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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0215.PDF
FEBRUARY 21, 1918. f% AIRCRAFT WORK AT THE FRONT. OFFICIAL INFORMATION.British. General Headquarters, February izth. "On the nth inst. mist, high winds, and low clouds again made weather conditions unfavourable for flying. Little work was possible with the artillery, but our aeroplanes carried out several successful reconnaissances, and dropped over a ton of bombs on various targets behind the enemy's lines. No fighting took place. To-day, our machines carried out a raid into Germany and bombed the -town of Offenburg. Details of this raid have not yet been received." " General Headquarters, February 13th. "On the 12th inst. weather conditions again rendered flying practically impossible. Work in conjunction with the artillery was attempted, and a few hostile batteries were engaged. Bombs were also dropped by our aeroplanes on various targets behind the enemy's lines, and machine-gun fire was opened from the air upon his trenches. In the raid carried out by us yesterday into Germany, over one and a quarter tons of bombs were dropped on the barracks and railway station south of Offenburg with excellent results. Several direct hits were observed on the railway station and line and on a railway workshop. Several bursts were seen also in the vicinity of the barracks. Two fires were started in the town. One of our aeroplanes also carried out a successful recon- naissance of hostile aerodromes in German 7. All our machines returned." War Office, February 13th. "Palestine Front.—Since the issue of the last communique on February 7th, active operations have mainly been restricted to the Air Service. On February 12th a successful bombing raid was carried out by Australian flying units on the railway station at El Kutrani (on the Hedjaz railway, 80 miles north of Maan) ; 1,040 lbs. of bombs were dropped, and 14 direct bits obtained on the station buildings, track, locomotives, and rolling-stock. All our machines returned safely. In the course of patrolling operations one of our aeroplanes was attacked by an enemy formation composed of five scouts and two larger machines. Two out of the five scouts were driven down, whereupon the remain- ing three broke off the combat. Our airman then pursued the large enemy machines and drove both of them down in the vicinity of Tul Keram. The operations of the Arab forces of the King of the Hedjaz are being continued with success. Repeated raids have been effected against the Hedjaz railway north of Medina, and important demolitions have l>een effected." " Salonica.-—-An enemy aeroplane was phot down in an air fight near Topol- janl (east of Seres)." General Headquarters, February nth. " On the 13th inst., little work was possible owing to low clouds and rain. A few reconnaissances were carried out by our aeroplanes in the early morning, and bombs were dropped on various targets." General Headquarters, February 15til. " On the 14th inst. low clouds and mist continued and greatly impeded flying. In spite of these unfavourable conditions reconnaissances were attempted by our aeroplanes, and a few bombs were dropped behind the enemy's lines. A hostile convoy and troops on the road were attacked with machine-gun fire from a low altitude. One of our machines is missing." General Headquarters, February 16th. " On the 15th inst. the weather was again overcast and misty, but our aero- planes carried out several reconnaissances. A few bombs were dropped and machine-gun fire was opened on the enemy's trpnehes and on various other targets behind his lines. '' Last night our machines dropped bombs on Menin railway station and sidings and on hostile aerodromes and billets. One German machine landed intact behind our lines, and its occupants were taken prisoner. All our machines returned." General Headquarters, February 17//1. " On the 16th inst. the weather was very fine and visibility good. Our aero- planes carried out observation for the artillery all day and took photographs of the enemy's rear lines and aerodromes. Hostile billets, railway stations, and troops were bombed and engaged with machine-gun fire throughout the day. A large calibre German gun was also bombed, and in the course of the day over 5^ tons of bombs were dropped by us on different targets. Fighting machines on both sides were most active, and frequent attacks were made by the enemy on our bombing, photographic, and artillery machines. In air fighting 14 German machines were brought down, and seven others were driven down out of control. Our anti-aircraft guns shot down two other hostile machines, one of them being a large bombing machine, which carried four men. This latter machine fell in our lines and its four occupants were taken prisoners. Another German aeroplane, making the 17th accounted for during the day, in additirvs to those driven down out of control, landed near one of our aerodromes, and its occupants were also taken prisoners. Five of our aeroplanes are missing. " During the night of the r6th-r7th inst. our machines dropped 400 bombs on hostile aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Ghent, Tournai, and Laon. The railway station and sidings at Conflans—15 miles west of Metz—were also successfully bombed from a low height, bursts being observed in the sidings. All our machines.returned." Admiralty, February 17th. " On February 16th a bombing raid was carried out by naval aircraft on Zuydwege Dump. Many bombs were dropped, and a fire was observed to start in the middle of the objective. All our machines returned safely." General Headquarters. February 1 Stk. " The weather was again fine on the 17th inst., and enabled our aeroplanes to proceed with their work in conjunction with the artillery and to take photo- graphs of the enemy's aerodromes and back areas. Bombing, which had been carried out incessantly throughout the previous 36 hours, was continued, and over 6 tons of bombs were dropped by us on various targets, including hostile aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Tournai and Lille, a large ammunition dump near Courtrai, and numerous billets. Fighting in the air was again most severe, the enemy's scouts making determined but unsuccessful attacks against our bombing machines. Ten hostile aeroplanes were brought down and six others were driven down out of control. Three of our machines are missing. " On the night of the I7th-i8th inst., further bombing raids were carried out against hostile aerodromes south of Ghent and west of Tournai as well as against many of the enemy's billets. Another most successful raid was carried out on the railway station and sidings at Conflans (west of Metz). A ton of bombs was dropped, and bursts were observed on sheds at the edge of the sidings, where a large fire was started. Other bursts were clearly seen on the siding and near the railway station. In spite of the exceptionally heavy fixe of the enemy's anti-aircraft guns, all our machines returned. On the 18th inst. our bombing squadrons raided the barracks and railway station at Trtves, on the Moselle, and the steel works and railway station at Thionville. The raid was carried out in broad daylight, and excellent results were obtained. At Treves bombs were seen to burst in the gasworks, near the barracks, and also in the town, where two large fires were burning when our airmen left. At Thionville direct hits were obtained on the railway. Anti-aircraft gunfire was again considerable and accurate, but all our machines returned safely." French. Paris, February 12th. "During the day of the nth, four German aeroplanes were brought down by our pilots, and, in addition, our chaser planes carried out different bom- bardments. About 9 tons of bombs were dropped on the establishments, dumps, railway stations, and cantonments of the enemy, especially on the railway station of Metz-Sablons, where a fire broke out." Paris, February 13th. " Enemy aeroplanes last night dropped several bombs on Nancy. Three persons of the civilian population were killed and five were injured." " Salonica.—Allied airmen have successfully bombarded Saviak (north- west of Seres), Cestovo, on the Strumnitza-Doiran Railway line, and the enemy encampments in the Tcherna Valley." Paris, February' 14W;. " Between February rst and 10th, our pilots brought down 28 enemy machines, r4 of them were entirely destroyed and 14 severely damaged." Paris, February 15/A. " On the night of February I2th-i3th our air squadrons dropped over 4,500 kilogrammes (4^ tons) of explosives on the railway stations of Thionville, Conflans, Chambley, and" Metz-Sablons. Fires were seen to break out, and explosions were heard in the stations of Chambley and Metz-Sablons." Paris, February 16th. "Two enemy aeroplanes last night (Friday) dropped several bombs in the region north of Nancy. A number of killed and wounded are reported among the civil population." Italian. Rome, February 12th. " One of, our airmen shot down an enemy aeroplane above Bertiaga." :.'" -: Rome, February 13th. " To-the «ast of Conegliano [six miles north-east of British front of Montello] two eaemy captive balloons were set on fire by English airmen." Rome, February 14 (A. " On Tuesday an Italian submarine ' attacked and torpedoed an armed enemy steamer near the Isle of Lussin [Adriatic], and, though fiercely attacked by aeroplanes and torpedo-boats, returned undamaged to its base.'" German Berlin, February 13M. " As a reprisal for the enemy air raid on Saarbriicken on February 5th, our airmen yesterday evening dropped bombs on the fortress of Nancy with good effect." Berlin, February 15M. " During the month of January the enemy lost on the German front 20 captive balloons and I^I aeroplanes, 67 of which fell behind our lines. The rest were seen to fall within the enemy positions. " In aerial fighting we have lost 68 aeroplanes and four captive balloons." QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. Enemy Air Raids. MR. GILBERT, in the House of Commons on February 14th, asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, owing to the probability of an increasing number of air raids on London and to the services of special police constables being more often required in the future in dangerous areas, he can at once arrange that all constables required for street duty during air raids shall be supplied with steel protection helmets in order that these men, who give their services free, shall run no unnecessary risks ? The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir George Cave) : Arrange- ments are being made to reduce the number of special constables assembling on an emergency call, and to increase the supply of steel helmets, and I am informed that helmets will be available for all special constables employed on street duty during air raids. Mr. P. A. Harris : Will they be available for people going from their houses to their duty ? They often have to go considerable distances. Sir G. Cave : I do not think that is possible or necessary, because they always have notice. Mr. Harris : Not even in case of air raids ? Mr. Billing: Will the right hou. gentleman use his influence to persuade the Government that the only true defence against aeroplane raids is an air offensive over Germany ? Mr. Speaker: That does not arise out of the question. Aerodromes and Agricultural Workers. GENERAL COLVIN, on February 18th, asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether, having regard to the fact that men are still being taken away from agricultural employment to work at aerodromes, steps will immediately be taken to obtain the necessary labour from elsewhere, in order to terminate a system which is making farming in some districts almost im- possible ? The Under-Secretary to the Air Ministry (Major Baird) : Instructions have been issued to contractors that they are to engage labour exclusively through the medium of Employment Enchanges, and the latter are being instructed not to send forward for employment on aerodrome construction men whose last employer was a farmer, or who are known to be agricultural labourers. Mr. Billing: Are German prisoners still employed on aerodromes under active service conditions ? Major Baird : Yes. Aviation Ground, Ayrshire. MR. SHAW asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can state, approximately, the amount of the expenditure up to date upon, or in con- nection with, the scheme for an aviation ground in Ayrshire ; whether roads and a railway were built, hutments erected, and land reclamation undertaken : whether proper engineering advice was taken before the site was selected and the expenditure incurred ; and whether it is proposed to proceed with the scheme ? Mr. Macpherson : In answer to the first and second parts of the question, the amount expended on works services under the control of the War Office was about £400,000. Roads were built, hutments erected, and land reclamation undertaken. A temporary railway was made for part of the way, and a scheme for a tension considered but refused on account of engineering difficulties. The answer to the third part is in the affirmative. Any question as to the future of this establishment should be addressed to the representative of the Air Board, as that Department is now in control. Air Force. MR. JOYKSON-HICKS asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether the Orders in Council constituting the Air Force have yet been made ?Major Baird : No, Sir. I hope on the Estimates of the Air Ministry to make a full statement as to progress in establishing the Air Force. 211
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