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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 1268.PDF
NOVEMBER 7, 1918 and other suitable targets. Hostile aircraft showed only slight activityduring the day. In air fighting, six German machines were shot down and two were driven down out of control. Three of our machines are missing.At night, in spite of very unfavourable weather conditions, seme of our machines succeeded in attacking important railway junctions on the enemy'slines of communications, dropping nearly 6J tons of bombs. One of these machines failed to return." French Paris, October 28th." The work of our aviation service was continued to-day very actively, although dense fog rendered its task particularly difficult. Our observationmachines effected numerous reconnaissances on the whole of the region behind the enemy's front and brought back valuable information for theCommand and numerous photographs. They have particularly reported fires in the greater part of the localities on the right bank of the Aisne, whichis still in the enemy's hands, as well as in the valley of the Serre between Marie and Montcornet. Our bombers, protected by fighting machines, carriedout, with an audacity which had its full effect, several expeditions in the region of Seraincourt. This village, at the junction of several roads, hasplayed an important role in supplying the enemy in the battle waged by the Fifth Army between Sissonne and Chateau Porcien. One hundred and twentybombing and 80 chaser aeroplanes undertook in successive groups an attack on the objectives designated, notably supply convoys, munition dep&ts andencampments in the region, as well as on troops which had been signalled in the ravine south of Seraincourt. Thirty-three tons of bombs and 15,000bullets were fired, causing serious losses to the enemy and great disorder in his ranks, and at certain points the eomplete stoppage of traffic. In additionseveral fires and the explosion of a munitions dep8t were observed. In the course of the day's operations nine hostile aeroplanes were brought downaud a captive balloon was set on fire. The fog, which became absolutely dense, completely stopped work during tie night. Sub-Lieut. Marinovitchbrought down his 20th machine and Sergt.-Maj. Mace his 10th." Paris, October 2gth." On October 28th fine weather favoured the flights of our airmen, who carried out important work. Nine enemy aeroplanes were shot down or fellout of control in the course of fighting, and a balloon was set on fire by one of our crews." During the night, in spite of the poor visibility, our bombers dropped 16 tons of projectiles on the main railway stations and important assemblypoints, in particular on the railway stations of Hirson, Vervins, St. Gobert, Montcornet, Marie, and Audun-le-Roman, on the aviation ground of Mars-la-Tour, and on the vast depdts of PreVisy. A number of conflagrations were started, notably at PreVisy, Hirson and Marie." Paris, October 30th." The very fine weather on October 29th enabled our airmen to give full development to their activity. Observation aeroplanes traversed the enemy'sback areas in every direction in their reconnaissances, some of which were pushed as much as 50 miles, and one of which penetrated as far as 75 miles,into the zone occupied by the Germans. The bombing planes, continuing their action of the preceding days, dropped over 37 tons of explosives andfired 20,000 rounds on the points of assembly and convoys of the enemy in the region of Remaucourt and Seraincourt (both east of Laon). In thecourse of these operations and of flights undertaken by fighting planes, 20 enemy machines were shot down or fell out of control, and three captiveballoons were set on fire. During the night our bombers attacked the most important railway stations of the enemy. Nearly 19 tons of projectiles wereused with the most successful results on the junctions of Givet, Mfaieres, Hirson, Vervins, Montcornet and Launois, and on the dep6ts and bivouacsof the region of PreVisy and in that of Montcornet. Adjutant Pezon on October 29th set fire to an enemy balloon. This is the tenth machineaccounted for by this pilot—nine balloons and one aeroplane." Paris, October si St." On October 30th the weather was favourable, in spite of somewhat heavy mist, for the operations of our airmen. The scouting and observation opera-tions were as numerous as on the day before, and once more furnished valu- able information. Many fires were reported in the Marle-Montcornet region.Seventeen enemy aeroplanes were brought down or were seen to fall in a damaged condition. A balloon was set on fire. Although the night wasvery foggy, our bombers, continuing without cessation their work of harass- ing the enemy's main arteries of communication, dropped 26,850 kilogs. ofprojectiles on the railway stations of Longuyon, Mezieres, Hirson, Dommery, Baroncourt, Spincourt, Launois, Chimay, Montcornet and Vervins, as well ason the cantonments and bivouacs in the region of Chaumont-Porcien and Montcornet." Paris, November 1st. " On October 31st the weather was very misty and cloudy and muchhampered aviation operations. Nevertheless, a number of reconnaissances were made, and our chasers brought down five enemy machines. During thenight, although the atmospheric conditions were still more unfavourable than during the day, some of our machines were able to drop a ton and a halfof bombs on the railway stations of Longuyon and Dommary-Baroncourt, where great activity was observed." Paris, November 2nd." On November 1st the very dense fog along the whole 4ront hindered aerial operations. However, our air service, acting in co-operation withour troops, gave them valuable aid in the regions of the front, where they were attaeking, as well as in Flanders before the Fourth Army. Observa-tion aeroplanes, incessantly flying over the enemy lines under the protec- tion of our chaser machines, marked the advance of our infantry, regulatedthe artillery fire on its objectives on the battlefield, and carried out very many reconnaissance flights in the enemy's back areas. Two of these flights,which went as far as 120 kilometres behind the enemy's lines, enabled the province of Namur to be explored. At the same time great activity by troopsand convoys having been noted in therear of the front of attack of our Fourth Army and the American Army in the region of Chesne Tannay and Noirval,several bombing expeditions were at once carried out there ; 148 bombing machines in successive groups, protected by fighting aeroplanes—120 innumber—took part in these expeditions. Our bombers were able to drop from a low height under the best conditions 39,600 kilogrammes of bombs,and to fire tens of thousands of bullets, spreading panic among the hostile troops and dispersing, not without inflicting on them heavy losses, convoysand important concentrations of soldiers. In the course of these operations 17 enemy machines were brought down or put out of action, and one captiveballoon was brought down out of control. During the night, despite a very thick fog, 20,850 kilogrammes were also dropped by our bombers on the enemy's most active stations, especially on those of Vervins, Mont Cornet,Hirson, Mezieres, Poix, Terron, and Wassigny." U.S.A. Paris, October 28/A." In spite of poor weather conditions our airmen were again active on the front of the First Army, and shot down three enemy aeroplanes and oneobservation balloon. All of our machines returned." Paris, October 2gth." With more favourable weather conditions, there has been increased air activity on the front of the First Army. Throughout the day our pursuitsquadrons engaged the enemy in numerous combats, in the course of which 18 enemy aeroplanes were shot down. Five of our machines did not return.Our airmen also carried out important reconnaissances and photographic missions." Paris, October 30th." Our pursuit squadrons operating on the front of the First Army shot down 21 enemy aeroplanes and two observation balloons. Two of ourmachines are missing. " Paris, October 31s/." In the course of the day seven enemy aeroplanes were shot down. All our machines returned."" Yesterday our bombing units attached to the First and Second Armies carried out a number of successful raids, dropping 6 tons of explosives onBarricourt, Bayonville, and Longuyon." Paris, November 2nd." In spite of bad weather conditions, our aviators, flying at extremely low altitudes, carried out important missions over the Meuse Valley and alongthe whole front of attack." Paris, November 4U1." Notwithstanding the weather, which has been foggy and cloudy on the whole front, our observing squadrons have carried out several reconnaissances,have kept the Command informed of the movements of the enemy, and reported fires, which were especially numerous in the regions of Remoiville,south of Montinedy, Vendresse, Omont, AUand'Hui, and Montcornet. Our day bombing squadrons dropped 65 tons of projectiles on the northern out-lets of Le Chesne and the passages of the bar and the canal to the north- east of that place. The depots near the station of Le Chesne and the im-portant hutments to the north-west of Tannay were struck and set on fire. (Attacks with machine-guns dispersed or threw into confusion numerousconvoys moving on the roads in this region. Over 30,000 cartridges were thus used. During the day 11 enemy aeroplanes were shot down or forcedto land out of control. During the night of November 3rd-4th, in spite of unfavourable atmospheric conditions, the bombing squadrons attacked thestations of the Launois-Pois-Terron and Mezieres railway." Italian Rome, October 26th." Italian and Allied airmen contributed with eitreme daring in the battle. Very effective bombardment actions with more than 10,000 kilos, (over JOtons) of explosives carried out in the enemy's lines of communications, and enemy troops were attacked at a low elevation with machine-gun fire. Elevenhostile machines and three captive balloons were bought down in air fighting. Lieut.-Col. Piccio reached his 24th victory." Rome, October 2gth." Twenty thousand kilograms of explosives dropped with very effective results, several tens of thousands of machine-gun rounds fired on troops onthe maifch, 11 aeroplanes and six captive balloons brought down, supplies daringly carried to our most advanced troops on the left o! the Piaw—all thisshows the magnificent war activity of our own and Allied aircraft during yesterday." Rome, October 30th." Our own and Allied aeroplanes, seaplanes, and airships of the Royal Army and Navy are competing in bravery and daring, sowing panic anddestruction among the enemy's troops and transport. Four hostile machines and a captive balloon were brought down." Rome, October 31st. " Air activity over the battle continues intense in spite of unfavourableconditions of visibility. Two enemy machines and a captive balloon were brought down." Rome, November 1st. " Flights of aeroplanes precede the droops in the pursuit, bombarding andgunning the hostile columns." Rome, November 2nd." Our own and Allied airmen completely master the air over the battle, and have continued without pause their daring war actions. An airshipbombarded during the night the railway stations of Sugana Valley." Rome, November 3rd." Our own and Allied airmen have brilliantly maintained Jheir excep- tional activity. The total number of prisoners ascertained reaches 100,000.The guns counted amount to more than 2,200." Belgian Havre, October 26th. " One of our airmen yesterday brought down an enemy balloon in flames." Havre, October 29th." An enemy aeroplane was shot shown by our anti-aircraft fire." Havre, November isi." One of our airmen brought down an enemy balloon in flames near Cap rycke." Havre, November 3rd." A German aeroplane was brought down on November 1st by the fire of our anti-aircraft batteries." German Berlin, October agth" During the last two days we have shot down 49 enemy aeroplanes and three captive balloons." »Berlin, October 30th. " Yesterday we shot down 27 enemy aeroplanes and six captive balloons-Lieut. Doerr obtained his 31st, 32nd, 33rd and 34th aerial victories during the last few days, and Lieut. Frommherz his 30th." Berlin, October 31 si." Aviation activity was specially lively yesterday. We shot down 58 enemy aeroplanes and two captive balloons. Lieut. Deerr obtained his 35thaerial' victory, First Lieut. Auffahrt his 30th, and Lieut, von Hantelmana his 25th." Berlin, November 3rd. " Lieut. Bickler gained his 35th aerial victory." . The Austro-Italian Armistice. IN view of its historic nature, it is interesting to recordthe following message issued by the Italian Command at 4 p.m. on November 4th :-— Italian Army, acting on behalf of all the Allied Powers and the United States on the one hand, and representatives of the Austro-Hungarian High Command on the other, hostilities on land and sea and in the air on all fronts were suspended " In accordance with .the terms of the armistice arranged as from 3 p.m. to-day, November 4th.between representatives of the High Command of the Royal (Signed) DIAZ." 1259
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