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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0354.PDF
MARCH 28, 1918. AIRCRAFT WORK AT THE FRONT. OFFICIAL INFORMATION. British. • General Headquarters, March igth. " On the 18th inst. the atmosphere was again clear and favoured the co-opera- tion of the aeroplanes and artillery. Several long-distance reconnaissances were successfully completed, and many photographs were taken by us. Nine tons of bombs were dropped on the enemy's rest billets and ammunition dumps and also • on Busigny railway station and two hostile aerodromes. One of these latter is occupied by large hostile bombing machines. Fighting in the air was exceed- ingly intense, encounters taking place between large formations of our own and the enemy's machines. Nineteen German aeroplanes were brought down and nine driven down out of control. Twelve of our machines are missing. Our bombing machines also attacked military objectives at Mannheim, on the Rhine, droppingover a ton of bombs with excellent results. Eight direct hits were obtained on the Badische soda factory, causing an abnormally large column of black and white smoke to ascend. Two bursts were also seen on the docks, and one on another large factory. Our aeroplanes were attacked by two forma- tions of hostile machines. As the result of the fighting two German aeroplanes were driven down out of control over Mannheim and the remainder of the enemy's machines were driven off. All our machines returned. " During the night, a further 600 bombs were dropped by us on two aero- dromes used by the enemy's night-flying machines, and on ammunition depots and billets. All our machines returned." Admiralty, March aoth. " On March 19th a British seaplane patrol flying in the Heligoland Bight encountered two enemy seaplanes 10 miles to the north-eastward of Borkum. The enemy was engaged and one of his machines driven down in names. Our machines returned safely." War Office, March 20th. " Our aeroplanes have bombed Angista and Porna stations. Near the latter place a train was attacked by machine-gun fire from a low altitude. The driver was seen to jump off, and the train was derailed and subsequently bombed. Another aeroplane directed machine-gun fire from a height of 300 ft. against a Bulgarian company in Seres. " A hostile machine was shot down and fell into Lake Doiran." Admiralty, March 21st. " Ostend was bombarded this afternoon by British monitors with successful results. Prior to the bombardment four enemy aircraft were destroyed by a naval air squadron. Enemy aircraft attacked British machines while spotting for bombardment, with the result that another enemy machine was destroyed. " British seaplanes engaged in reconnaissance in the Heligoland Bight attacked enemy minesweepers with machine-gun fire. No casualties on tlu* British side. All machines returned safely." Gyaral Heaiqimrters, March 2isf. " On the 20th inst. rain and clouds almost entirely prevented flying. A'Ur dark, when the weather cleared, our night-flying squadrons dropped 300 bembs on a hostile aerodrome, south-west of Tournai, used by the enemy's night-flying machines, and also on a large ammunition dep6t north-east of St. Quentin. All our machines returned." War Office, March 21st. " Palestine Front.—On the latter date an effective bombing raid was executed by units of the Royal Flying Corps and Australian Flying Corps against the enemy establishments in the vicinity of El Kutrani Station (on the Hedjaz Railway, 35 miles east of the southern end of the Dead Sea). Four hundred and and seventy bombs were dropped on the station buildings and on railway trains, direct hits being observed on the objectives. One enemy aeroplane was destroyed in aerial fighting, and two of our machines failed to return." General Headquarters, March 12nd. " On the morning of the 21st inst. mist hung over the whole front. It cleared locally later in the day, but inmost plaoes the light was only suitable for low flying. The enemy's attacking troops and reinforcements on the battle front offered most excellent targets to the pilots of our low-flying machines, who poured many thousands of rounds into them, causing innumerable casualties. Our bombing machines also attacked these targers, in addition to bombing important railway stations on the battle front, a total of over 900 bombs being dropped by them. A great deal of fighting took place at a low altitude, in which 16 hostile machines were brought down and six were driven down out of control. A hostile balloon was destroyed by one of our pilots, and one of the enemy's low-flying aeroplanes was shot down in oUr lines by our infantry. Three of our machines are missing. " During the night our night-flying squadrons in the southern area of the front were unable to leave the ground owing to the mist. In the northern area, where the weather was clear, our aeroplanes dropped three and a half tons of bombs on the dockyards at Bruges and three and a half tons on rest billets north-west of Tournai. All our machines returned." General Headquarters, March 23rd. " On the 22nd inst. thick morning mist prevented our aeroplanes from leaving the ground during the early part ot the day. When the mist cleared activity in the air on the battle front became very great. The enemy's low-flying machines were particularly active, engaging our forward troops with their machine-guns. The enemy's massed troops again offered good targets to our own low-flying aeroplanes. The location of large bodies of hostile troops and transport were reported by our machines to our artillery and successfully engaged. Eight and a half tons of bombs were dropped on hostile railway stations in rear of the battle front and also on the enemy's billets, high-velocity guns, troops, and transport. Fighting in the air was very heavy indeed, almost all the combats taking place between Arras and St. Quentin. Twenty-seven enemy machines were brought down, and 20 were driven down out of control. Two hostile machines were also shot down in our lines by anti-aircraft gunfire, and another by our infantry. Eight of our machines are missing. " During the night our squadrons dropped over 14 tons of bombs on hostile billets and ammunition dumps, and upon the areas in which the enemy's attacking troops were concentrated. All our machines returned." General Headquarters, March 24.;'•. " On the 23rd inst. the weather again favoured operations in the air. Our aeroplanes were constantly employed in reconnoitring the position of troops, in photography and bombing, and in reporting suitable targets to our artillery. Many thousands of rounds were fired by our pilots from a low height on hostile troops massed in villages and in the open. Bombing was carried on continuously throughout the day. Over 14 tons of bombs were dropped on the enemy's billets, on his high velocity guns, and on railway stations in the battle area. The enemy's low-flying aeroplanes were most persistent in their attacks on our infantry in forward areas. Many of these machines were attacked and brought down by our pilots. A total of 29 hostile machines were brought down, and 25 others were driven down out of control. . Two of the enemy's balloons also were destroyed. Nine of our machines are missing. " From nightfall until early morning our night-flying squadrons bombed the areas on the battle front in which hostile troops were concentrated as well as the enemy's ammunition dumps and large guns. Over 14 tons of bombs were again dropped by our machines, 2^ tons of which were dropped on the docks at Bruges. All our machines returned. " During the same night 10 heavy bombs were dropped on the important railway bridge and works at Konz (just north of Treves in Germany). Eight of these bombs were clearly seen to burst among the railway works. Nearly two tons of bombs were dropped from low heights on a hostile aerodrome south of Metz. Six bombs were seen to burst among the hangars and set fire to some huts on the aerodrome. All our machines returned. " On the 24th inst. our machines carried out another most successful raid on the factories at Mannheim. Nearly 1 i tons of bombs were dropped, and bursts were seen on the soda factory and railway, anil on the dock Several firfcs were started, one of which was of great size, with flames reaching to a height of 200 ft. and smoke to 5,000 ft. The conflagration was visible from a distance of 35 miles. Our bombing aeroplanes were attacked by 32 hostile machines, and a fierce fight ensued. One of the enemy's aeroplanes was brought down in flames, and another was brought down and fell in the centre of Mannheim. Five others were driven down out of control. In spite of this severe combat and the enemy's heavy anti-aircraft gunfire, all our machines have returned except two." French. Paris. March 20II1. " Yesterday the bad wather and fog hampered aerial operations along the whole front. It is confirmed that the six German aeroplanes and captive balloons which were reported to have been damaged in fighting were really destroyed by our pilots on March 7th, 8th, 12th, 17th and 18th. Yesterday and the day before our bombarding machines dropped during the day and the night 13,000 kilo- grammes of bombs on aerodromes, cantonments, and railway stations in the enemy zone. Several explosions and two fires wine observed in the buildings which were bombarded. During the 16th Sub-Lieut, de Meuklre brought down his 10th enemy aeroplane." Paris, March 21st. " Sub-Lieut, Fonck broitght down, during the day of the 17th, his 30th enemy machine." " Salonica.—Allied airmen carried out several successful bombardments on enemy establishments in the valley of the Struma, in that of the Vardar, and to to the north of the Moglena. One enemy aeroplane was brought down in air fighting." Paris, March 22nd. " It is confirmed that Sub-Lieutenant Herbclin brought down his 10th enemy machine during the day time on March 5th. " Daring yesterday [Thursday! two German aeroplanes were destroyed and four others seriously damaged as the result of fights with our pilots. In addition, three more enemy machines were brought down by the fire of our special guns." " Salonica.—Our artillery carried out destruction fire against enemy batteries in the Tcherna Bend. Allied aeroplanes made numerous successful bombard- ments of enemy establishments in the region of Seres and in the valley of the . Vardar." . Italian. • • Koine, March 17th. " British airmen shot down an enemy machine to the east of the Montello. Last night our airships dropped two tons and a halt of bombs on one of the ' enemy aviation grounds west of the Livenza." Rome, March Igth. ' During the day in the course of aerial combats seven enemy machines were brought down ; two of them by our own airmen in the Lagarina Valley, two by the French on the Asiago Plateau, and three by British airmen to the east of Ihe Piave. During the night one of our airships bombarded with good results the enemy railway lines in the Lagarina Valley." Rome, March 20th. " Our airmen set fire to two enemy captive balloons at Couegliano and Co!- mirano (Alano Basin). Two hostile aeroplanes were brought down ; one of them by French airmen at S. Giacomo di Vealia, the other by British airmen on the Asiago Plateau." Rome, March 21s/. " On the evening of the rgth our anti-aircraft batteries shot down an enemy aeroplane at Campo di Pietra (north-east of Zenzon) and a seaplane on the sea- shore at Cortellazzo." Rome, March 22ml. " Our own and French airmen shot down an enemy machine above the Asiajro Plateau ; beyond the Piave British airmen brought down three more hostile aeroplanes, and forced a fourth to laud. South of Motta di-Livenza our artillery ser fire to an enemy captive balloon." Belgian. Havre, March 20II1. " A German biplane was -obliged to land yesterday in the neighbourhood of I'arme. The officer and non-commissioned officer on board the machine were taken prisoners." German. Berlin, March iy//j. " We shot down in aerial battle yesterday and by fire from the earth 23 enemy aeroplanes and two captive balloons." Turkish. Constantinople, March i-i///. " In some parts of the western sector the artillery fire was more intense. Aerial activity was also lively. There is nothing else to report, owing to rain and fog." Austrian Aerial Mails. IT is stated that the Austrian War Ministry have con- sented to the employment of military aeroplanes for air service between Vienna and Kieff, a distance of 750 miles. Air services from the Austrian capital to Odessa and Con- stantinople are said to be under consideration. And Some in Russia. ANOTHER report states that in consequence of the dis-organisation of transport an aerial postal service between Petrograd, Moscow, and the Crimea is to be introduced in thenear future, while another service between Petrograd and Sweden is projected. 35O
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