Which Jasta 16th July 1917 Polygon Wood

[longjohns56]

My grandfather James White Higgins is mentioned here and I'm trying to pin down which Jasta was involved so I can paint a model of an Albatros DIII.

"On 16th July 1917, three Sopwith 1½ Strutters from 45 squadron were on an interception mission when they were attacked by six German Albatros D.III fighters near Houtem, Belgium.
At 09.10 hours, Capt. Matthew Brown 'Bunty' Frew with Observer 2nd. Lt. George A. Brooke (aircraft serial no. A1020) shot down one of the German aircraft over Polygon Wood and Second Lt. Robert Deakin flying with Observer Capt. James W. Higgins (in aircraft serial no. A8292) forced another down out of control."

Any educated guesses appreciated.

[sator]

Russ or Graham could probably answer that for you.

[R Gannon]

Good question but no obvious connection here. Frew & Brooke are credited with an Albatros scout in flames, but such claims need to be approached with caution.

There were German casualties over Polygon Wood - Jasta 6's Vfw Krebs was kia 1945GT), but this was most certainly in a fight with C Flight 56 Sqn (who made 3 claims) and one 10 Naval Sopwith Triplane (FSL Taylor - one claim) but also involving Albatros from Jasta 27 (Their staffelfuhrer Ltn Goering was shot down uninjured). Between them the Jasta pilots made three claims of their own for 'Sopwith-1's (SE5's would be identified as such) but only one SE5 force landed as a result of the fighting. I make these points to demonstrate the fog of war issues in air fighting.

My experience is that planes claimed in flames can range between machines actually going down enveloped in flames (as is the popular picture) down to simply a German machine doing a sudden throttle up, as they heeled over to dive away, which resulted in a cloud of smoke. In the middle - German machines hit in the engine (or radiator) - pouring smoke (or steam), but in all likelihood making a good landing. It would be informative to see the actual Combat Report to get a feel of where this flamer sat on the scale.

Out of controls for the main part represented German machines 'going downstairs'.

No doubt there was a fight and that two of the German machines went down, but it is unlikely any serious damage was done - moral victories.

Surviving German records are not detailed enough to make a call on this particular fight. If there had been a British casualty, we would likely have been able to make a call, as it would in all probability mirror a German claim.

Cheers Russ