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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0980.PDF
AUGUST 29, 19XI. AIRCRAFT WORK AT THE FRONT. OFFICIAL INFORMATION. British. Headquarters, R.A.F. Independent Force, August iSth. " On the night of the I7th-i3th inst. our squadrons attacked numerous aero- dromes, railway junctions, blast furnaces, trains, and other ground targets. Machine-gun fire was freely used against many of the objectives. One of our machines has not returned." General Headquarters, August l&tk. " Apart from the very successful raid already reported on Lomme aerodrome, there was no feature of special interest in our air work on August 17th. Enemy aircraft were inactive. We destroyed five German machines and a balloon. Three of our machines are missing. Thirteen tons of bombs were dropped by us during the day. Low clouds, rain, and high wind prevented any aerial opera- tions being carried out at night." War Office, August i8lh. " Italian Front.—Since the 9th inst. the Royal Air Force have destroyed eight hostile aeroplanes and two observation balloons. One of our machines is missing." " Salonica.—Since August 5th we have destroyed four hostile aeroplanes and driven one down out of control." General Headquarters, August 19th. " Low clouds and high wind restricted work in the air on August 18th. Enemy aircraft were not active. We brought down six hostile machines and shot down a German balloon in flames. One of our aeroplanes is missing. Sixteen tons of bombs were dropped by us during the day and the following night on different targets." Headquarters, R.A.F. Independent Force, August 19th. " On the night of August i8th-i9th our squadrons attacked hostile aerodrome- and landing grounds. Various ground targets were also attacked with machines gunfire. One of our machines has failed to return." Headquarters, R.A.F. Independent Force, August 20th. " On the night of the rgth-2oth our squadrons again attacked hostile aero- dromes and railways Hangars, trains and various ground targets were bombed and subjected to machine-gun fire. All our machines returned safely.*' General Headquarters, August 20(ft, " Early in the morning of August 19th some of our squadrons combined in a very successful attack on Phalempin aerodrome, south of Lille. Many bombs were dropped from a low height and machine-guns were used with good effect onground targets. Several aeroplane sheds were hit and big fires started. Some enemy machines which attempted to interfere with our aeroplanes from the air were prevented from attacking by our escorting squadrons. AH the machines engaged on this raid returned safely. Bruges Docks, the railway at Roisel, and a number of enemy dumps were also heavily bombed by us. The total weight of bombs dropped during the day amounted to 15 J tons. A good deal of reconnaissance, photographic, and observation work was also carried out by our airmen. In air fighting 13 enemy machines were destroyed and six driven down out of control. In addition, one hostile aeroplane was shot down and another brought down out of control by fire from the ground. Four German balloons in the Merville sector were set on fire by one of our airmen. Seven of our machines are missing. Unfavourable weather prevented any flying at night." Admiralty, August 2is*. " During the period August 15th to 18th inclusive, R.A.F. contingents, work- ing with the Navy, have bombed the following military objectives:—Solway Works, Zeebrugge, Bruges Docks, Anti-aircraft batteries, Westende, Ostend Docks, Zeebrugge, Aertrycke, Middelkerke, Plaaschendaele Canal, Stalhille Dump, Meetkerke, Leffinghe, Zeebrugge-Bruges Canal, enemy shipping. Be- tween T5 and 16 tons of explosives were dropped and good results obtained. Reconnaissance, photographic, and anti-submarine patrols have been main- tained. During the course of these operations, nine enemy machines have been destroyed and eight driven down out of control. We have lost four machines, one of which landed in Holland, and three officers have been wounded. In home waters, during the same period, anti-submarine, convoy, and hostile aircraft patrols have been maintained by seaplanes, aeroplanes, and airships. Sub- marines have been sighted and attacked and mines located and destroyed. One machine has failed to return from patrol." General Headquarters, August 21st. " On August 20th enemy activity in the air was very slight. We brought down one hostile aeroplane, and one of our own machines is missing. Low clouds prevented all flying at night." Headquarters, R.A.F. Independent Force, August 22nd. " In spite of the enemy's most determined efforts for protection, consisting of a large number of fighting machines and a greatly increased number of anti- aircraft guns, between the hours of 8 p.m. on the 21st and 10 a.m. on the 22nd inst. five important towns in Germany were heavily attacked as well as five hostile aerodromes. On the night of the 2ist-22nd inst. weather conditions were exceptionally good.and a 1 irge amount of work was carried out by our squadrons. Military objectives at Frankfort and Cologne were heavily attacked. Very good results were observed and bombs were sent all around the stations and barracks. The railway junction at Trives was also successfully attacked. All our machines returned safely. Four hostile aerodromes were heavily bombed and many hangars hit. Machine-guns were freely used on hangars, trains, search- lights, and anti-aircraft guns. One of our machines is missing. On the morning of the 22nd inst. one of our squadrons attacked the chemical factories at Mann. heim. During heavy fighting on the outward journey two of our machines were brought down. The remainder reached and successfully bombed the objective. Very fierce fighting again took place on the return journey, as a result of which five more of our machines are missing. Three hostile machines were destroyed ; two of these were seen to crash, and one went down in flames. Two other squadrons attacked the railway sidings at Coblentz at about 7.30 a.m., and a hostile aerodrome at Hagenau, with very good results. All of these machines returned safely. One hundred and ninety-four bombs were dropped by night and 21 tons of bombs by day." General Headquarters, August 22nd. "The thick mist which prevailed during the early morning of August 21st prevented our aeroplanes from taking part in the battle at the opening of the attack north of the Ancre. As the morning advanced the sky grew clearer, and for the rest of the day our airmen were actively engaged. Some machines devoted themselves to the work of contact patrol and reported the positions of our advancing troops to their Headquarters from time to time. Other machines attacked hostile troops and transport from low altitudes with bombs and machine-gun fire, scattering ammunition wagons and columns on the march. In several cases German guns firing at our tanks were silenced by bombs and machine-gun fire from the air. A great deal of work was done also in reporting active hostile batteries to our artillery as well as in reconnaissances and observa- tions of our artillery fire. Twelve tons of bombs were dropped by us during the day. In air fighting 21 hostile machines were destroyed and eight others driven down out of control. One German balloon was shot down in names. Eight of our machines are missing. On the night of August 2ist-22nd there was bright moonlight and a clear sky. Our night bombing aeroplanes dropped more than 25 tons of bombs on different targets. Cambrai and Marcoing station were heavily attacked, as well as a number of railway bridges and lines, aerodromes, and billets. The bridge at Aubigny-au-Bac on the road connecting Douailand Cambrai was broken down. All our machines returned safely. One of our night- flying machines brought down in flames on this side of the line a large enemy night-bombing aeroplane. The machine reported in yesterday's communique as missing has now returned." t General Headquarters, August 23rd.Our airmen had a busy and successful day on August 22nd. Clear weather enabled photographic and reconnaissance work to be carried out, and a large number of hostile batteries and other targets were engaged by our artillery with, aeroplane and balloon observation. The position of our advancing infantry was ascertained and reported by our machines, while the enemy was constantly harassed from the air. During the day 35 tons of bombs were dropped by us. Gondecourt Aerodrome was attacked in the early morning from a low height with good effect, and many of the enemy's dumps, stations, and bridges were heavily assailed, as well as Bruges Docks. Combats in the air were numerous, aud 20 German aeroplanes and eight balloons were destroyed. Four hostile machines were driven down out of control. Three of our machines are missing. There was further heavy bombing at night, a total of 19 tons of bombs being discharged upon selected targets, of which the railway junctions at Valenciennes, Somain, Douai, and Cambrai were the chief. All our night-flying aeroplanes returned safely, and one of them brought down a large enemy night-bombing machine on our side of the line." Headquarters, R.A.F. Independent Force, August 24th. " On the night of the 22nd-23rd inst. oursquadrons made a concentrated attack on the hostile aerodromes at Folpersweiler [?], on which eight tons of bombs were dropped. Several large sheds and hangarswere set on fire. One of our machines attacked the chemical factories at Saaralbe, where excellent results were ob- tained. Fires and explosions were seen for ilmilesafterthe attack. Various railway targets were also bombed with good effect. Three of our machines are missing. On the morning of the 23rd inst. our machines successfully attacked the hostile aerodrome at Buhl. The railway junction at Treves was also at- tacked, and several bursts were observed in the station and on the railway. All our machines returned safely. The machine previously reported as missing on the night of the i8th-i9th inst. has now been located undamaged. On the night of the 23rd-24th inst., in spite of thunderstorms, our squadrons carried out opera- tions against a hostile aerodrome and the railway junction at Ehrange. A fire was caused, and considerable damage done at the latter place. All our machines returned safely." General Headquarters, August 24th, " On August 23rd our machines co-operated closely throughout the day with our troops in the battle area, keeping touch with their advance and reporting enemy movements. Observation for artillery fire by balloons and aeroplanes was carried on as usual. Our low-flying squadrons constantly attacked with machine-gun fire and bombed the German infantry wagons and guns, throwing them into confusion. Our squadrons, co operating with Tanks, silenced enemy batteries which were impeding the advance. A bombing raid on the German aerodrome at Cantin, south of Douai, was carried out by some of our scouts and escorting machines. Several of the hangars were set on fire by direct hits, and machine-gun fire was opened from a very low height on troops and transport near by. An enemy machine which attacked our raiders was shot down. All our machines engaged in the raid returned safely. A total of 26 tons of bombs was dropped by our airmen during the day. Twelve enemy machines were destroyed by us in air fighting, and two more were brought down by fire from the ground. Three other hostile machines were driven dWwn out of control. Four German balloons were shot down in flames. Four of our machines are missing. Atnight, though the weather was cloudy, nearly five tons of bombs were dropped by us without loss. During the last fortnight 328 German aeroplanes have been brought down by our airmen on the Western front and 134 driven down out of control. The enemy balloons shot down in the same period amount to 31. The total weight of bombs dropped by us during this period is 594 tons." French. Paris, August i9th. " Lieut. Fonck brought down three enemy aeroplanes on August 14th, which brings to 60 the number of machines brought down by this pilot up to date. Yesterday eight enemy aeroplanes were brought down or driven down out of control and three captive balloons were set on fire. Our bombing squadrons thuing the night of August 17th-! 8th dropped seven tons of projectiles on the stations of Bazancourt and Amagne. It is confirmed that on the 8th inst! Sub* Lieut. Boyau brought down his 30 th flying machine. " British pilots brought down an enemy aeroplane north of Ghevgeli." Paris, August xgth. " Yesterday three German aeroplanes were brought down and one captive balloon was set on fire. " During the night of August i8th-ioth our bombing squadrons dropped 8 tons of projectiles on the bivouacs in the region of Berry-au-Bac and Guignicourt and the stations of MSzieres and Chatelet-sur-R<tourne. " Balkans.—British airmen bombarded enemy camps in the Vardar region and brought down two enemy machines." Paris, August 20th. " German aeroplanes bombarded Nancy last night. Six persons are reported killed and 20 injured among the civilian population." " Salonica.—British aircraft bombed trains and convoys in the region of Seres." Paris, August 21st. " Yesterday, notwithstanding the unfavourable weather and low clouds, our pilots were very active. Nine enemy aeroplanes were put out of action and three captive balloons were set on fire. Forty-one tons of projectiles were dropped in the daytime from a height varying between 150 and 1,500 feet on concentra- tions of troops and convoys. During the night of August 2oth-2ist we con- tinued to attack with bomb and machine gun the bivouacs and passages of the valley of the Ailette. In addition, 23 tons of projectiles were dropped on the stations of Mezieres, Amagne, Lucquoy, Chatelet-sur-Re'tourne, Conflans, and Amanvilliers. The station of Thionville received four tons of explosives. Al- together 64 tons of projectiles were employed, with excellent results." M " Salonica.—On the whole front there was artillery and reconnoitring activity. A Serbian detachment carried out a successful raid into the Bulgarian lines. A French airman shot down an enemy aeroplane south of Prilep." l Paris, August 22nd. " On August 21 st our airmen brought down or put out of action 17 enemy aero- planes, set six captive balloons on fire, and repeatedly caught retreating German troops under machine-gun fire in the region of Lassigny and between the Oise and the Aisne. Our bombarding machines dropped by day 34 tons of projectiles in the regions of Chauny, Margival, Vauxaillon, and Anizy-le-Chateau, and by night 28 tons were dropped on the railway stations of Thionville, Conflans, and Meziires, as well as in the battle zone. Numerous hits on objectives and fires were observed on the railway station of Conflans, Ham, Guiscard, Chauny, Thion- ville, Thiaucourt, and Pontavert. During the days of August 19th, 2'otb^ and 21st our observation machines did a considerable amount of work during the battle, in spite of atmospheric conditions which were often unfavourable, and notwithstanding the attacks of enemy airmen, who endeavoured especially to prevent our infantry aeroplanes from carrying out their reconnaissances and 978
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