100 years ago today - 1 June 1917

[Graeme]

1 JUNE 1917

General Headquarters, June 2nd.

"Our aeroplanes were active again yesterday, and much valuable work was accomplished. In air fighting one German machine was brought down and six others were driven down out of control. Three of our aeroplanes are missing."

Artillery Co-operation — 187 targets were dealt with by aeroplane observation and 54 by balloon observation.

Bombing — On the night 31 May/1 June, a very successful raid was carried out by 100 Squadron. One 230-lb bomb was dropped on Orchies ammunition depot and partly destroyed the depot, while 25 112-lb and 20-lb bombs were also dropped on the objective with good results.

Photography — 542 photographs were taken during the day.

Hostile Aircraft –

Lt J M Leach, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control

Lt F J Taylor & Lt M Lingard, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control

Lt A W B Miller, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières at 05:15/06:15

Lt A S Shepherd, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières at 05:15/06:15

Flt Sub-Lt J A Page and Flt Sub-Lt A C Dissette, 10N Sqn, Aviatik C out of control south-east of Ypres at 07:15/08:15

Sgt G P Olley, 1 Sqn, two-seater out of control Messines at 07:50/08:50 - Sergt G P Olley, 1 Squadron, drove down a two-seater out of control.

Flt Cdr C D Breese and Flt Sub-Lt A McB Walton, 6N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control St Quentin at 08:35/09:35

Flt Sub-Lt F E Banbury, 9N Sqn, LVG C out of control Westende - Ghistelles at 09:15/10:15

Flt Sub-Lt E V Reid, 10N Sqn, Albatros C in flames south-west of Wervicq at 09:15/10:15

Flt Sub-Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames south of Wervicq at 09:20/10:20 - Flight Sub-Lt R Collishaw, 10 Squadron RNAS, shot down an Albatros scout which fell in flames before it crashed.

2nd Lt F J Gibbs, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north of Lens at 11:00/12:00

Capt W T L Allcock, 40 Sqn, DFW C out of control Douai at 11:00/12:00
2nd Lt A E Godfrey, 40 Sqn, Aviatik C crashed Arras at 11:00/12:00

Two German two-seater machines were engaged by Capt W T L Allcocks, 40 Squadron, and he drove one down out of control, while 2nd Lt A E Godfrey of the same squadron drove down an HA which infantry confirmed as crashed; Hilgers & Schramm, FAA225, both Wia [?]

Lt O M Sutton and Lt M D G Scott, 54 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Honnecourt-sur-Escaut at 11:25/12:25; Vzfw Ernst Dahlmann, Jasta 5, Kia [?]

Lt O M Sutton, 54 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Gonnelieu at 11:30/12:30

Flt Cdr G G MacLennan, 6N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed east of Templeux le Guerard at 19:00/20:00 - Flight Lt G G MacLennan, 6 Squadron RNAS, while leading a patrol drove down an Albatros scout out of control which is reported by anti-aircraft as having crashed.

Casualties –

Lt E F Stewardson (Pow), 29 Sqn, Nieuport 23 B1583 – took off 04:30/05:30 then missing on offensive patrol; Oblt Heinrich Lorenz, Ja33, 5th victory ?

Lt J S Harvey (Ok) & 2nd Lt M D R Paton (Wia; dow 12-Jun-17), 53 Sqn, RE8 A3690 – took off 05:00/06:00 then aileron controls shot away by AA and nose dived into wire entanglements at T4C on artillery co-operation

Lt B F Rowe (Kia) & 2nd Lt B S Lister (Pow), 2 Sqn, BE2g A3162 – took off 09:00/10:00 then brought down by machine-gun fire east of Puits 14 Bis during photography

Lt W E McKissock (Kia) & 2nd Lt A W L Nixon (Kia), 16 Sqn, RE8 A3265 – took off 10:25/11:25 then brought down by HA and caught fire on impact 36CS12d92 on artillery observation at 11:00/12:00; Ltn Otto Brauneck, Ja11, 8th victory [Mericourt at 10:58/11:58] ?

2nd Lt P C S O'Longan (Kia), 41 Sqn, FE8 A4887 – took off 18:56/19:56 then missing on offensive patrol west of Houthem; Oblt Hans Bethge, Ja30, 7th victory [north-east of Warneton at 20:30/21:30]

? (Ok) & Lt M T Trotter (Wia), 18 Sqn, FE2b

Lt W E Bassett (Wia), 40 Sqn, Nieuport - east of Lens

Lt J Potter (Ok) & 2nd Lt W B Giles (Ok), 43 Sqn, Strutter A2393 - hit by AA and force landed 1,500 yards east of Roclincourt on photographic patrol

Sqn Cdr C D Breese (Wia), 6N Sqn, Nieuport 17 N3209

Graeme

PS - be prepared for tomorrow's offering!

[MASTIFF]

Other claims this date:

Ltn J Veltjens, Js14, Spad, Moulins, 5th victory. Probably Sgt C Durand, N.75 on a Spad VII, KIA.

Ltn T Dahlmann, Js29, balloon, Prosnes, first victory. British balloon 9-6-2 (BMS 4). 2/Lts S Jolley & H Cresswell, OK. Note: this is the same balloon and same observers shown in JWC as being credited to Gfr Funk the previous day.


Tony

[Barry Hickson]

Originally Posted by Graeme

1 JUNE 1917

General Headquarters, June 2nd.


PS - be prepared for tomorrow's offering!

Cant Wait!

[rexee]

Me too!

[R Gannon]

I guess it is worth just briefly pointing out that as of June 17 the focus of the air fighting shifted north from Arras sector to the Ypres sector. As prelude to the Ypres offensive, we now call the Third Ypres, British Second Army captured the vital high ground of Messines Ridge on 7 June (it had been extensively mined in 1916). The barrage preparation began on 21 May, and units began to be relocated north, not in the least 9 Wing, the RFC's tactical reserve - 19Sqn, 56 Sqn & 66 Sqn (fighters), 27 Sqn & 55 Sqn (bombers) & 70 Sqn (fighter recon) - a strategic mobile force long before JGI. The Germans, who would claim in Nachrichtenblatt, that they were outnumbered 5 to 1 on this sector (fighter units Js 8, Js 18, Js 28 & MFJ I) also began moving units wholesale northwards into Kofl 4/4 ARMEE - fighter wise; Js 10 (25 May), Js 20 (27 May), Js 4 (1 Jun), Js 7 (6 Jun), Js 26 (8 Jun) Js 6 & Js 11 (10 June) other 6 ARMEE units - Js 27, Js 30 & Js 33 - would fly north in support of Gruppe Wytschaete). As a result the British never enjoyed anything more than a brief 2 to 1 advantage on the eve of the 7 June attack, that soon became only 3 for 2. More German units would follow in July.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Lt J M Leach, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control

Lt A W B Miller, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières at 05:15/06:15

Lt A S Shepherd, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières at 05:15/06:15

Lt E F Stewardson (Pow), 29 Sqn, Nieuport 23 B1583 – took off 04:30/05:30 then missing on offensive patrol; Oblt Heinrich Lorenz, Ja33, 5th victory ?

This was all one combat on the Arras sector. Lt Stewardson's RPS suggests they had gone to the aid of a Corps aircraft being attacked by a HA, his gun jammed, fuel tank & prop hit FTL crashed. Lorenz claim diesseits.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Lt O M Sutton and Lt M D G Scott, 54 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Honnecourt-sur-Escaut at 11:25/12:25; Vzfw Ernst Dahlmann, Jasta 5, Kia [?]

Lt O M Sutton, 54 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Gonnelieu at 11:30/12:30

54 Sqn again providing escort to 22 Sqn FE's. Three HA scouts attempted to attack the FE's over Honnecout at 11,000ft. Escort led by Lt Sutton attacked these and Sutton and Scott sent one down OOC, falling into clouds. This was confirmed by 22 Sqn. Interesting note on CR - 'Aldis sight used'.

No doubt Vfw Dahlmann - given as airfight total wreck.

This one demonstrates that OOC claims cannot be given a blanket dismissal as just being moral victories.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Capt W T L Allcock, 40 Sqn, DFW C out of control Douai at 11:00/12:00
2nd Lt A E Godfrey, 40 Sqn, Aviatik C crashed Arras at 11:00/12:00

Two German two-seater machines were engaged by Capt W T L Allcocks, 40 Squadron, and he drove one down out of control, while 2nd Lt A E Godfrey of the same squadron drove down an HA which infantry confirmed as crashed; Hilgers & Schramm, FAA225, both Wia [?]

Lt W E Bassett (Wia), 40 Sqn, Nieuport - east of Lens

Even though the infantry confirmed Godfrey's 2-seater as having crashed, it can't be FAA 225 (2 ARMEE operating near St Quentin - suspect 6 Naval).

I feel Lt Bassett's Nieuport (returned) was claimed by the Schusta 17 crew of Vfw Kuhn & Uffz Richter Biplane Avion-Mericout jenseits.

I believe together with Capt Allcock, he attacked an LVG (FAA?) and was in turn attacked by a DFW! Capt Allcock drove down the LVG and apparently sent the DFW (Schusta 17?) down OOC.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Sgt G P Olley, 1 Sqn, two-seater out of control Messines at 07:50/08:50 - Sergt G P Olley, 1 Squadron, drove down a two-seater out of control.

Sgt Olley dived on this 2-seater at 15,000ft and fired 50rds - it went down vertical and Olley followed it down to 4,000ft, but was unable to see if it crashed. AA confirmed this, but likewise could not say if the HA crashed.

Curious how the efforts of pilots like Olley (and Godfrey above) are routinely witnessed, but never those of another certain Nieuport pilot.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Casualties –

Lt J S Harvey (Ok) & 2nd Lt M D R Paton (Wia; dow 12-Jun-17), 53 Sqn, RE8 A3690 – took off 05:00/06:00 then aileron controls shot away by AA and nose dived into wire entanglements at T4C on artillery co-operation

Suspect this reflects claim of KFlak 2 for an RE8 east of Kemmel.

Lt B F Rowe (Kia) & 2nd Lt B S Lister (Pow), 2 Sqn, BE2g A3162 – took off 09:00/10:00 then brought down by machine-gun fire east of Puits 14 Bis during photography

Looks to have been claimed by KFlak 6 - BE diesseits Pt 70 west of Loos 1030GT.

Lt W E McKissock (Kia) & 2nd Lt A W L Nixon (Kia), 16 Sqn, RE8 A3265 – took off 10:25/11:25 then brought down by HA and caught fire on impact 36CS12d92 on artillery observation at 11:00/12:00; Ltn Otto Brauneck, Ja11, 8th victory [Mericourt at 10:58/11:58] ?

Claimed as an RE-2 and in flames jenseits.

2nd Lt P C S O'Longan (Kia), 41 Sqn, FE8 A4887 – took off 18:56/19:56 then missing on offensive patrol west of Houthem; Oblt Hans Bethge, Ja30, 7th victory [north-east of Warneton at 20:30/21:30]

Apparently the story here is that 2Lt O'Longan, on his obsolete FE8, was FTL German side, but he kept firing at his attacker from the ground and was subsequently shot and killed by German infantry.

Note Js 30 were flying north into Gruppe Wytschaete area in support of Js 28.

Russ