Successful Night Attack

[rammjaeger]

Hi All,

a weekly report of the Kofl of the 6th German Army stated that the enemy made an attack with 2 (?) aeroplanes during the night of 3rd/4th July 1917
against Armeeflugpark 6 (Army Aviation - or Flight - Park), location not given.

The result: 2 bombs missed but one hit a hangar and caused 20 aircraft to burn (total loss). Additional 19 engines and 23 MG were lost.

Is somerbody remembering an Allied report about an attack with a big fire in this night?
(I know a very special plea again.)

Hannes

[Darryl]

Hello Hannes,

Can't find anything specific but 100Sqn was very active around this time (just before the general orders preparing for the Messines battle). Those orders were specifically to target enemy aerodromes opposite, so a little lead up is not unreasonable. They were based at Le Hameau, opposite Sixth Army at this time!

Sorry I can't be of more help but it is a start. If anyone has "The Annals of 100 Squadron" they may be able to help.

regards

Darryl

[Ira_Silverman]

Darryl:

Thanks for the lead!

From Burge: The Annals of 100 Squadron:

Date.-3/4th July 1917
Objective:-RAMILIES CHIN Aerodrome; CHATEAU DU SART Aerodrome

Taking Part:
Pilot/Observer
2nd Lt. Blayney/Corp. Guyat
2nd Lt. Lewis/Lt. Thompson
2nd Lt. Kent/Corp. Hunter
2nd Lt. Boret/----
2nd Lt. Turnbull/Lt. Stedman
2nd Lt. Richardson/Lt. Housden
Lt. Tempest/2nd Lt. Murch
Capt. Collison/Lt. McNaughton
2nd Lt. Prosser/Sgt. Doyle
Capt. Sowrey/---

Bombs Dropped:-5 230 lb. and 10 112 lb.

Results:-

1 230 lb. and 2 112 lb. dropped from 800 ft. on RAMILIES CHIN Aerodrome. Direct hit obtained by 1 112 lb. and hangar set on fire.

1 230 lb. dropped frpm 600 ft. on railway tracks N.E. of LILLE.

2 12 lb. dropped from 2500 ft. on enemy communications trenches near FORT CARNOT.

1 230 lb. from 1400 ft. on railway track near ASCQ.

1 112 lb. from 900 ft. on hostile aerodrome on which were night flying lights visible.

1 230 lb. from 1,100 ft. on FORT CARNOT.

1 230 lb. from 900 ft. on hostile transport on main road leading westwards from LILLE.

1 230 lb. on CHATEAU DU SART Aerodrome.

Hannes, it looks like the first "result" is the one your looking for.

Ah, teamwork!

VBR,

Ira

[rammjaeger]

Brilliant work, Darryl and Ira!

I am convinced that is a full hit!
I doubted before that a search could succeed.
Thank you very much!

Very best regards

Hannes

[Soderbaum]

Hi
I found the following info of 4 July in the book TSTB by Trevor Henshaw.
4857 FE 2b 100 sq
-NB AA hit 12:55 am crash near Richebourg, aircraft wrecked. Capt VE Schweitzer OK - Lt JS Godard OK who left 12:05 for objective Ramegnies Chin aerodrome.-
Perhaps this crew also participated in this raid..?
But I cant find any corresponding German Flak claim in NB....
Is there any notes of claims in the weekly Kofl report Hannes..?

VBR
Gunnar

[Ira_Silverman]

Hi Gunnar:

I saw the same entry in TSTB, but couldn’t confirm it in Burge’s book. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, though.

According to “The Annals of 100 Squadron,” both Capt. Schweitzer and Lt. Godard were officers with 100 Sqn. Both were Canadian nationals.

Schweitzer first appears in the book on 12/13 July 1917 on a night raid on MOORSELE and RECKHEM Aerodromes. From that point on, he is a constant participant through 17/18 February 1918, after which he is no longer mentioned.

The first notice of Lt. Godard is on 4/5 June 1917, and he was a regular observer until captured and becoming a POW on 24 October 1917.

Interestingly, both men flew with a variety of Pilots/Observers, but I find no record of them having flown together!

Both appear to have survived the war.

I’ll keep looking and see if I can find anything else on these two gentlemen.

VBR,

Ira

PS: It's threads like this that make the Forum such a kick!

[Darryl]

Hi all,

Well, further to the above I can add that Godard of Ottawa cracks a mention in "Canadian Airmen and the First World War" (Wise) the night he was captured 24/10/17 when he was observer for Lt Archibald of Toronto.

Schweitzer gained a mention in Communiques on 1/9/17 for attacking Tournai Station with his 37mm Pom-pom, firing 30 x 1lb shells!!!

100 Sqn seems to have been a bit of a haven for Canadians!!!! They get a good write up in Wise.

Ira,
dead right, this is what the forum is ALL about!!

regards to all

Darryl

[rammjaeger]

Gunnar,

I will not deal with the Kofl reports of the 6th Army before mid of January 2000 again. I am using the last available hours this year in the archiv for other documents.

To all!
That is really a great show and a lot more than I was expecting.

VBR

Hannes