100 years ago today - 11 June 1918

[Graeme]

TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 1918

General Headquarters, June 12th.

"On the 11th inst. British aeroplanes assisted the French counter-attack on the western portion of the Noyon battle front by special patrols sent out to deal with German machines, as well as by vigorous and constant bombing of the enemy's trenches, gun positions, and communications. Heavy machine-gun fire was directed from a low altitude upon hostile troops and transport throughout the same area. Ten German aeroplanes were destroyed by us during these operations, and four more were driven down out of control. We lost three machines. Two of our machines reported yesterday as missing have now returned. Since the German attack began in the Noyon sector on June 9th our squadrons co-operating with the French have dropped 21 tons of bombs and accounted for 29 enemy machines. On the British front our airmen and balloons carried on as usual the direction of our artillery fire; some useful aerial reconnaissance and photography were also accomplished. On this front two hostile machines were shot down and two others driven down out of control. One of our machines is missing. The total weight of bombs dropped by us on June 11th, including those dropped beyond the French battle lines, amounted to 14 tons. On the night of June 11th-12th our night bombing machines heavily attacked the railway at Cambrai and billets at Fremicourt (on the Bapaume - Cambrai road), dropping 4 tons of bombs without loss."

Air Ministry, June 17th.

“The following bombing operations into Germany were carried out by the Independent Force, R.A.F., from June 6th to June 11th, both dates inclusive: The railway station and sidings of Thionville were attacked no fewer than four times; several direct hits were observed on the station, and an explosion was seen to take place near the Carlshütte Works. At Metz-Sablon, which was twice attacked, a train received a direct hit and was wrecked. In all, some 6 tons of bombs were dropped on these objectives, and a large number of rounds was fired from machine-guns at low altitudes. Attacks were also delivered against the railway sidings at Karthaus and railways and munition factories at Hagendingen and Dillingen, some 35 tons of bombs being dropped with good results. From all the expeditions all our machines returned in safety."

RAF Communiqué number 11:

Weather, overcast; clearing in afternoon.

Twenty-three reconnaissances, 173 contact and counter-attack patrols (of which 160 were by 9th Brigade).

Fifty-four hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 8 neutralized, 23 zone calls sent.

Twenty-one and three-quarter tons of bombs dropped.

Enemy Aircraft:

Activity was below normal, except on the battle front.

Lieut C F Falkenberg, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Montdidier at 13:45/14:45 -

Lieut J H Ackerman, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Rollot at 13:50/14:50 -

Lieut G Pilditch, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Rollot at 13:50/14:50 -

Capt A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Montdidier at 13:50/14:50 -

Lieut O M Baldwin, 73 Sqn, two-seater crashed east of Mery at 14:15/15:15 - Uffz Bernhard Conze (Kia) & Flgr Robert Busch (Kia), Schsta 17 [?]

Capt G A H Pidcock, 73 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-east of Courcelles at 14:30/15:30 -

Capt A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed north of Cayeux at 14:30/15:30 -

Capt F W Lowen & Lieut V Dreschfeld, 49 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Orvillers at 14:45/15:45 – E.A. crashed ?

Lieut H Ford & Lieut H H Jones, 49 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control ? Honvillers at 14:45/15:45 -

Lieut T J Hammond, 2 AFC, two-seater crashed Cuvilly at 14:45/15:45 -

Capt C Bowman & Lieut V Gordon, 49 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Cuvilly at 15:00/16:00 -

Lieut R C Stokes & 2nd-Lieut C E Pullen, 49 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control smoking Tricot - Courcelles at 15:00/16:00 -

Lieut R C Stokes & 2nd-Lieut C E Pullen, 49 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control smoking Tricot - Courcelles at 15:00/16:00 -

Lieut R N Chandler, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Bus - Rollot at 16:00/17:00 -

Lieut W A B Probart, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control east of Bus - Rollot at 16:00/17:00 -

Capt W H Hubbard, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north-east of Rollot at 16:00/17:00 -

Lieut A V Gallie, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north-west of Conchy at 16:00/17:00 -

Lieut J H Drewry, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Rollot at 16:00/17:00 -

Maj R Collishaw, 203 Sqn, Pfalz Scout broke up Outtersteene at 18:35/19:35 -

Maj R Collishaw, 203 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control west of Armentières at 18:35/19:35 -

Casualties:

Lieut H Jenkinson (Ok), 73 Sqn, Camel D6636 – took off 09:40/10:40 then damaged by anti-aircraft fire

2nd-Lieut W W Saunders (Wia) & Pbr E L Goulder (Ok), 7 Sqn RAF, RE8 C2303 – took off 12:50/13:50 then longerons and planes shot during aerial combat on artillery observation

Lieut R C Stokes (Ok) & Lieut C E Pullen (Ok), 49 Sqn, DH9 C2185 - force landed Fouquerolles 13:30/14:30 after main petrol tank, longeron, all main planes, tail fin, rudder and propellor shot through during bombing; said to be Ltn d R Josef Veltjens, Js15, 19th victory [west of Courcelles at 14:25/15:25] but location

Lieut J I Carpenter (Wia; Doi 19-Jun-18), 73 Sqn RAF, Camel B2351 – took off 13:30/14:30 and last seen over enemy lines near Cuvilly during low flying, believed seen by Lieut R N Chandler to burst into flames near Tricot; Ltn d R Carl Menckhoff, Js72, 33rd victory [Faverolles, no time] ?

Lieut J H Ackerman (Wia), 73 Sqn, Camel D9382 – took off 13:15/14:15 then fuselage broke in half in forced landing 13:50/14:50 due pilot being shot in arm by EA on low strafe Le Mesnil

Lieut O M Baldwin (Ok), 73 Sqn, Camel D1832 – took off 13:45/14:45 then badly shot up during engagement with EA on low strafe Rollot 14:15/15:15

Lieut C W H Douglas (Kia), 73 Sqn RAF, Camel D1962 - last seen diving on 2-seater near Mery 14:15/15:15 during low flying

Lieut C Bowman (Ok) & Lieut V Gordon (Wia), 49 Sqn, DH9 D7201 - landed Montiers 15:30/16:30 after shot through and controls damaged and observer wounded by E.A. during bombing

Capt W H Hubbard (Ok), 73 Sqn, Camel D1841 – took off 15:00/16:00 then shot through during engagement with EA on offensive patrol north-east of Rollot 16:00/17:00

Lieut F Carr (Ok) & Lieut JH Holland (Ok), 27 Sqn, DH9 D7222 – took off 13:50/14:50 then longeron and aileron shot through during low strafing Montdidier, returned 16:15/17:15

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Jasta claims this date:

OfStv Karl Thom, Js21, Breguet, S Crepy, 0810hrs, 15th victory.

Ltn Oliver von Beaulieu-Marconnay, Js15, Camel, Mery, 1420hrs, 5th victory. JWC links this with Douglas on D1962.

Ltn Josef Veltjens, Js15, DH9, W Tricot, 1550hrs, 20th victory. JWC has "49 Sqn RAF".

Ltn Hans Jeschonnek, Js40, RE8, Vlamertinge, 1550hrs, first victory.

Flg Erich Mix, Js54, AR2, Tricot, 1940hrs, first victory.

Ltn Franz Backer, Js3, SE5, no time or location, unconfirmed. TJP has Bacher.

Ltn Robert Hildebrandt, CO Js12, Camel, Montdidier, no time, 5th victory.

Ltn Felix Buchner, Js13, Spad, no time or location, 4th victory.

Uffz Walter Hertzsch, Js13, SE5, no time or location, first victory.

Ltn Kurt Hetze, Js13, Spad, Montener-Metz, no time, first victory. Esc Spa.94, Lt G de la Rochefordiere on a Spad XIII.

Uffz Heinrich Piel, Js13, Spad, no time or location, 2nd victory.

Hptm Rudolf Berthold, CO JGII, French 2-seater, no time or location, 33rd victory.

Hptm Eduard von Schleich, CO JGr8, DH9, Englebelmer, no time, 29th victory. JWC has "103 Sqn RAF".

Hptm Eduard von Schleich, CO JGr8, BF2b, Englebelmer, no time, 30th victory.

Gefr Willy Schmelter, Js42, AR2, Mery, no time, first victory.

Ltn Schmid zur Nedden, Js72, Camel, Faverolles, no time, first victory.


Jasta losses:

Gefr Kleineberg, Js20, POW, no other info.

Ltn Fritz Imme (1 victory), Js42, KIA, Mery, no other info.

FlgMt Wilhelm Grabowski, MFJ1, lightly WIA, right hand, Jabbeke, during bombing raid.


Tony

[Graeme]

Although a perfect match for location, Douglas was last seen at 14:15/15:15, virtually an hour before Beaulieu-Marconnay's claim. Could be a transcription error in times, but until that can be resolved the link must remain tentative.

In his log for Jasta 15, Rick Duiven suggested the following matches for Veltjens' claims:

C2185, 49 Sqn. RAF, Lt. R.C. Stokes,Inj & Lt. C.E. Pullen,Inj

and

D7201, 49 Sqn. RAF, Lt. C. Bowman,OK & Lt. L.V. Gordon,WIA

My response was that Stokes & Pullen were both injured in a forced landing at Fouquerolles at 13:30/14:30, again, an hour before the claim was timed while Bowman & Gordon were in combat at 15:30/16:30 (an hour later than the combat claim) at Montierz (presumably Montières) and Montières is almost 50 Km north-west of Tricot.

Hptm Eduard von Schleich, CO JGr8, DH9, Englebelmer, no time, 29th victory. JWC has "103 Sqn RAF".

As noted in my listing, the only loss for No 103 Squadron was DH9 C6172 which was reported missing from bombing with the bodies of 2nd-Lieut W R McGee & 2nd-Lieut H Thompson being found near Montdidier, about 50 Km south of Englebelmer.

Graeme

[James A. Pratt III]

NB
enemy bombers bomb Ostend and the Zeebrugge mole and ammo dump at Billehiem
losses 2 aircraft air combat 1 balloon
claim 16 aircraft air combat and 13 by flak

5GP
214 Sqn bombs Thourout Zeebrugge bruges
217 Sqn Zeebrugge Mole
218 Sqn Ostend
211 Zeebrugge seaplane base

FASWC
J 6 Vfw Joesf Degen French POW camo British ground fire JWC has POW 14 June

[James A. Pratt III]

FASWC casualties
Sgt Maurice Laurent ? (P) KIA
Lt Guy d'Angeljean Br 126 (O) (Aisne area)
Adj Gonnet (P) OK & Lt Joesph Brun KIA Sal 10 III Armee Salmson 2A2
Capt Pierre Pene (P) & Lt Luguet (O) both KIA III Armee Salmson 2A2
Cpl Auber (P) OK & Lt Charles Posth (O) KIA III Armee FTL during combat Breguet
Sgt Louis Piatte (P) & Cpl Louis Kurzenne (O) both WIA Sop 270 III Armee Sopwith 1A2
cpl Marius Clement Br 132 (G) WIA (Aisne)
Sgt Robert Maillard br 107 (G) WIA (Aisne)
Asp Fernand camus Br 217 (O) WIA III Armee Breguet
2/Lt JH Ackerman Spa 73 (P) WIA

[James A. Pratt III]

CGAS
Ltn Ahting FAA 292 WIA (only WIA this day!?)

Uffz Karl Muller (P), Gefr Willi Schalm (G) & Ltn Hans-Wolfe Witte BG 4 all KIC AEG G Canizy

Uffz Albert Arnold & Uffz Walter held (SS 3) both KIA Compiegne ( possibly Spa 48)

Uffz Emil Karnapke (P) & Gefr max Schussler (G) SS 20 Soissons (possibly Spa 48 or AA)