100 years ago today - 2 May 1917

[Graeme]

2 MAY 1917

General Headquarters, May 3rd.

“Great activity in the air continues. Four German aeroplanes were brought down yesterday in air fighting, and another hostile machine was shot down in our lines. In addition, our aeroplanes drove down five other enemy machines out of control and destroyed four German kite balloons. One of our machines is missing."

Artillery Co-operation — 145 targets were dealt with by aeroplane observation and 45 by balloon observation.

Bombing — On the night 1st/ 2nd, bombing raids were carried out on Carvin Station, Marquillies Sugar Factory, Fresnes, Lens, Neuvireuil, Ledeghem Station, Eswars aerodrome, Hendecourt, and Valenciennes Railway Station.

Photography — 932 photographs were taken during the day.

Hostile Aircraft –

Flt Sub-Lt E Pierce, Flt Sub-Lt A T Whealy and Flt Sub-Lt F C Armstrong, 3N Sqn, Albatros C in flames Bois de Bourlon at 07:00/08:00

Capt H Meintjes, 56 Sqn, Albatros C crashed west of Corbehem at 07:30/ 08:30 - dived at one of two Albatros two-seaters and drove it down in a slow spiral; he throttled down and "sat on its tail" until both occupants appeared to be shot, then engaged the other machine.

Flt Sub-Lt G G Simpson, 8N Sqn, two-seater out of control Douai at 09:45/ 10:45

Flt Cdr R J O Compston, 8N Sqn, Triplane N5471, two-seater out of control north-east of Douai at 09:50/10:50

Two German machines were driven down out of control by Flight Lt R J O Compston and Flight Sub-Lt G G Simpson, 8 Squadron RNAS.

2nd Lt H C Farnes & 2nd Lt H Davis and 2nd Lt T P Middleton & 2nd Lt C G Claye, 48 Sqn, Albatros C out of control east of Adinfer Wood at 10:00/11:00 - 2nd Lts H C Farnes & Davis, 48 Squadron, drove down a two-seater Albatros completely out of control.

Capt W A Bishop, 60 Sqn, Albatros CIII destroyed east of Épinoy at 10:10/11:10 - Uffz Gestel & Ltn Paul Weinschenk, FA8, both Wia [?],

Capt W A Bishop, 60 Sqn, Albatros CIII out of control east of Épinoy at 10:12/11:12

Lt D C Cunnell & 2/AM E H Sayers, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Comines at 11:15/12:15 - drove down a German machine out of control near Comines.

Flt Sub-Lt F D Casey, 3N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Moeuvres at 11:20/12:20

Flt Cdr J D Newberry and Flt Sub-Lt F V Hall, 4N Sqn, two-seater broke up Rosendael at 12:20/13:20 - Vflgm Bernhard von Wintersheim & Ltn Eberhardt Stettner, MFA1, both Kia, [?] orange with green and brown wings

Capt J O Andrews, 66 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Orchies at 14:15/15:15 - attacked a single-seater HA which was diving at some Martinsydes of 27 Squadron. The HA scout was driven down out of control.

Lt W M Fry, 60 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Drocourt at 15:45/16:45

Maj A J L Scott, 60 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Éterpigny at 16:30/17:30

Lt S B Horn, 60 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Vitry - Belonne at 16:30/17:30

Lt K Mackenzie, 40 Sqn, Balloon in flames Plouvain at 16:30/17:30
2nd Lt W T Walder, 40 Sqn, Balloon in flames Quiery-la-Motte at 16:30/17:30
2nd Lt B B Lemon, 40 Sqn, Balloon in flames Plouvain at 16:30/17:30
2nd Lt L L Morgan, 40 Sqn, Balloon in flames Plouvain at 16:30/17:30

Lt K Mackenzie and 2nd Lts W T Walder, B B Lemon, S Thompson, W A Bond, and L L Morgan, 40 Squadron, crossed the line at 50 feet and under in order to attack German balloons. These pilots had practised low flying and had learnt how to use trees, houses and the ground in screening them from infantry and machine gun fire. Artillery co-operated by putting a heavy barrage on the German trenches, leaving the pilots a certain area in which to cross. As a result, four German balloons were destroyed.

Lt T A Doran, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières at 17:15/18:15

Capt W J C Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières at 17:15/18:15

Capt A T Cull & 2/AM A Trusson, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières - Biache at 19:30/20:30

2nd Lt W O B Winkler & 2nd Lt E S Moore, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières - Biache at 19:30/20:30 - a very keen engagement took place between ten red Albatros scouts and Bristol Fighters of 48 Squadron. One German machine was destroyed by Lts W O D Winkler & E S Moore, and another driven down in flames by Lt O J F Scholte & 2nd Lt F W Game. A fourth was driven down out of control by 2nd Lts Harrison & Richards.

Flt Lt R A Little, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Vitry at 19:30/20:30

2nd Lt W O B Winkler & 2nd Lt E S Moore, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières - Biache at 19:35/20:35

2nd Lt K J Knaggs, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Douai - Vitry at 19:40/20:40

Capt A Ball, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Halte - Vitry at 19:40/20:40 - dived at a [red-coloured] German scout and was immediately attacked from behind by four other scouts, one of which shot past Captain Ball. He immediately fired a burst from his Vickers gun into the HA which went down and was followed by Captain Ball who continued to fire until it crashed. He then climbed up in order to join a big fight taking place between hostile two-seaters and scouts, and on our side, Sopwith Scouts, Bristol Fighters and FEs. The fighting drifted to the east and the HA were generally out-manoeuvred. After this combat, Captain Ball engaged a white twoseater which he drove down out of control, but owing to the dusk was unable to see what happened to it.

2nd Lt W O B Winkler & 2nd Lt E S Moore, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Brebières - Biache at 19:40/20:40

Lt O J F Scholte & 2/AM F W Dame, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières - Biache at 19:45/20:45

Lt O J F Scholte & 2/AM F W Dame, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Biache - Vitry at 19:45/20:45 - a very keen engagement took place between ten red Albatros scouts and Bristol Fighters of 48 Squadron. One German machine was destroyed by Lts W O D Winkler & E S Moore, and another driven down in flames by Lt O J F Scholte & 2nd Lt F W Game. A fourth was driven down out of control by 2nd Lts Harrison & Richards.

2nd Lt L G Harrison & 2nd Lt H L E Richards, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Biache - Vitry at 19:50/20:50 - a very keen engagement took place between ten red Albatros scouts and Bristol Fighters of 48 Squadron. One German machine was destroyed by Lts W O D Winkler & E S Moore, and another driven down in flames by Lt O J F Scholte & 2nd Lt F W Game. A fourth was driven down out of control by 2nd Lts Harrison & Richards.

Capt A Ball, 56 Sqn, Albatros C out of control Sailly at 20:15/21:15 - dived at a German scout and was immediately attacked from behind by four other scouts, one of which shot past Captain Ball. He immediately fired a burst from his Vickers gun into the HA which went down and was followed by Captain Ball who continued to fire until it crashed. He then climbed up in order to join a big fight taking place between hostile two-seaters and scouts, and on our side, Sopwith Scouts, Bristol Fighters and FEs. The fighting drifted to the east and the HA were generally out-manoeuvred. After this combat, Captain Ball engaged a white two-seater which he drove down out of control, but owing to the dusk was unable to see what happened to it; Ltn Karl Brill (Pow) & Ltn Paul Reichel (Dow 3 May 1917), FA 26 [?]

Flt Sub-Lt H F Stackard and Flt Sub-Lt H E Mott, 9N Sqn, two-seater destroyed off Middlekerke at 20:30/21:30

Casualties –

Lt G S Buck (Ok), 19 Sqn, Spad VII B1529 - force landed Saulty due engine seizing after oil pipe broke on offensive patrol

Lt W Bruce (Inj), 41 Sqn, FE8 7630 - ran into telegraph wires in forced landing at 27L35d23 due engine failure on patrol

2nd Lt L G Harrison (Wia) & 2nd Lt H L E Richards (Wia), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2A A3345 – combat at 19:50/20:50

2nd Lt Barker (Ok), 41 Sqn, FE8 6429 - damaged by vibration after prop broken by HA, force landed 36N7a on patrol

Graeme