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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 1125.PDF
OCTOBER 3,' Sec. Lieuts, (Ad.) to be Sec. Lieuts.:—J. E. Betts; June 13th. H. E. G,Richards; Aug. 3rd. G. H. Mewes ; Aug. 17th. J. S. Hodgson; Aug. 24th. R. J. Adam ; Aug. 31st. F. E. Openshaw, W. T. Daniell, H. J. Jones; Sept.7th. R. L. G. Simpson, W. E. Truman, A. S. Wall; Sept. 10th. R. V. Weeks, E. Sparshott; Sept. nth. Lieut. S. P. Ashton to be See. Lieut, and to be lion. Lieut, from (Ad.); Sept.7th. The iollowing are granted temp, commns. as Sec. Lieuts.:—C. Wilson (Sub-Lieut., R.N.V.R.), and to be hon. Lieut. ; Sept. Tst. T. W. Cummins ;Sept. 14th. W. T. T. Glsasbrook, B. Greig, H. E. Powell, H. B. Smith, H. F. Wilkins ; Sept. 23rd. W. B. Bond, E. J. Hindsley, F. J. Matthews, B. E. D.Pratt ; Sept. 26th. Capt. A. C. Lovesy (Lieut., R.N.V.R.) relinquishes his commn. on ceasingto be employed ; Aug. 31st. Lieut. G. H. Heeley relinquishes his commn. on account of ill-health andis granted the hon. rank of Lieut.; Sept. z?th. Medical Branch. E. G. Fearnsides is granted temp, commn. as Capt., and to be hon. Maj. ;Sept. 23rd. R. B.Lilly is granted a temp, commn. as Capt.; Sept. 25th.The following are granted temp, commns. as Lieuts. :—E. F. Wilson ; Sept. 23rd. S. A. Clark ; Sept. 25th. Dental Branch. H. O. Salt is granted a temp, commn. as Lieut.; Sept. 23rd.Memoranda—Sec. Lieuts. (on pjrob.) relinquish their commns. on ceasing to be employed :—T. F. Lavelle ; May nth. R. T. Mackenzie ; June 22nd. Sec. Lieut, (on prob.) H. L. Sellar relinquishes his commn. on account of ill-health and is granted the hon. rank of Sec. Lieut.; Sept. 28th. The date of appointment of Capt. J. J. Meakin as Temp. Maj. is May 24th,and not as stated on page 8,629 of the Gazette July 23rd. Sec. Lieut. E. A. Parnell to take rank nad precedence as if his appointrnen tas Sec. Lieut, bore date Aug. 16th. Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). %Y* London Gazette Supplement, September 24th. Flying Officers.—Temp. Sec. Lieuts, (on prob.), Gen. List, and to be confirmedin their rank:—N. D. K. Kennedy; Nov. 1st, 1917. W. Shaw-Thompson • Jan. 12th. R. MacC. Marshall; March 10th. Flying Officers (Observers).— Lieut. A. C. Malloch, Canadian Engrs.; July27th, 1017, seniority July 16th, 1917; Temp. Sec. Lieut. H. Orchard, Wilts R., and to be transfd. to R.F.C., Gen. List ; Aug. nth, 1917, seniority May 17th, 1917. \ AIRCRAFT WORK AT THE FRONT. . OFFICIAL INFORMATION. British. ——~ General Headquarters, September 24II1." Overcast arid rainy weather continued till late in the day on September 23rd, when conditions began to improve. At night there was a clear sky. Enemyactivity in the air was slight and intermittent. Our squadrons persisted through- out the day in their various tasks, including observation for artillery fire. Eighthostile machines were destroyed and three driven down out of control. Four of our machines are missing. In addition, two German machines were broughtdown by our anti-aircraft batteries. Only 1^ tons of bombs were dropped by us in daylight, but after the moon rose our night-flying squadrons attackedenemy aerodromes, railheads, and hutments with vigour and effect, dropping 17^ tons of Bombs without losing a machine." General Headquarters, September 2$th." In fine, but cloudy weather, our squadrons carried out a great deal of useful work on September 24th Over 2,000 photographs "were taken and our recon-naisance machines covered a wide area both by day and night. Observation for our artillery was given as usual by our aeroplanes and balloons, which re-ported much damage in enemy battery positions as the result of our fire. Twelve and a half tons of bombs were dropped during the 24 hours, two German aero-dromes and several railway junctions being heavily attacked. There was much aerial fighting, in the course of which 31 hostile machines were destroyed,together with eight balloons. Twenty-two hostile machines weie driven down o'.it of control. Our missing machines number i#." Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, September 25th." On the 25th inst. our squadrons attacked the enemy aerodrome at Buhl with good results. Bursts were observed on and near the hangars. All our machinesreturned. One squadron attacked Kaiserslautern, bursts being observed near the station and munition factories. Our machines were attacked on the returnjourney by large numbers of enemy aircraft, and protracted fighting took place, as a result of which two enemy machines were d estroyed. Three of ourmachintshave not yet been located. Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Farce, September 26th. " With reference to yesterday's communique, it has now teen established thatduring the raid on Kaiserslautern, two enemy aircraft were shot down out of control, besides the two already reported destroyed. In ad d ition to the machinesreported missing, one reconnaissance machine has not returned. At noon on the 25 th inst.our aeroplane? attacked the factories at Frankfurt with good results.Large numbers of enemy aircraft were encountered and very heavy fighting took place, as a result of which five enemy aircralt were shot down out of control.Four of our machines failed to return." General Headquarters, September 26th. " On September 25th, in cloudy but improving weather, our observationmachines were actively at work. In air fighting, 10 enemy machines were de- stroyed, and three driven down out of control. Another enemy machine wasbrought down in flames at night. During the*24 hours we dropped 35 tons of bombs on hostile aerodromes and railway connections. Three of oiir aeroplanesare missing." Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, September 27th. " in conjunction with the operations undertaken yesterday by French andAmerican troops, our machines in the afternoon attacked railways at Metz- Sablon and Audun-le-Roman, with very good results. Large numbers of enemyaircraft were encountered, and bitter fighting took place. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed and one shot down out of control Six of our machines failed toreturn. During the night of the 26th-27th further heavy attacks were made on Metz-Sablon, and many direct hits were observed. The railways at Mezieres,Thionville, and Ars, and Frescaty aerodrome werealsoheavily attacked. Several direct hj|s were observed on ThionviUe Station and on the railway junction. Thetotal weight of bombs dropped during the day and night was 13i tons. All our night-flying machines returned." General Headquarters, September 27th. " The perfect co-operation between the commanders of neighbouring unitsand formations and between the iufantry, artillery, Tanks, and aircraft, and the gallantry and resource displayed b y all ranks have again enabled completesuccess (in the advance towards Cambrai] to be achieved at relatively small cost? " Ourmaehines had a busy day on September 26th, carrying out a large numberof reconnaissance flights and watching the effect of our artillery fire. Over 20 tons of bombs were drqpped on enemy dumps, railheads, and billets. In a raidon an enemy aerodromeVseveral hangars were set on fire, a hostile machine was destroyed on the ground, and seven others which attempted to repel the attackingsquadrons were shot down. Four more hostile machines were destroyed on other parts of the front. Five of oujc machines were missing during the day. Littleflying was possible at night. We dropped three-and-a-half tons of bombs with- out loss to us." General Headquarters, September 28/ft.*' Ourmachines were active on every part of the front throughout September 27th, and kept close watch from the air on the course of the various operations.Bombing patrols were carried out at a low altitude on the battle front, and enemy troops and transport at the Canal crossings and along the roads wereheavily engaged with machine-gun fire by our pilots. Our machines working in co-operation with the artillery reported a great number of targets and observedthe fall of the rounds. Many explosions and fires were seen to be caused in hostile battery positions. Over 1,000 photographs were taken in the course ot the day.In addition to extensive bombing just beyond thelines, several enemy aerodromes and a number of railway junctions were attacked with excellent effect. Manyof our night-bombing machines made several journeys over the lines. Thirty tons of bombs were dropped by us by day and iSJ tons by night. Twenty-two- "German machines and eight hostile balioons were shot down by our airnftn. . Twenty of the enemy's machines were driven down out of control in the courseof air fighting. Another machine was destroyed by our anti-aircraft fire. "-'. Nineteen of our machines are missing." General Headquarters, September 2gth." The Air Force co-operated ill every phase of Saturday's operations. Patrols carried out their flights far behind the German lines, reconnoitring roads andrailways both by day and by night, and reporting the trend of enemy movements. In spite of clouds and rain, some very successful observation work for our fieldand heavy batteries was accomplished by aeroplanes and balloons. The location of our advancing troops was constantly reported by contact patrols to theHeadquarters of formations. Bombs were dropped and machine-gun fire was operated from an extremely low height on the enemy's troops, transport trains,and gun teams. Heavy casualties were inflicted. Twenty-two enemy machines were destroyed during the day and three driven down out of control. Twenty-four of our machines are missing. The total weight of bombs dropped during the day was 22 tons. At night bombing was continued with even greaterintensity, although weather conditions were not favourable.. Thirty-four tons were dropped by 113, many machines continuing their attacks almost until dawn.All our night flying aeroplanes returned safely." .J.- Admiralty, September 29th." Royal Air Force contingents working with the Navy are co-operating in the Belgian offensive, and during yesterday approximately 13 tons of bombs weredropped. Two trains were set on fire, and several ammunition dumps de- stroyed. Massed motor transports and a hostile battery were, also attacked, andcasualties were inflicted by low-flying machines on concentrations of infantry, horse-gun teams, and other enemy formations, whilst spotting was successfullycarried out for British monitors shelling the German coast defences. During the latter part of the day hostile aircraft in large formations—working well on theenemy side of the lines—were encountered- Four enemy machines were de- stroyed, and four driven down out ot control. Thirteen of our machines aremissing, the majority of which failed to return from over the enemy lines after a suddeu and violent rainstorm in the early hours of the morning." French. Paris, September 24th. "Balkans.—The enemy columns, closely followed by our advance guards,harassed by cavalry and machine-gunners, and bombarded by Allied aeroplanes, are falling back in the greatest disorder towards Veles, Ishtip, and Strumnitza. ' 'At Krivolak the Serbians, besides the booty already reported, captured somenew aeroplanes and motor cars, as well as big petrol and food dumps." Paris, September 25/A. • ;-" The weather having improved, it has been possible to resume operations in the air, which had been temporarily interrupted owing to the bad weatherconditions prevailing during the preceding days. Nine machines were brought down or put out of action, and one captive balloon was set on fire. Our re-connoitring machines have explored the enemy front and brought back numerous photographs. During the night five tons of projectiles were dropped on therailway stations of Longuyon and Marie Barancourt. Several hits were ob- servea on these stations, where both fires and explosions occurred." Paris, September 26th." During the day of the 25th five enemy aeroplanes were brought down or put out of action. During the night bombarding aeroplanes dropped over 21tons of bombs on bivouacs in the region of I.aon and railway stations and dumps, particularly on the stations of Mont Cornet, Marie, and Laon, and on the railway-lines leading to those places Numerous hits on the targets, which caused fires and explosions, were observed." Paris, September 27th." During the daytime of the 26th the fine weather enabled our Air Service to employ all the means at its disposal to co-operate in the battle. By means ofnumerous reconnaissances and pushes far behind the German lines, and by the many photographs secured, our reconnoitring patrols kept Headquarters effec-tively informed of all movements of enemy troops and convoys, as also of the activity on his principal lines of railway. Our bombers, profiting by the infor-mation thus secured, dropped during the daytime 26 tons of projectiles in the rear zon? of the battle and, in particular, on the crossings of the Alin (north ofTahure), and in the region of Somme-Py. During the night the work of our bombers was continued with equal vigour. A total of 23J tons of bombs wasdropped on enemy cantonments and bivouacs in the rear of the front, on enemy aviation grounds, and railway stations, and particularly on those of Laon,Longuyon, Le Chatelet, and Amagne. Several fires occurred as a result of these bombardments. Finally, our fighting planes, by their vigorous action, renderedobservation on the part of the enemy air service almost impossible, and achieved very great success. Forty-two enemy machines were brought down or put out ofaction, and seven captive balloons were set on fire in the course of the day." Paris, September 28t/i. " During the day of the 27th our airmen continued-to take an active partin the battle. Our bombing squadrons by means of their expeditions both by day and by night have not ceased to harass enemy troop transports and to attackenemy convoys. Twenty-five tons of projectiles have been dropped behind the battle front, notably to the north of the Somme Py-Challerange railway, on theimportant centres of the Medech Farm and of Ardeuil, and on the passages of the Alin. During the night the railway stations of Longuyon and Audun-le-Romanand the aviation ground of Stenay were copiously bombed. Our crews brought 1 if 6
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