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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0342.PDF
Missing. 2nd Lieut. C. Allen, R.F.C. Lieut. H. B. P. Boyce, Sask. R., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. R. Caldecott, R.F.C.2nd Lieut. L. C. F. Clutterbuck, R.F.C. Lieut. J. A. Convery, Can. Cav., attd. R.F.C.Lieut. G. R. Crammond, Lan. Fus., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. E. P. P. Edmonds, R.F.C.2nd Lieut. G. D. Falkenberg, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. C. B. Fenton, R.F.C.Lieut. J. A. A. Ferguson, R.F.C. Lieut. C. R. H. Ffolliott, R.F.C. - 2nd Lieut. C. H. Flere, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. A. H. Fitzmaurice, R.F.C.Lieut. R. G. Foley, M.C., E. Ont. Regt., attd. R.F.C. Lieut. P. La T. Foster, R.F.C. Lieut. H. G. Gill, W. Yorks. R., attd. R.F.C.Lieut. J. L. P. Haynes, L. N. Lanes. R., attd. R.F.C. MARCH 28, 1918. Capt. D. S. Kennedy, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. J. N. B. McKim, R.F.C.2nd Lieut. F. G. McNeil, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. J. N. L. Millett, R.F.C. _2nd Lieut. J. W. Muir, R.F.C. - -~ • : ' -" :: 2nd Lieut. J. F. R. I. Perkins, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. G. P. F. Thomas, Durh. L.I., attd. R.F.C.Major L. A. Tilney, M.C., R.F.C. (2nd Lieut. Household Cavalry), 2nd Lieut. R. H. Topliss, R.F.C.Lieut. N. T. Watson, Midd'x R., attd. R.F.C. ., . 2nd Lieut. N. B. Wells, R.F.C. " . " 2nd Lieut. E. A. Whitehead, R.F.C. ; Previously Missing, now reported Prisoners inGerman hands. 2nd Lieut. G. A. C. Manley, R.F.C. t •• , • • Lieut. W. B. Randell, Aus'. F.C. Lieut. G. M. Shaw, Cent. Ont. Regt., attd. R.F.C. AIR RAIDS INTO GERMANY. IN the House of Commons on March 19th, Mr. Joynson-Hicksasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can now give any details as to our recent successful air raids intoGermany. Mr. Macpherson replied : Since October we have madethirty-eight effective raids into Germany, and we have dropped 48 tons of explosives—a remarkable achievement underthe circumstances. The conditions under which these raids have been carried out during the winter have been extremelydifficult. In the Lorraine region, throughout the winter, it is only on rare occasions that flying can be successfullycarried out. Low clouds, high winds, rain, and snow are the normalfeatures of the weather in this area, whilst, when the weather is otherwise fine, heavy mists lie over the valleys and renderthe location of targets extremely difficult. This is particularly so in the case of the valleys in which the German ironworksand factories are situated. Intense cold has been experi- enced, machine guns have been frozen, and there have beenseveral cases of frost-bite. Stress must be laid on the diffi- culty of finding the way in an unknown country, more particu-larly where clearly denned landmarks are absent. Approximately 250 flights have been made in the course ofthese raids, during which only ten machines have been lost. There has been a steady increase in the number of raidscarried out and the amount of explosive drepped, whilst the increased distance to which raids have been carried intoGermany is most satisfactory. This is particularly so in the case of the recent raids during March, which have so farbeen eight in number. I would point out that the majority of raids by Britishmachines have been carried out in broad daylight, and photographs have been taken of the bursting bombs, placingthe accuracy of the reports received of their effect beyond all shadow of doubt. Further, by attacking in daylight, it hasbeen possible to concentrate attack on objects of actual military importance—a striking contrast to the promiscuousmethods adopted by the enemy. During the night raids our machines have descended tolow heights, and fired at searchlights, trains, and railway stations. A steady increase has been observed in the enemy'santi-aircraft defences, the number of searchlights, guns and aeroplanes. These latter have been defeated with loss when-ever they have attempted to intervene. On other occasions our pilots haveattacked enemy machinesdrawn up on the aerodromes, preparatory to making bombing raids into France. The following rpeort on a recent raidis typical of the results obtained :— " Detailed Report of Operations Carried out March 10th, 1918." Twelve aeroplanes left at 9.35 a.m. to bomb the railway stations, barracks, and Daimler Motor Works at Stuttgart.Eleven of these machines reached the objective. One machine failed to return, being seen to fire a green light onthe return journey, and go down under control, apparently with engine trouble, south-east of Oberkirch. " The following bombs were dropped on the objective with excellent results :— 3 230 lbs. 16 112 ,, 9 40 „ (phos.) Total .. 2,842 lbs." Several bursts were seen on the Daimler Motor Works and several on the railway lines. Mettingen Station was hit,and set on fire. A train which was standing in the station was also set on fire. Two bombs burst near the electric powerstation in the town, one beside the railway sidings, one near the gasworks, and five or six bursts in or arcund the Gare deTriage. Two bursts were seen by the bridges over the river and two beside a large munition factory south-east of thetown. A total of thirt3'-six plates were exposed of Stuttgart, which have come out very well, and which show bombsbursting on objectives. " Three enemy aircraft attacked our machines over theobjective, one being a 2-seater and the other two Albatros D3 type. " After the first combat, the enemy aircraft followed ourmachines, shooting at long range, and then withdrew. " The most recent report is to the effect that our bombingmachines attacked military objectives at Mannheim, on the Rhine, on 18th March. Over one ton of bombs were dropped,with excellent results. Eight direct hits were obtained on the Badische Soda Factory, causing an abnormally largecolumn of black and white smoke to ascend. Also two bursts were seen on the docks, and one on another large factory." The bombers were attacked by two formations of enemy machines, of which two were driven down out of control overMannheim, and the remainder driven off. " Our machines all returned safely." Mr. Joynson-Hicks : May I ask my hon. friend whether itis possible to tell the Field-Marshal Commanding how enor- mously proud we all are here of the work recently dene bythese gallant airmen ? Mr. Macpherson : I shall certainly make a point of doingthat. Mr. Billing : May I ask whether we may now considerthat these raids are carried out as ordinary acts of war and not by way of reprisals ? Mr. Chancellor : Is it our policy to attack only militaryobjects ? Mr. Macpherson : I cannot add anything to the answerwhich I gave. Mr. Butcher : Will my hon. friend say whether he believesthat the weather conditions in the spring and summer will enable us to bomb successfully the ironworks and other worksin Lorraine ? Mr. Macpherson : I am hepeful that will be so.Mr. Billing : Will the hon. gentleman say whether these raids are carried out by way of reprisals or as ordinary actsof war ? The Work of the French Aviators. COMMENTING on the work of the French Flying Corpsin February, the Matin says :— " During February we brought down 43 enemy aeroplanes,and ourselves only lost eight machines. In 1917, we had 33 aviators, each of whom had brought down 'five enemymachines, while over eleven had scored more than ten victories each. To-day we have 53 pilots, 17 of whom are ' aces,' eachhaving over ten victories to his credit. During February, we dropped 101,000 kilogrammes (100 tons) of explosives uponGerman military obj ectives. We have maintained our technical superiority and increased our numerical superiority. TheGermans have now against us two-thirds of their entire aerial strength." 338
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