Captain John Todd 70 Squadron

[spad]

After reading the excellent articles by Norman Franks and Stewart Taylor in C & C about 70 Squadron RAF I find myself wanting to know more about John "Jack" Todd's RFC assignments. Norman does not indicate when he joined 70 Squadron but states it was late in 1917. December?

Todd joined the RFC in April 1917, was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in August and won his wings in November at CFS Upavon. Where did he begin his flight training?

Also when was he promoted to command a flight. I assume he replaced Quigley but this would put his promotion to Captain in March 1918 rather than April or May as is suggested elsewhere.

It seems he is often credited with a 2-seater from FAA 218 on 29 April 1918. The problems arise when the crew of Uffz Krug and Ltn Adler are listed as lost on 25 April, and the victory disputed with 84 Squadron.In fact it was (as Norman Franks has written) an aircraft og FA7.

I used to work at a College in Falkirk and therefore to find this local ace was interesting.

[josquin]

John Todd, born on 12 January 1899, at Falkirk, Stirlingshire, was a medical
student at Edinburgh University from October, 1916 to April, 1917. Appointed
a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on Probation, on 2 August 1917, he had been assigned first to CW Winchester (no date), to SMA Gosport on 29 June 1917, to 12 T.S.
on 4 August 1917, to 36 T.S., Beverly, on 24 August 1917, to 6 T.S. 19th Wing
on 21 September 1917 Aappointed Flying Officer/2nd Lieutenant on 3 November
1917, and posted to EF 70 Squadron (embarked to E.F. 9 January 1918, posted
to 70 Squadron on 10 January 1918). He was appointed Acting Flight
Commander & T/Captain on 7 May 1918--not earlier. Awarded the M.C.
(London Gazette 16 September 1918, but awarded 21 May 1918) and the
D.F.C. (London Gazette 3 August 1918), he was in hospital in England , as
of 16 July 1917, and was on sick leave and in hospital until his posting to
32 T.D.S., on 7 November 1919. Demobilized in January, 1919, he was on
the Unemployed List as of 5 January 1919.
Sources: Air 76 RAF Officer's Service Record; RAF Casualty Form; London
Gazette.

Josquin

[Graeme]

I have it that Todd joined No 70 Squadron on 10 January 1918; he was appointed a Temporary Captain on 7 May.

In my post for 29 April 1918 in my 100 years ago today thread, I went with the 'accepted wisdom' of matching Todd's claim to Krug and Adler; I have since discarded this notion in favour of an FA 7 crew, not least because of the date of Krug and Adler being shot down.

Two machines were lost by FA 7 on 29 April 1918, the pilots being Haupt Launer and Ltn Waldhausen and the observers being Ltn d R Heidelmehr and Ltn Tünnerhoff; at the moment I am not certain of the pairing of this foursome.

Graeme

I see that Josquin has beaten me to it.

Re the date of Todd's promotion, is seems that he was appointed a Temporary Captain (without pay or allowances of that rank) while specially employed, with effect from 9 March 1918. I'm pretty certain that this relates to 'our' John Todd since the Air Force List for April 1918 records only one J Todd and one J M Todd.

A bit more: the Air Force List for February 1919 shows Todd as Lieutenant (act Capt) as at 1 April 1918 and to the Unemployed List on 5 January 1919.

[R Gannon]

Originally Posted by Graeme

I have it that Todd joined No 70 Squadron on 10 January 1918; he was appointed a Temporary Captain on 7 May.

In my post for 29 April 1918 in my 100 years ago today thread, I went with the 'accepted wisdom' of matching Todd's claim to Krug and Adler; I have since discarded this notion in favour of an FA 7 crew, not least because of the date of Krug and Adler being shot down.

Two machines were lost by FA 7 on 29 April 1918, the pilots being Haupt Launer and Ltn Waldhausen and the observers being Ltn d R Heidelmehr and Ltn Tünnerhoff; at the moment I am not certain of the pairing of this foursome.

Graeme

I see that Josquin has beaten me to it.

Re the date of Todd's promotion, is seems that he was appointed a Temporary Captain (without pay or allowances of that rank) while specially employed, with effect from 9 March 1918. I'm pretty certain that this relates to 'our' John Todd since the Air Force List for April 1918 records only one J Todd and one J M Todd.

A bit more: the Air Force List for February 1919 shows Todd as Lieutenant (act Capt) as at 1 April 1918 and to the Unemployed List on 5 January 1919.

Hi Graeme

I feel that we are again being led astray by the hasty & unsafe wisdom of earlier WW1 air war writings.

What is certain is that Tod, together with Lt VC Chapman & Lt Lindford of 70 Sqn were involved in the bringing of LVG CV 9746/17 down in British lines SE of St Gratien on 29 Apr 18 – however the pilot was only wounded and the observer uninjured – given capture serial G/3Bde/5 – but it was contested by the A/84Sqn threesome of Capt HP Smith, Lt HW Saunders & CF Falkenberg who were adamant that the Camels did not close with the EA. Apparently a fight broke out between the recovery parties sent out by both squadrons (see Paice diary C&C Int vol 8). We are also hamstrung by incomplete German records. I feel linking the fatal losses of Krug & Adler as being the crew of the captured LVG on 29 Apr looks to be a red herring. I have copy of original Verlustliste and they are listed as killed 25 Apr 18 & Villers Brettoneux (there was a major ground action around Villers Brettoneuxon this date – moreover Communiques notes 4 German machines downed by AA & 2 more by the infantry – N’Blatt admits one downed by MG & 6 missing). Ltn Adler does not make Haehnelt’s geffalenen flieger listing, so no visibility there, whilst the COTGAS none-fatal losses is only a partial listing – the captured crew would be Kofl 2, but my Kofl 2 has a great big hole after 18 Mar 18 and then only fragments Aug18-EOW. Maybe the captured crews names can be found somewhere at Kew? The FAA 218 notation also looks dodgy – not listed with either 2 Armee or 18 Armee. FAA219 or FAA238 are more realistic.

The two FA7 losses were up in 6 Armee area. Hptm Launer & Ltn Tunnerhoff were the crew of DFW CV 7823/17 were shot down by 40 Sqn threesome of Capt IPR Napier, 2Lt PD Learoyd & 2Lt LM Sutton – recorded as G/1Bde/1.

Cheers Russ

[josquin]

Graeme's clarification regarding the date of Todd's appointment as A/Captain
supplements the date given by the RAF Casualty Form and the London Gazette,
7 May 1918. The London Gazette (24 May 1918, 30702/6110) states the following,
for the record:
"ROYAL AIR FORCE
The undermentioned temp. appts. are made:--
----------------------
FLYING BRANCH
The undermentioned Lts. to be temp. Capts. whilst empld. as Capts
(Flying):--
-----------------------
J. Todd. 7th May 1918."

The dates Graeme documents make likely Todd's replacement of
Quigley as Acting Flight Commander.

Josquin

[josquin]

The J.M. Todd in the Air Force List for April 1918 was Lt. Joseph Mordue Todd,
RNVR Sub-Lt and RNAS Flt Sub-Lt, who joined the RNAS in August 1917 and
was a Lt in the RAF with 216 Squadron. Posted to 116 Squadron when on Home
Establishment, he was on the Unemployed List in 1919 and was never a Capt/
Flt.Cdr. The J. Todd in the Air Force List is the Falkirk man rather than J.M. Todd.

Josquin

[josquin]

Some more information about the airmen mentioned in Russ' post:

--Lt Victor Charles Chapman (Australian Imperial Force-Army Service Corps 2Lt &
RFC SR); posted to 70 Sqn 30 March 1918

--Lt Bernard Owen Mordaunt Linford (2/Artists Rifles OTC & Gen. Lit & RFC/RAF)
70 70 Sqn 19 April 1918; not Lindford

--Capt Henry Pickard Smith (5/Border Regiment 2Lt & RFC/RAF Capt) to 84 Sqn
14 April 1918, wia 16 May 1918

Lt Hugh William Lumsden Saunders (South African Horse 5456 Lnc Cpl & RFC/RAF Capt) to 84 Sqn 1 Dec 1917

Lt Carl Frederick Falkenberg (CEF 171st & 14rh Battalions Lt & RFC/RAF Lt)
to 84 Sqn 28 Feb 1918

Capt Ian Patrick Robert Napier (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 2Lt & RFC/RAF Capt)
to 40 Sqn 26 March 1917, Flt Cdr 5 June 1917

2Lt Philip Digby Learoyd (Gen. List & RFC/RAF2Lt) to 40 Sqn 13 Sept 1917

2Lt Lawrence Hope Sutton (Gen. List & RFC/RAF 2Lt) to 40 Sqn 13 March 1918;
not L.M. Sutton; Lawrence Hope Sutton, born 17 January 1899, Ealing, Middlesex;
was a student at the University of London, Jan.-Sept 1915; died in 1977, Waltham
Forest, Essex. Sutton's records had the usual problems--Army Officer's Service
Record (WO 339) gave his forename as "Lawrance," but BMD birth & death registries
and his Air 76 RAF Officer's Service Record all state "Lawrence."

Flt Lt Cyril Burfield Ridley (RNAS Flt Lt & RAF Capt) posted to 1 N Sqn & 201 Sqn
(from another of Russ' posts)

Josquin