101 years ago - July 1915

[Graeme]

The first RFC Communique covers the period 25 to 27 July 1915 and reported on the actions by Lanoe Hawker that resulted in him receiving the VC.

25 July 1916:

Lt L G Hawker, 6 Sqn, two-seater forced to land near Passchendaele at 18:45
Lt L G Hawker, 6 Sqn, Albatros two-seater captured south-east of Zillebeke at 19:00 - I have a note 'Oblt Alfred Ubelacker (Kia) & Hpt Hans Roser (Kia), FFA 3 [?]'

Hawker attacked three enemy aircraft, the first of which was driven down near Passchendaele; the second he forced to land. The third machine he attacked at 10,000 feet over Hooge; it burst into flames and turned upside down, the Observer fell out and the pilot and aeroplane came down in the British lines.

There was an overlap in the periods reported by the first Communiques, with No 2 covering 26 to 31 July 1915. A number of engagements were reported but none ended in a decisive outcome. Two not reported in the Communique are:

26 July 1915:

Lt F E Hellyer & 2nd Lt Capel, 4 Sqn, after a combat in which their machine was damaged, engaged a pusher machine at about 8,500 feet which they apparently forced to land east of Albert - Cambrai at 05:40.

28 July 1915:

Lt L W B Rees & Flt Sgt J M Hargreaves, 11 Sqn, attacked and drove down a hostile monoplane in spite of the fact that the main spar of the machine had been shot through and the rear spar shattered; unfortunately, no details of time or location.

Again there was an overlap, with Communique number 3 reporting 31 July to 4 August 1915. The Communique reports the incident, on 31 July 1915, in which Capt J A Liddell, 7 Sqn, won the VC.

August 1915 to follow.

Graeme