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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0633.PDF
JUNE 6, 1918. AIRCRAFT WORK AT THE FRONT. OFFICIAL INFORMATION. British. . .' General Headquarters, May iSth.41 On the 27th inst. the weather was generally fine but cloudy, and visibility was not good. However, a full day's work was done by our aeroplanes both inco-operation with the artillery and in photography and bombing. Sixteen tons of bombs were dropped by us in the course of the day on various objectives,including billets between Armentieres and Lens, and on the docks at Bruges. Fifteen German machines were destroyed by our airmen and three were drivendown out of control. Two of our machines are missing. " On the night of the 27th-28th inst. heavy bombs were dropped by us inZeebrugge lock and Bruges docks. A great number of dumps and billets beyond the enemy's lines were also bombed. A total weight of 21 tons of bombs wasused in these different attacks. All the aeroplanes engaged in this work returned safely. Hostile night-bombing machines were active over our back areas. AGotha aeroplane was forced to descend behind our lines and its three occupants were captured. " On the same night our long-distance bombing machines were very active anddropped between four and five tons of bombs on the chemical works at Mannheim, on Landau railway station, the electric power station at Kreuzwald (near Saar-briicken), on Metz-Sablon railway station, and Courcelles railway station. Some very large explosions were caused. All machines except one returned safely." General Headquarters, May 29th."On the 28th inst. fine weather enabled our aeroplanes and ballccns to accomplish a full day's work. Besides co-operation with the artillery ard photo-graphic reconnaissance, our aeroplanes dropped 25 tons oi bembs during the day on hostile billets, dumps, railways, and aerodromes behind the enemy'slines on all parts of the British front. Thirteen German machines were destroyed in air lighting, and four others were driven down out of control. Five of ouraeroplanes are missing. " Bombing was continued on the night of the 28th-2ath inst., and 5 tons ofbombs were dropped by us on various targets, including billets at ArmentiOres and Valenciennes railway station. One of our night-bombing machines failedto return. On the 29th inst. a number of our long-distance day-bombing machines attacked Thionvillc, and dropped a ton of bombs with good efiect onthe station and sidings. At the same time other machines bombed the railway and barracks at Metz-Sablon. In spite of hostile attacks from the air andground, all our machines returned safely." General Headquarters, May 30 th."Low clouds and poor visibility prevented much work being done by our aeroplanes on the 29th inst. until late in the day, when the weather cleared.Five German machines were brought down in air fighting, and one other was driven down out of control. We lost no machines. Five tons of bombs weredropped by us during the day on ammunition dumps and billets in the neigh- bourhood of Armentiires and Bapaume. " Bombing continued during the night of the 29th-3oth inst., and 16 tons ofbombs were dropped, without the loss of any of our machines, on railway stations, including those at Valenciennes and Busigny, on towns and roads behind theenemy's lines, and on Bruges docks. In addition to the raids reported on the 29th inst. our machines heaviy bombed the railway triangle at Metz-Sablonon the night of the 28th-29th. All our machines except one returned safely." General Headquarters, May 31st." On the 30th inst. our aeroplanes and balloons were very active, fine weather enabling much work to be done in co-operation with the artillery, as well asreconnaissance and photography. Bombing was carried out vigorously all day, 38 tons of bombs being dropped on different targets, including railways, roads,dumps, and billets at Merville, Armentteres, Bapaume, Albert, and Valen- ciennes. Twenty-eight German machines and two German balloons weredestroyed during the day, andsix other hostile aeroplanes were driven down out of control. Five of our machines are missing. On the night of the 3oth-3istinst., 17 tons of bombs were dropped by us. Bruges docks were again attacked and large fires started. In addition, 4J tons of bombs were dropped by ourlong-distance night squadrons on railwa'y stations and sidings, on Metz-Sablon, Thionville, Courcelles, Karthaus (just south of TrSves), and Esch. All ourmachines returned." War Office, May 315/. " Salonica.—On May 24th a hostile aeroplane was forced to land at Karaorman(near Kavalla), where it was bombed and destroyed. On the 28th another enemy machine was shot down in flames near the Vardar." General Headquarters, June 1st. " On May 31st our aeroplanes and balloons again carried out much successfulwork. During the morning our long-distance bombing machines crossed the Rhine, and, in spite of strong opposition from enemy aircraft, dropped over aton of bombs on the station and workshops at Karlsruhe. One of the machines engaged in this raid failed to return. Another group of our aeroplanes dropped> ton of bombs on the railway triangle at Metz-Sablon with good efiect and without loss. A further 31 tons of bombs were dropped by us in the courseof the day on different targets behind the enemy's lines. Twenty German machines were destroyed in air fighting, and six were driven down out of control.One other hostile machine was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. One of our machinesis missing. During the following night r 6 tons of bombs were droppedby us, including 6 tons on Bruges docks and on the Zeebrugge-Bruges Canal. In addition, 4 tons of bombs were dropped on the railway junctions and stationsat Metz-Sablon, Karthaus, and Thionville. All our night-bombing machines returned safely. One German night-bombing aeroplane was brought down inflames behind ourlines." General Headquarters, June 2nd." On June 1st fine weather enabled our aeroplanes and balloons to carry out much useful observation work. In air fighting, 21 German machines weredestroyed and four other hostile machines were driven down out of control. Four of the enemy's observation balloons were also destroyed by our airmen.Four of our machines are missing. In the course of the day we dropped 20 tons of bombs, successful attacks being made on Zeebrugge Mole, the railways atArmentieres, Rosieres, Busigny, and Flers, and on other targets. In addition, the railway at Karthaus and Metz-Sablon were heavily attacked by our long-distance bombing aeroplanes. One of these machines failed to return. The night of June ist-2nd was misty, but 5 tons of bombs were dropped by us ontargets in the Somme Valley without the loss of any of our machines." French. Paris, May 2<jth."Salonica.—An enemy aeroplane was brought down in flames by British airmen in the Vardar valley." Paris, May 30th. "Our airmen have participated in the battle with endurance and daringbeyond all praise. Our crews have fought against an enemy force which is very aggressive and very numerous. Flying low they attacked enemy troops withtheir machine-guns, they have carried our reconnaissances far into the enemy lines, and they have played an important part in maintaining communication.During May 27th, 28th, and 29th, 19 German aeroplanes were destroyed in air combats. In addition, two captive balloons were brought down in flames, and23 enemy machines were compelled to land badly damaged. Our bombing planes during the night of May 27th-28th dropped 23,000 kilogrammes (23 tons) ofexplosives on the bridges and crossings of the Ailette and the Aisne and on the cantonments of Guignicourt and Im-incoxirt. During the following night and day they dropped 37,000 kilogrammes (37 tons) of projectiles on convoys andtroops on the march and on the stations of Laon, Fismes, St. Gilles, &c. Severe explosions and fires were observed in the stations of Fismes, LaOn.and Couey-les-Eppes. A munitions depdt blew up in Fismes. Between May 27th and 29th six German aeroplanes were brought down by our anti-aircraft defences." Paris, May 3is/.Salonica.—-In spite of bad weather, the Air Service took an active part iu the battle, firing with machine guns from a low height on the Bulgarian reserves.The airmen also successfully bombed the stations in the valley of the Var dar and the aerodrome of Hudovo." Paris, June 2nd.' During the daytime on May 31st the aerial struggle continued on the whole battle front. Our crews, with their customary dash, attacked the enemy'saircraft, 23 of which were shot down and 14 seriously damaged. The enemy's captive balloons, harassed without respite and in many cases forced to land,were considerably hindered in their work of observation. Six of them were destroyed. Our observers did not cease to mark out the lines and to keep theCommand informed in regard to the enemy's movements, carrying out recon- naissances day and night as far as Vervins, Guise, Le Cateau, and Hirson. Inthe battle zone our squadrons machine-gunned the German troops on the march and caused them serious losses. Our bombing aeroplanes gave proof of similardevotion and marvellous endurance. In the daytime on May 31st, and during the following night, 60 tons of projeetiles were dropped on the troops, transport,railway stations, and aviation grounds of the enemy, and, in particular, in the valley of the Aisne, on Fismes, F8re-en-Tardenois, Oulchy le Chateau, St. GobainForest, &c. Certain crews made as many as three expeditions on the sami1 night. The results observed were very satisfactory. Two German aeroplaneswere shot down by the anti-aircraft defences during the daytime on the 31st." " Salonica.—Allied airmen carried outwith success numerous bombardment*of stations and camps in the Vardar Valley, down to the west of Ghevgeli." An enemy machine was brought U.S.A. Paris, May 29**." It is established that on May 27th our airmen shot down two hostile machines." Paris, May 31st. " Early in the day our airmen shot down a hostile machine."Paris, June at. " Our airmen shot down a hostile machine." Belgian. Havre, May 30 th. " Two of our airmen brought down two German balloons in flames." Italian. Rome, May 2Stk." On May 25th our seaplanes effectively bombed the landing stages and hangars at Durazzo. Despite intense anti-aircraft fire and pursuit by enemyaeroplanes, all our machines returned to their base. On May 27th the enemy made an air raid on Otrantd, which was vigorously repulsed by our anti-aircraftguns. The bombs which were dropped caused no damage. Very different was the result obtained the same day by an aerial attack by British machines onDurazzo. A torpedo-boat which was struck by a bomb capsized and sank, and a fire was observed near the Austrian aeroplane station." Some, May 29//1. '' In the morning of May 28th our seaplanes effectively bombed the militaryworks at Durazzo and returned safely to their base. "Yesterday British aeroplanes bombed the enemy naval base of Cattaro,dropping there a ton and a-half of explosives. One machine was lost owing to its being damaged, but the airmen were saved." Rome, May 31s/. "Aerial activity was intense ; enemy trenches, dumps, and hutments were ,.bombed on the Asiago and Lavarone Plateaux, and columns of troops and trans- port were attacked with machine-gun fire on the roads leading to Gallio. .Inair fights three enemy machines were brought down." 1 Rome, June 1st." Four enemy aeroplanes were brought down in air fighting. " During the month of May Italian pilots and anti-aircraft batteries brought .down 54 enemy aeroplanes and two captive balloons, while British airmen ' accounted for 82 machines and two captive balloons. The Italian and Alliedlosses due to hostile offensive action were only four chasing machines (two- Italian and two British), which did not return. Ten raiding operations werecarried out, in which about 27 tons of bombs were dropped without the loss ' of even one machine brought about by the enemy. The British airmen almostdaily carried out bombardment actions on the enemy lines, dropping altogether ; more than 4 tons of bombs." With regard to the ' imaginary victories • which the enemy reported on - May 3rd and May 21st. In the first case three machines were said to have beenbrought down by an Austrian pilot. On that day the Italians lost one machine only, ana this was forced to land in the enemy's lines owing to engine trouble.On the other hand, three enemy machines were brought down. In the second case the Austrians reported that on the 19th four Italian aeroplanes had beenbrought down. No Allied machine, Italian, British, or French, was lost, but sevenenemyaeroplaneswereforcedtolandontheigth." 1Rome, June 2nd. " Our own and Allied flights were very active ; enemy aviation camps were -bombarded with more than five tons of bombs. Five hostile aeroplanes were • brought down in air fighting. A sixth machine hit by artillery fire fell to the •left of the Piave." German. Berlin, May 30th."During the last three days our airmen brought down 38 enemy aeroplanes. First-Lieutenant Berthold achieved his 29th aerial victory. ;'" Lieutenant Roeth, during a flight from Dixmunde to the south of Ypres, brought down in flames five enemy captive balloons." Berlin, June 1st. " In the last two days we shot down 36 enemy aeroplanes. Lieut, Meckhoff .achieved bis 28th aerial victory ; Lieut. Peutter his 25th, and Lieut. Kroll his . 24th:"Austrian. Vienna, May 29th. " " Field Pilot Deputy Officer Arigi brought down two English aeroplanes nearDurazzo, and thus achieved his 25th and 26th aerial victories." Turkish. Constantinople, May 27th. " Our airmen successfully bombed the enemy encampments at Wadi Hesi." Constantinople, May 28th. " Our aeroplanes again dropped bombs on the rebel encampments on theWadi Hesa. " During the night of May 25th hour seaplanes successfully and repeatedly-attacked the enemy aerodromes on the island of Imbros. Several fires, which blazed for a long while, were observed."Bulgarian. ."'•"' Sofia, May 26th. " East of the Tcherna there was lively aerial activity on the part of the enemy,and their airmen dropped bombs on one tjf our military hospitals, which was clearly visible, near the village of Molwitza." Sofia, May 30th. " West of the Vardar an enemy aeroplane was driven down in an air fight." 631-
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