217 Squadron RAF 1918
 

This squadron (originally 17 Naval Squadron) flew bombing missions in 1918 alongside 218 Squadron RAF and the USMC Northern Bombing Group. How many raids did they make and how many aerial victories did they claim?

best regards

Keith

Hi Keith

Not sure about the number of raids, but I have them down for 10 victories from 31 May to 17 September 1918.

Graeme

Don't toy with me Graeme :)

Details of the victories please. I am trying to match them with 204 Squadron, 218 squadron and also NBG. My work on CRR Hickey and his fellow pilots needs context.

When I have that I can look at the Jagdstaffels and the Belgian air service to compare and contrast.

Best regards

Keith

My bad. Looking into this squadron I find they not only conducted bombing raids but also attacked U-boats and warships. A thread I posted a while back highlighted Lt AM Phillips who made four claims in aerial combat. A remarkable record. As Graeme has stated they claimed around ten victories (I can only find eight possibly nine but my eyes ain't what they was! :)

Just for you, Keith

31-May-1918: 2nd Lieut George Brenton Coward & AAM1 G/L G F Briggs, D.H.4 A7935, Pfalz Scout in flames Zeebrugge

01-Jun-1918: Lieut Albert Edward Bingham & G/L H Tallboys, D.H.4 A7935, Seaplane out of control off Ostende 08:30/09:30

01-Jun-1918: Lieut Francis Ernest Bridges & G/L H G Groves, D.H.4 A7945, Seaplane out of control ? Out to sea 08:30/09:30

17-Jun-1918: Capt David William Davies & Sergt G/L Gilbert James White, D.H.4 A8022, Pfalz Scout out of control

17-Jun-1918: Lieut Alan Macmillan Phillips & Sergt Gilbert James White, D.H.4 A7996, Pfalz Scout out of control Zeebrugge - Ostende 20:15/21:15

28-Jun-1918: Lieut Charles W Bragg & 1/Pte G/L E E Hunnisett, D.H.4 A7846, Albatros crashed Out to sea 19:35/20:35

30-Jun-1918: Lieut Alan Macmillan Phillips & G/L Francis Justus Toulmin, D.H.4 D8403, Two-seater out of control

29-Jul-1918: Lieut Richard George Shaw & Lieut V G A Tonge, D.H.4 A7941 and Lieut Alan Macmillan Phillips & Lieut Norman Stewart Dougall, D.H.4 A7863, Brandenberg W29 crashed off Zeebrugge 19:40/20:40

29-Jul-1918: Lieut Richard George Shaw & Lieut U G A Tonge, D.H.4 A7941, Seaplane crashed Zeebrugge 19:40/20:40

17-Sep-1918: Lieut Alan Macmillan Phillips & Lieut Norman Stewart Dougall, D.H.4 D8370, Seaplane crashed Zeebrugge 18:25/18:25

Graeme

Supplementing Graeme's post (# 5):

21 May 1918: 183549 GL George Frederick Briggs born 8 November 1899, Worcestershire attested 1918 civilian occupation: engineer

1 June 1918: 236560 Aerial Gunner Herbert Talboys born 5 May 1895, Oxfordshire attested 1917 civilian occupation: grocer

1 June 1918: 235973 Pte1/Aerial Gunner Herbert George Grove born 16 August, 1893, Camberley, Surrey civilian occupation: clerk joined RNAS 20 August 1917, service # F35973 and transferred to RFC 1 February 1918; his Air 76 record confirms he was a 217 Sqn Observer

17 June 1918: 210391 Sgt George Isaac White born 1 August 1897, New Cross, London joined RNAS 4 January 1916 service # F10391 civilian occupation: cinematograph operator

28 June 1918: Lt Charles William Bragg and 224688 Sgt Edwin Edward Hunnisett born 20 October 1895, Newhaven, Sussex joined RNAS 19 November 1916 service # F24688 transferred to RFC 26 March 1918 civilian occupation: "grocer & provision assistant" kia 30 June 1918

30 June 1918: GL Francis Justus Toulmin born 1872, Hackney, London
(BMD 2nd Quarter 1872); residence, Hackney, London (1881); Chelsea,
London, 1891 & 1901); Wivenhoe, Essex (1911, occupation "private means"; RNVR T/Lt 29 April 1915; 16 October 1916 transferred to "Canadian Naval Service"; subsequent RAF service, relinquished RAF commission (Lt) 7 June 1919. Resident of Switzerland after the war; he died 10 August 1950, at
Glion sur Montreux, France

29 July 1918: Lt Ulric Geoffrey Aldam Tonge born 1 January 1899, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire died 1978, Devon 3rd forename variously given as "Aldam" or "Aldham"; Aldam is correct, his father was Jeffrey Aldam Tonge (b.1873, Lincolnshire)

Josquin

Yep, I missed Bingham's victory and only have one victory for 29 July, the shared one :blush:

Herbert Groves rank is a weird one. Private 1st class?

Many thanks both.

K

Keith,
The Pte 1st Class rank for Herbert Grove is due to the RAF decision to change
the RFC Air Mechanic ranks (1st, 2nd, 3rd Class) to Private (1st, 2nd 3rd), but
the RAF elected to retain the rank of Sgt. Mechanic. The Flight Sgt rank was
an additional category.

Josquin