., a very high wind and ground mist interfered with reconnaissance and artillery work. " During the day many rounds were fired from the air into the enemy's trenches and bombs were dropped by our aeroplanes on numerous targets, including two positions of long-range guns south-west of Lille. These gun positions were again bombed by us during the night. " Enemy aircraft activity was considerable all day, and several fights took place. Three hostile'machines were brought down, auci two driven down out of control. None of our aeroplanes are missing." War Office, December 16M. " Palestine.—Our aeroplanes dropped 56 bombs on motor-boat sheds and on troops at the mouth of the Jordan with good effect, obtaining 24 hits." War Office, December 18th. " Palestine.—A hostile aeroplane has been driven down near Nablus. " It is interesting to note that in the bombing on boats, troops, and sheds at the north end of the Dead Sea our aeroplanes were flying 400 ft. below sea level." General Headquarters, December l&th. " On the 17th instant heavy snow prevented flying except on a small portion of the northern front. In this locality a certain amount of work was done by our aeroplanes, and bombs were dropped upon a hostile aerodrome near Courtrai. The enemy's trenches were also attacked with bombs and machine- gun fire. At :iight, Roulers station and aerodrome and Ledeghem and Menin stations were heavily bombed by us. In air fighting, two German machine* were brought down in our lines and two others were driven down out of csntrof. One of our machines is missing." French. Paris, December 13M. " Between December 10th and December 13th nine German machines were brought down by our pilots. During the same period our bombing aeroplanes carried out varioust»operations ; 10,000 kilogrammes of explosives were dropped, notably on the aerodromes of Colmar and Schlettstadt, the depot of Iogelbach, the factories of Rombach, the region of Wavrille, Chambley and Thiaucourt, and the railway stations of Warmeriville, Luniville, Amagne, and Lucquy. Effective results were observed. " Yesterday (December 12th) enemy aeroplanes flew over Dunkirk and droppedbombs, but there were no casualties/' 1376
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