100 years ago (catching up, again, part 3)

[Graeme]

1 September 1916 – not much activity.

2nd Lt N W Webb & Lt C S Workman, 25 Sqn, attacked two balloons with bombs and tracer. While both were reportedly hit, neither was set alight. Their F.E.2 was considerably damaged by AA fire.

2 September 1916:

Sgt Pateman & Lt Duke, 4 Sqn, out of control Pys – engaged a hostile aeroplane over Pys and drove it down, apparently out of control

Lt A G Knight, 24 Sqn, Scout out of control Warlencourt at 18:05 – attacked a single-seater escorting an LVG north of Le Sars. After a few rounds the hostile machine went down in a spiral followed by the De Havilland. The hostile machine turned under Lt Knight who dived almost vertically and fired the remainder of the drum at about 5 yards’ range, almost colliding with the enemy machine which went down in nose-dive, disappearing into a cloud, apparently out of control.

2nd Lt G J King, 32 Sqn, crashed east of Pys at 18:15

2nd Lt A M Vaucour & 2nd Lt A J Bott, 70 Sqn, HA destroyed Bourlon Wood at 19:05 [see below]

Capt J O Andrews, 24 Sqn, Scout crashed north of Les Boeufs at 19:25 – drove down an enemy machine over Les Boeufs which seemed to be out of control. Further details show that the machine was wrecked just north of that village; Gfr Otto Mayer (Kia) & Ltn Wilhelm von der Ohe (Kia), FA 42 [?]

2nd Lt A M Vaucour & 2nd Lt A J Bott, 70 Sqn, HA out of control Ypres – Sailly at 19:25 – while on patrol near Cambrai encountered six HA. While diving at the leader, three hostile machines onto their tail. One of the machines was engaged by another pilot while Lt Bott engaged the other, firing 2½ drums into it as it crossed the tail of his machine. This machine then made a vertical dive with a stream of smoke pouring out behind it. Lt Vaucour turned and opened fire on a third machine with his front gun, firing about 20 rounds at it. The pilot turned and go under their tail and Lt Vaucour also turned and fired another 20 rounds into it, after which it was seen to dive vertically out of control and turn on its back. The remaining hostile machines were dispersed and seen to land west of Cambrai.

Lt J B Quested & 2nd Lt W J Wyatt, 11 Sqn, Roland out of control Bapaume at 19:30 and Roland out of control Bapaume at 19:30 – on the IIIrd Army front, an offensive patrol of 11 Sqn encountered five Rolands over Bapaume. Lt Quested and 2nd Lt Wyatt were attacked by four of the enemy, but turning sharply emptied one drum of ammunition into the nearest at 20 yards’ range, causing it to fall sideways completely out of control. Lt Quested then attacked another Roland which was just above him, firing 1½ drums at close range. The Roland turned a complete cartwheel on its right wingtip and fell out of control.

Lt P A Langan-Byrne, 24 Sqn, scout out of control (?) Beaulencourt at 19:35 – shortly after Andrews’ engagement, Lt Byrne saw two F.E.s attacking three hostile machines near Villers. Another machine approached tp join the enemy. Lt Byrne attacked it, firing 20 rounds at 50 yards’ range. The hostile machine banked steeply, offering a good target and Lt Byrne fired the remainder of his drum at very close range. The German machine side-slipped and went down in a steep dive towards Beaulencourt. Owing to the continued fighting, Lt Byrne was unable to see whether it reached the ground.

3 September 1916:

23 Sqn, HA crashed – six F.E.s of 12 Sqn, whilst on photographic duty, were heavily engaged by 20 hostile machines. Two of the F.E.s during the fighting became detached and were attacked by 5 hostile machines. One hostile machine was brought down and was seen to crash in a field. One of the F.E.s was also brought down [FE2b 6934, 23 Sqn RFC, 2nd Lt E A H Sams (Pow) + Cpl W Summers (Pow), brought down by Ltn d R Gustav Leffers of Jasta 1].

Lt N Brearley, 29 Sqn, Balloon in flames – crossing the lines at 11,500 feet he got directly above a German balloon and pretending to be in trouble, fell in stalls and turns to 1,500 feet, whence he dived at the balloon which was close to the ground. He opened fire at 50 yards with Buckingham bullets and continued firing until he almost touched the balloon. Just has he passed over it, the balloon burst into flames and was completely destroyed in a few seconds.

Lt G H Bowman, 29 Sqn, Roland destroyed east of Linselles 10:30 – in the course of a combat, a Fokker struck his De Havilland, breaking off the aileron kingpost; the aileron control was shot away. He re-crossed the lines at 2,500 feet.

2nd Lt P S Joyce, 60 Sqn, AGO CII crashed Noreuil 11:00 – engaged a twin-fuselaged machine, diving on it from the front. The hostile machine fell and was seen to crash. (2nd September ?)

2nd Lt D H Dabbs & 2nd Lt A Dewar, 20 Sqn, Fokker E crashed east of Rumbeke at 13:30 – engaged a Fokker over Rumbeke, opening fire at 200 yards. The German immediately dived steeply. The F.E. finished one drum, by which time the Fokker was spinning and eventually crashed into the bank of a canal east of Roulers.

4 September 1916 – unfavourable weather.

More to come.

Graeme

[R Gannon]

Hi Graeme

Whilst I'm on a bit of a roll - double ups / multiple combats:

2 Sep - the 4 Sqn claim Pys- certain this relates to the fight in which Boelcke ultimately downed 32 Sqn's Capt Wilson as his #20 (& Js 2's #1) 1915GT. Boelcke & Wilson agree that three Vickers (32 Sqn DH2's) went to the aid of a BE (4 Sqn?) being attacked by a HA - Boelcke broke off the attack, and Wilson was fool enough to give chase, subsequently being brought down at Pys! But the bigger picture is that 4 HA were involved - so I suspect the 4 Sqn claim relates to one of these (maybe even Boelcke breaking off?) So too the OOC claim by Lt King of 32 Sqn, at 1815BT - same time and location - clearly he was part of Wilson's patrol.

The 24 Sqn L-Byrne claim clearly relates to same fight as the 11 Sqn Quested & Wyatt claim plus losses of 7008 & 4290 - same time and general location. Byrne of course went to aid of two FE's (11 Sqn) fighting 3 HA (FFA 32*) which were joined by HA scout, making 4 HA. Again these claims may reflect same EA falling OOC.

*FFA32 Uffz Wendroth & Obln Jollaise claimed an FE jenseits S Mesnil - most likely 11 Sqn's 7008.

Cheers Russ

[AlbertWarsawPoland]

Leffers' 7th victory on 3 September was probably the only one during whole war scored while flying captured aircraft (but it is also possible that he could have used his Nieuport while scoring victories number 6, 8 and 9 - am I right? Victories 1-5 were on Fokker Eindecker). I know similar stories about Kissenberth and von Schleich, but not so reliable. In reality Kissenberth might have flown an aircraft produced in Germany (not his captured Camel) and von Schleich's Spad VII victory is unconfirmed and dubious. Not only Germans used captured aircraft in WW1, but I think no one else claimed victory while flying one.

[R Gannon]

Hi Albert (woops nearly said Hey Albert)

Leffers #7 of course was 23 Sqn's 6934 '6' which had been part of a seven strong photo recon. One of two machines that got separated from the formation to SE of Bapaume and subsequently attacked by 5 HA, one reported as a Nieuport. It was the rear machine of the pair and chased down by TWO HA where after it overturned and the wounded crew taken prisoner.

It is informative to consider these notes on Formation Flying promulgated by the RFC:

Reconnaissance. '....Every reconnaissance has an escort of some form or other, and it is the latter's duty to remain as close as possible to the reconnaissance machine or machines, and not to be drawn away under any consideration by enemy aircraft, further there is far less chance of being unmolested when a group is flying formation...'

It is a truism that remained valid for the entire war. Tight formations of recon machines and bombers were rarely attacked, despite the presence of HA formations, even ones shadowing the formations. Contrary to the popularised two dimensional heroic notions of fearless Jagdstafflen formations wading in regardless of numbers, this rarely happened, rather they preferred to prey on rear men and stragglers (machines with engine trouble or winged by Flak), or otherwise formations broken up by effective Flak or clouds. The pragmatic reason is obvious - one would be flying into the concentrated fire of numerous gunners.

The other salient point, as seen in the above example, is that more than just one HA was responsible for downing the majority of Allied machines, despite the German policy of awarding only one pilot credit.

Cheers Russ

PS - I underlined a section of the quote in relation to some recent posts in regards an airman whom some still believe was a real deal hero.