100 years ago today (belatedly) - 29 April 1917, part 2

[Graeme]

29 APRIL 1917

Casualties –

2nd Lt F A Handley (Pow) & 2nd Lt E Percival (Pow), 57 Sqn, FE2d A6355 – took off 09:10/10:10 and last seen near Noyelles diving on hostile Scout at 1,000 feet on patrol; Uffz Friedrich Gille, Ja12, 1st victory [Baralle at 09:55/10:55]

Lt C G Sturt (Wia) & ? (Ok), 55 Sqn, DH4

Lt J A G Brewis (Kia), 40 Sqn, Nieuport 17 A6739 – took off 06:45/07:45 then missing on offensive patrol

Capt F L Barwell (Kia), 40 Sqn, Nieuport 17 A6745 - missing on offensive patrol, last seen Billy-Montigny at 18:20/19:20; OffStllv Edmund Nathanael, Ja5, 14th victory [Beaumont - north-west of Douai at 20:00/21:00] ?

21972 Sgt G Humble (Pow), 29 Sqn, Nieuport 17 A6684 – took off 11:50/12:50 then missing on offensive patrol

Lt H B Milling (Pow), 29 Sqn, Nieuport 23 B1579 – took off 11:50/12:50 then landed in German territory on offensive patrol

2nd Lt J E Davis (Pow) & 2202 Sgt S Attwater MM (Pow), 20 Sqn, FE2d A19 – took off 16:00/17:00 and attacked by 20 HA after crossing lines on bomb raid; Ltn Gustav Nolte, Ja18, 1st victory [east of Zillebeke at 18:00/19:00]

2nd Lt E O Perry (Wia) & 2/AM T E Allum (Wia), 20 Sqn, FE2d A29 – took off 16:00/17:00 and brought down at I24A93 by mg fire from 7 HA during bombing 18:00/19:00; Ltn d R Paul Strähle, Ja18, 4th victory [north of Courtrai at 17:50/18:50]

2nd Lt V L Burns (Pow) & 2nd Lt D L Houghton (Pow), 20 Sqn, FE2d A6391 – took off 16:00/17:00 and attacked by 20 HA on bomb raid 18:00/19:00; Ltn d R Ernst Wiessner, Ja18, 2nd victory [north of Courtrai at 17:50]

2nd Lt R Applin (Kia), 19 Sqn, Spad VII B1573 - missing from offensive patrol Lens - Le Forest - Fontaine-Notre Dame – Noreuil; Ritt Manfred von Richthofen, Ja11, 49th victory [east of Lécluse at 11:05/12:05]

Maj H D Harvey-Kelly DSO (Kia), 19 Sqn, Spad VII A6681 - missing from offensive patrol Lens - Le Forest - Fontaine-Notre Dame – Noreuil; Ltn Kurt Wolff, Ja11, 24th victory [Sailly at 11:10/12:10]

Lt W N Hamilton (Pow), 19 Sqn, Spad VII A6753 - missing from offensive patrol Lens - Le Forest - Fontaine-Notre Dame – Noreuil; Ltn Lothar von Richthofen, Ja11, 13th victory [Izel at 11:15/12:15]

Sgt G Stead (Kia) & Cpl A Beebee (Kia), 18 Sqn, FE2b 4898 – took off 14:20/15:20 then missing from escort to photography 5th Army area; Ritt Manfred von Richthofen, Ja11, 50th victory [south-west of Inchy at 15:55/16:55]

2nd Lt R W Reid (Ok) & 2nd Lt R C Doughty (Wia), 18 Sqn, FE2b A5466 – Fremicourt at 16:00/17:00

2nd Lt G H Dinsmore (Ok) & 2nd Lt G B Bate (Kia), 18 Sqn, FE2b A5483 – took off 14:40/15:40 and shot down at D26c during combat with HA on escort to photography; Ltn Kurt Wolff, Ja11, 25th victory [south of Pronville at 16:00/17:00]

Lt N H Mackrow (Wia) & Lt J H Musson (Wia), 12 Sqn, BE2e 6768 – took off 06:10/07:10 then brought down by mg fire on contact patrol; Ltn d R Friedrich Paul Kempf, Ja2, 1st victory [Le Pave at 18:45/19:45] time?

2nd Lt C J Pile (Wia; Dow) & Lt J H Westlake (Wia; Dow 07-May-17), 12 Sqn, BE2e 7092 – took off 16:58/17:58 then brought down at H29a by HA on artillery observation; Ltn Lothar von Richthofen, Ja11, 14th victory [north-east of Monchy at 18:25/19:35]

2nd Lt D E Davies (Kia) & Lt G H Rathbone (Kia), 12 Sqn, BE2e A2738 – took off 16:45/17:45 then missing from artillery observation; Ritt Manfred von Richthofen, Ja11, 51st victory [south of Roeux at 18:25/19:25]

Flt Sub-Lt A E Cuzner (Kia), 8N Sqn, Triplane N5463 – missing Courrières; Ritt Manfred von Richthofen, Ja11, 52nd victory [south of Hénin-Liétard at 18:40]

2nd Lt J H Hayward (Wia) & ? (Ok), 7 Sqn, BE2d

Flt Sub-Lt A H V Fletcher (Pow), 6N Sqn, Nieuport 17 N3192 – last seen east of Harcourt at 13:15/14:15; said to be Ltn Hermann Göring, Ja26, 6th victory [Ramicourt at 18:45/19:45] but time?

Flt Sub-Lt S L Bennett (Kia), 3N Sqn, Pup A6160 - shot down near Elincourt; Ltn Kurt Schneider, Ja5, 12th victory [Elincourt at 10:30/11:30]

Flt Sub-Lt A P Heywood (Wia), 1N Sqn, Triplane N5441 – last seen south of Béthune at 18:30/19:30

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

From JWC:

Claims:

Barwell given as Nathanael's 13th victory, not 14th.

Kempf's first victory shown as being on 1 May. No mention of Mackrow/Musson loss on either date. TJP shows the same.

Vfw A Bauhofer, Js25, Nieuport, Tepavci, 0820hrs, first victory. No other info.

Obltn F Burckhardt, Js25, Caudron, W Suhodol-Raja, 1030hrs, 2nd victory. No other info.

Ltn H Geigl, Js34, Caudron, S Pont-a-Mousson, 1415hrs, first victory. No other info.

Ltn K Wolff, Js11, BE2f, W Gavrelle, 1745hrs, 26th victory. No 12 Sqn RFC. No other info.

Obltn B Loerzer, Js26, FE2b, Bellenglise, 1930hrs. No other info. Unconfirmed?

Ltn H Stutz, Js20, FE2b, Douai, 2045hrs, first victory. No other info.

Ltn W Boning, Js19, Caudron, Brimont, 2nd victory. Letord of Esc C.46, Lt Campion (P) & MdL Lamy (G) & Cpl Bousque (G) all MIA, down in flames.

Ltn R Ernert, Js34, balloon, Genicourt, first victory. French 87 Cie d'Aerostieres, Adj L Guerin KIA.


Losses:

Ltn Peckmann, Js15, WIA. No other info.

Ltn Ludwig Dornheim, Js29, KIA, 1500hrs over Beine. No other info.


Tony

[Graeme]

Hi Tony

Must have had my eyes crossed - Nathanael's 13th was achieved the previous day (28 April) and was over a 'Sop 2'.

What I have for Nathanael is a 'Sop 1' at 21.00 over Beaumont, north-west of Douai; Barwell was in action around Billy-Montigny, which is five Km north-west of Beaumont, so very much the right area, right time.

Thanks for the heads-up.

Graeme

[R Gannon]

2nd Lt J E Davis (Pow) & 2202 Sgt S Attwater MM (Pow), 20 Sqn, FE2d A19 – took off 16:00/17:00 and attacked by 20 HA after crossing lines on bomb raid; Ltn Gustav Nolte, Ja18, 1st victory [east of Zillebeke at 18:00/19:00]

2nd Lt E O Perry (Wia) & 2/AM T E Allum (Wia), 20 Sqn, FE2d A29 – took off 16:00/17:00 and brought down at I24A93 by mg fire from 7 HA during bombing 18:00/19:00; Ltn d R Paul Strähle, Ja18, 4th victory [north of Courtrai at 17:50/18:50]

2nd Lt V L Burns (Pow) & 2nd Lt D L Houghton (Pow), 20 Sqn, FE2d A6391 – took off 16:00/17:00 and attacked by 20 HA on bomb raid 18:00/19:00; Ltn d R Ernst Wiessner, Ja18, 2nd victory [north of Courtrai at 17:50]

The js/ds data clarifies things. Nolte claim was jenseits whilst those of Strahle & Wiessner were diesseits. On that basis Nolte clearly claimed A29 Perry & Allum. The RPS for A6391 - lost fuel pressure / engine rouble and FTL moreover Nachrichtemblatt agress Vickers 6391 down N Courtrai engine failure! RPS A19 - combat HA engine hit FTL crashed. So either Stahle, or Wiessner, could count themselves lucky for being credited with an FE!

Russ

[R Gannon]

Lt J A G Brewis (Kia), 40 Sqn, Nieuport 17 A6739 – took off 06:45/07:45 then missing on offensive patrol

21972 Sgt G Humble (Pow), 29 Sqn, Nieuport 17 A6684 – took off 11:50/12:50 then missing on offensive patrol

Lt H B Milling (Pow), 29 Sqn, Nieuport 23 B1579 – took off 11:50/12:50 then landed in German territory on offensive patrol

These three Nieuports were all claimed by Flak units Drury & Hendicourt. However RPS of Milling says engine failure FTL Drury.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Capt F L Barwell (Kia), 40 Sqn, Nieuport 17 A6745 - missing on offensive patrol, last seen Billy-Montigny at 18:20/19:20; OffStllv Edmund Nathanael, Ja5, 14th victory [Beaumont - north-west of Douai at 20:00/21:00] ?

There has of course been some speculation as to who claimed Barwell, not in the least that some poetic licence has been applied as to what Nathanael claimed - one can see Triplane in some writings, no doubt tweeked with an eye to matching claim with loss of 8 Naval's Cuzner. Gibbons of course favoured MvR.

Sadly like so many, Barwell was on his own when shot down German side.

Two hard facts - Nathanael was credited with a Rumf-1 and I belive Barwell is buried at Beaumont.

Cheers Russ

[R Gannon]

Lt N H Mackrow (Wia) & Lt J H Musson (Wia), 12 Sqn, BE2e 6768 – took off 06:10/07:10 then brought down by mg fire on contact patrol; Ltn d R Friedrich Paul Kempf, Ja2, 1st victory [Le Pave at 18:45/19:45] time?

One obvious flaw in this correlation is that 12 Sqn were operating east of Arras on Third Army front and Kempf claim is south of Cambrai on British Fifth Army/German 2 ARMEE front. I think the Kempf claim belongs to 30 Apr 17.

12 Sqn machine on CP - contact patrol - flying low down trying to establish positions of both friends & foe - there was a battle raging on the ground between Arleux and Monchy. Casualty caused by ground mg fire.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Flt Sub-Lt A H V Fletcher (Pow), 6N Sqn, Nieuport 17 N3192 – last seen east of Harcourt at 13:15/14:15; said to be Ltn Hermann Göring, Ja26, 6th victory [Ramicourt at 18:45/19:45] but time?

It must be the case as the 6 Naval claims by Norton & Winter match the time location data of the Goering claim. Indeed Goering had his rudder shot off by a second machine.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Flt Sub-Lt A P Heywood (Wia), 1N Sqn, Triplane N5441 – last seen south of Béthune at 18:30/19:30

As I understand it he had gone out on three man OP led by F/C Eyre at 1700. They had an indecisive scrap with 2 HA scouts, then Heyward tacked the 2-seater as listed in claims listing - E Lens 1800 (may very well be the FA 48 machine) he was then attacked by 3 HA scouts and wounded in the arm. He FTL Bethune and believing he had come down German side, he burnt his machine.

Cheers Russ

[R Gannon]

Flt Sub-Lt S L Bennett (Kia), 3N Sqn, Pup A6160 - shot down near Elincourt; Ltn Kurt Schneider, Ja5, 12th victory [Elincourt at 10:30/11:30]

Combat entailed ten 3 Naval Pups in two flights against 8 HA scouts (Js 5) SW Cambrai. No doubt about the connection of Bennett loss and Schneider claim, but as Graeme's claims list shows, the 3 Naval pilots sent four of the HA down apparently OOC. As Graeme notes, Casey claimed to have driven another down which apparently burst into flames. Again one must wonder if what was actually seen to burst into flames was Bennett's Pup?

Russ