100 years ago today - 9 March 1917

[Graeme]

9 MARCH 1917

General Headquarters, March 10th.

“Yesterday an aerial patrol of our machines was heavily engaged by a strong hostile formation. During the day four of our aeroplanes failed to return; one of the enemy's machines is known to have been brought down."

Artillery Co-operation — Twenty-one targets were dealt with by aeroplane observation.

Hostile Aircraft —

2nd Lt H C Todd, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Lens at 09:25/10:25 - nine FE8s of 40 Squadron, whilst patrolling over Oppy in the morning, were unusually heavily fired at by anti-aircraft guns for about five minutes. Two hostile aircraft appeared well to the east of the patrol. The anti-aircraft fire suddenly ceased and eight or more hostile machines dived from above the clouds onto the FE patrol. Apparently the two machines, the anti-aircraft and the formation of hostile aircraft were working in accordance with a pre-arranged plan. In the combat that ensued at least one hostile machine was destroyed. Three of our machines failed to return and the remainder were badly shot about. One FE just succeeded in reaching our lines when it burst into flames. The pilot, who had been twice wounded, jumped from the machine. The fight lasted for about half an hour.

Casualties —

2nd Lt T Shepard (Pow), 40 Sqn, FE8 6456 - shot down on offensive patrol La Bassée canal – Bailleul; Ltn Kurt Wolff, Ja11, 2nd victory [Annay at 09:20]

2nd Lt R E Neve (Wia), 40 Sqn, FE8 6399 - brought down by HA and burst into flames on offensive patrol La Bassée canal – Bailleul; Ltn Karl Allmenroder, Ja11, 2nd victory [Hulluch at 09:30]

2nd Lt W B Hills (Pow), 40 Sqn, FE8 6397 - missing on offensive patrol La Bassée canal – Bailleul; Ltn Karl Schaeffer, Ja11, 5th victory [Faschoda at 10:20]

Lt G F Haesler (Pow), 40 Sqn, FE8 A4874 - missing on offensive patrol La Bassée canal – Bailleul; Ltn Karl Schaeffer, Ja11, 6th victory [Pont-a-Vendin at 10:22]

2nd Lt A J Pearson MC (Kia), 29 Sqn, DH2 A2571 - last seen diving to earth in flames on escort; Ltn Manfred von Richthofen, Ja11, 25th victory [Roclincourt - Bailleul at 10:55]

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

From JWC:

Claims:

Schafer's 6th victory given as 2/Lt GF HESELER.

OfStv A Dierle, Js24, a Nieuport, N Parroy Wald, 1220hrs, first victory.

OfStv G Vothknecht, Js24, a G100 at Bethelmont, 1330hrs, second victory.

Vfw F Manschott, Js7, a balloon, S Belrupt, 1515hrs, 11th victory. S/Lt Guillotin of French 48 Cie d'Aerostieres descended safely.

Ltn W Albert, Js31, a balloon at Somme-Suippes. S/Lt Billardon of French 40 Cie d'Aerostieres descended safely.

Obltn K Rummelsbacher, Js10, a Nieuport. No other info. TJP has spelling Rummelspacher.

Losses: Nil


Tony

[Froggy]

Originally Posted by MASTIFF

From JWC:


Vfw F Manschott, Js7, a balloon, S Belrupt, 1515hrs, 11th victory. S/Lt Guillotin of French 48 Cie d'Aerostieres descended safely.

Ltn W Albert, Js31, a balloon at Somme-Suippes. S/Lt Billardon of French 40 Cie d'Aerostieres descended safely.



Tony

Record of 48 Cie Aerostiers 9 Mars 1917
http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defe...ielem_zoom=191
Page 185/252
Lt Guillotin
à 14h 08 le ballon est attaqué par un avion qui l'incendie apres avoir mitraillé l'observateur.Celui-ci se jette en parachute et atterrit à 200 mêtres de la ferme Coulmier .Blessé légérement à l'atterissage pendant la descente l'observateur a été de nouveau mitraillé par l'avion revenu vers lui"

"At 14:08 the balloon is attacked by an aircraft which put in flames after having machine-gunned the observer. The latter throws himself out of the ballon by parachute and lands at 200 meters of the Coulmier farm. Lightly wounded at landing , the observer was gunned again during the descent by the aircraft which came back toward him"

By chance that 'Vfw F Manschott' was a bad shooter but Brave enough to shoot a man unarmed descending by parachute.....

Cordialement
Bruno

[James A. Pratt III]

From the FASWC:
C10 had a Caudron G4 2 MIA KFalk 36

F45 lost A Salmosn-Moineau 3 KIA possibly a J24 claim

Cpt D'Harcourt N103 a badly damaged aircraft also possibly a J24 claim

78 and 58 Cie d'Aerostiers both had balloons attacked in the Sauilly or Verdun area no unit mentioned

[James A. Pratt III]

NB 3has a FAA289 aircraft shot down by AA fire this could be the FASWC DCA claim. FAA w96b also had a crew killed I can't tell what the cause was could be KIC.

[MASTIFF]

Originally Posted by Froggy

By chance that 'Vfw F Manschott' was a bad shooter but Brave enough to shoot a man unarmed descending by parachute.....
Cordialement
Bruno

It is an unfortunate fact that fliers of both sides also shot up the crews of downed aircraft. The rationale being that the destruction of trained personnel was a legitimate military objective, however abhorrent and inhumane. C'est la guerre.

Tony

[Graeme]

Tony

Checking my combat reports, I have one for 8 February 1917 which is signed by him as 2nd Lt G F Haseler, so the casualty report and the Jasta War Chronicles both got it wrong!

The only incident I have involving a Martinsyde on this date is No 27 Sqn's 2nd Lt J G Fair who force landed G.102 A1578 on his own aerodrome after a defensive patrol.

In his log for Jasta 24, Rick Duiven has Offz.Stv. Gottlieb Vothknecht claiming a Salmson-Moineau over Bathelmont les Bauzemont at 13:30 and postulates Esc. F.45, Lt. T. de Baral d'Arène, Sous-Lt. Bacon and Solt. Gaillot, all KIA as a matching loss.

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Originally Posted by Graeme

In his log for Jasta 24, Rick Duiven has Offz.Stv. Gottlieb Vothknecht claiming a Salmson-Moineau over Bathelmont les Bauzemont at 13:30 and postulates Esc. F.45, Lt. T. de Baral d'Arène, Sous-Lt. Bacon and Solt. Gaillot, all KIA as a matching loss.

Graeme

Hi Graeme,

Would Esc F.45 not be a Farman-equipped squadron?

Cheers,
Tony

[Graeme]

Not being au fait with the French air service, it is my understanding that an Escadrille's title remained unchanged until it was fully re-equipped - I seem to recall that Escadrille N3 retained that title until fully equipped with Spads and became Spa3. Perhaps F.45 was in the process of swapping Farmans for Salmsons?

Graeme

[Froggy]

Originally Posted by Graeme

Not being au fait with the French air service, it is my understanding that an Escadrille's title remained unchanged until it was fully re-equipped - I seem to recall that Escadrille N3 retained that title until fully equipped with Spads and became Spa3. Perhaps F.45 was in the process of swapping Farmans for Salmsons?

Graeme

Yes Graeme you are right
Here is a link about escadrille 45

http://albindenis.free.fr/Site_escad...adrille045.htm
Cordialement
Bruno