100 years ago today - 6 July 1917

[Graeme]

FRIDAY, 6 JULY 1917

General Headquarters, July 7th.

“There was much aerial fighting yesterday, chiefly on the front between Lens and Ypres. In this area the enemy's machines were encountered in large numbers, one formation being composed of as many as 30. Despite this pronounced activity on the enemy's part, we bombed his aerodromes during the day, causing damage, and carried out successfully artillery work and photography. The activity was continued by bombing during the night, in which the enemy showed more enterprise than he has hitherto done. He dropped 144 bombs on our side of the line, our bombing machines meanwhile dropping nearly three times that number on his side. In the fighting during the day eight hostile machines were brought down and six others were driven out of control. Five of our machines are missing."

Artillery Co-operation — 57 targets were dealt with by aeroplane observation.

Photography — 914 photographs were taken during the day.

Bombing — On the night of the 5th/6th and during the day of the 6th bomb raids were carried out on Marquillies Sugar Factory, Provin Dump, Houthem, Wervicq, IXth German Army HQ at Escadoeuvres, Ingelmunster aerodrome, Spree Farm Dump, Herenthage Chateau, Kitchener Wood, Proville aerodrome, and Dorignies aerodrome.

The RNAS reported no reconnaissances as visibility was too poor; seven offensive patrols were undertaken.

Bombing – No 5 Squadron RNAS, D.H.4 machines by day; three 65-lb and thirty-six 16-lb bombs were dropped on Ghistelles Aerodrome. The bombs caused a fire in one of the sheds.

Enemy Aircraft -

2nd Lt C Ryder + 2nd Lt M W Richardson, 2 Sqn, EA out of control

Capt M H Findlay + Lt G Moore, 45 Sqn, EA out of control

Capt J T Milne + 2nd Lt L H Tanner, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Cambrai at 09:00/10:00
Lt O J F Scholte + 2nd Lt A W Merchant, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed east of Cambrai at 09:30/10:30

A patrol of 48 Squadron encountered six EA and Lts O J F Scholte & A W Merchant destroyed one, while a second was driven down out of control by Capt J T Milne & Lt Tanner

Lt D C Cunnell + 2nd Lt A E Woodbridge, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30 - Ritt Manfred von Richthofen, Jasta 11, Wia,
Lt D C Cunnell + 2nd Lt A E Woodbridge, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30
Lt D C Cunnell + 2nd Lt A E Woodbridge, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30
Lt D C Cunnell + 2nd Lt A E Woodbridge, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30
Lt C R Richards + Lt A E Wear, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30

An Offensive Patrol of 20 Squadron engaged about 30 Albatros scouts in several formations. The EA came much closer than usual and attacked keenly. Captain D C Cunnell & Lt A E Woodbridge drove down four of their opponents out of control. 2nd Lts C R Richards & R E Wear also drove down one EA scout out of control. All our machines returned safely

Flt Sub-Lt W M Alexander, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Deûlémont at 11:00/12:00
Flt Sub-Lt E V Reid, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Deûlémont at 11:00/12:00
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Deûlémont at 11:00/12:00
Flt Sub-Lt W M Alexander, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Deûlémont at 11:00/12:00

Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down

Flt Lt R A Little, 8N Sqn, DFW C crashed north of Izel at 11:15/12:15 - Flight Lt R A Little, 8 Squadron RNAS, attacked a German two-seater into which he fired 100 rounds. The EA flew straight into the ground and was completely wrecked

Lt D Langlands, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of Houthulst at 11:40/12:40

Capt R H G Neville, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout broke up Tourcoing at 12:35/13:35
Capt R H G Neville, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Tourcoing at 12:35/13:35

Capt W J C Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Passchendaele at 14:15/15:15

Capt W J C Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, 2nd Lt G I D Marks and 2nd Lt D U McGregor, 23 Sqn, two-seater crashed Zandvoorde at 14:30/15:30

While leading an Offensive Patrol of 23 Squadron, which met 14 Albatros scouts, Captain W K C Patrick opened fire at long range at one EA and this was seen to crash by anti-aircraft gunners. Immediately afterwards he and 2nd Lt G I D Marks and D U McGregor attacked a small EA two-seater and drove it down. 2nd Lt McGregor followed it and continued firing until it crashed. Captain R H G Neville, 23 Squadron, attacked three EA. He attacked one which fell out of control and broke to pieces in the air

Capt J Leacroft, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 14:35/15:35

Flt Lt A J Chadwick and Flt Sub-Lt S E Ellis, 4N Sqn, Albatros C broke up south-west of Ghistelles at 14:40/15:40 - Act Flight Comdr Chadwick and Flight Sub-Lieut. S E Ellis destroyed a large 2-seater Albatross [sic] which was spotting off Nieuport, one wing of the EA coming off in the air after it had been driven down smoking.

Capt G H Cock + Lt C T R Ward, 45 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-west of Comines at 15:00/16:00

2nd Lt C W Warman, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout destroyed Thourout - Houthulst Forest at 15:20/16:20 - Vfw Hermann Denkhaus, Jasta 7, Kia [?]

Flt Lt R R Soar, 8N Sqn, Aviatik C out of control Pont-à-Vendin at 18:30/19:30

Lt M McCall + Lt M W Waddington, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Comines at 18:30/19:30
2nd Lt R M Makepeace + 2nd Lt W D Kennard, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Comines at 18:30/19:30
Capt F D Stevens + Lt A N Jenks, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Comines at 18:30/19:30
Lt H G E Luchford + 2nd Lt J Tennant, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control ? Comines at 18:30/19:30
Lt H G E Luchford + 2nd Lt J Tennant, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control ? Comines at 18:30/19:30

On the evening of the 6th a patrol of 20 Squadron engaged eight Albatros scouts. One was shot down in flames by 2nd Lt M McCall & Lt H L Waddington, while two others were driven down out of control by Capt F D Stevens & Lt A N Jenks and 2nd Lts R P Makepeace & Kennard. During this fight, the Albatros scouts were reinforced by 12 more, but after two others had been driven down by Lt H G E Luchford & 2nd Lt J Tennant, the EA broke off the combat and refused to be closely engaged

2nd Lt G I D Marks, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Polygon Wood at 20:25/21:25 - 2nd Lt G I D Marks, 23 Squadron, engaged three Albatros scouts and shot one down which was seen to crash

Casualties –

2nd Lt H J Watlington (Kia) & PB4567 2/AM E Gilchrist (Kia), 70 Sqn, Strutter B714 – took off 12:55/13:55 and seen going down over Langemarck after firing green light during photographic-reconnaissance; Ltn d R Hans Klein, Ja4, 13th victory [Frezenberg - north of Ypres at 14:15/15:15] ?

2nd Lt H C Farnes (Kia) & 4701 Cpl J T Park (Kia), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B A7109 – took off 07:50/08:50 then a machine seen to go down in flames during engagement on offensive patrol east of Cambrai; Vzfw Fritz John Jacobsen, Ja31, 1st victory [Sailly at 09:50/10:50]

2nd Lt H Smither (Kia) & 2nd Lt H C Clarke (Kia), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B A7137 – took off 07:50/08:50 then a machine seen to go down in flames during engagement on offensive patrol east of Cambrai; Ltn d R Kurt Wissemann, Ja3, 1st victory [Tilloy - north of Cambrai at 09:20/10:20]

2nd Lt W H Clark (Kia), 23 Sqn, Spad VII B3475 – took off 10:46/11:46 and last seen south-east of Houthulst Forest during engagement with EA on offensive patrol 11:40/12:40; Ltn Walter von Bulow-Bothkamp, Ja36, 16th victory [St Julien at 11:45/12:45]

2nd Lt W Durand (Ok) & Lt S F Trotter (Wia; dow), 20 Sqn, FE2d A6419 – took off 09:53/10:53 then force landed 1 Sqn after engagement with EA on offensive patrol 10:30/11:30

2nd Lt D G Money (Wia) & ? (Ok), 4 Sqn, RE8 - anti-aircraft fire

2nd Lt J Y Taylor (Kia) & Lt G Mutch DSO (Kia), 4 Sqn, RE8 A4313 – took off 17:10/18:10 and reported to have been attacked by 5 EA and brought down in flames at 128b on artillery observation; Ltn Kurt Wolff, Ja11, 32nd victory [Zillebeke at 20:20/21:20]

2nd Lt L W Brooks (Kia) & Lt W Campbell (Kia), 2 Sqn, AW FK8 A2726 – took off 11:30/12:30 then attacked by 6 EA and brought down near Cite Calonne after artillery observation Lievin; Ltn Günther Pastor, Ja29, 1st victory [west of Lens at 14:45/15:45] ?

Flt Sub-Lt E C Hillaby (Kia), 1N Sqn, Triplane N5435; Flugm Bertram Heinrich, MFJI, 5th victory [Reckem at 15:50/16:50]

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Other claims this date:

Vfw F Rumey, Js5, balloon, Ytres, 1000hrs, first victory. British balloon 41-15-4.

Obltn O Schmidt, Js32, Spad, Guyencourt, 1150hrs, 5th victory. Possibly Sgt R Lecomte, N.103, FTL 1040/1140hrs?

Ltn H Rolfes, Js32, Farman, Moronvillers, 1320hrs, first victory.

Vfw K Starck, Js32, Farman, Keilberg, 1330hrs, first victory.

Vfw Klupfel, ObOst, Farman, Mlynowcze, first victory.
Vfw Klupfel, ObOst, balloon, S Zborow, 2nd victory.

Ltn J Jacobs, Js22, Spad, unconfirmed.


Losses:

Vfw Manfred Stimmel, Js32, shot down POW, 1150hrs, between Courcy and Thil near Reims. Capt G Matton (9th victory) & Lt A de Turenne (4th victory), N.48. Two victories awarded for one German loss, it seems.


Tony

[James A. Pratt III]

FASWC has F 60 having a crew KIA by Flak as the only combat loss this day so it looks like the two J32 claims have no matches to them.

As for the ObOst claims for a Farman and a balloon there are no known Russian losses on this date in the RMAF in WW I vol 2

notes from the book Spad VII aces has VFW F Loerzer light WIA J 26 by Cpt Warman of 23 Sqn

[James A. Pratt III]

Hey! Where is the 5 July 1917 post?

[Airshipped]

According to the RFC Casualty Cards, a Francis Gilbert Pearson of 10 Squadron was injured on this day, but died of wounds several days later:

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.u...rancis-gilbert

In that regard, I'd count him as being among the 6 July 1917 casualties, as that would've been the date of the aircraft bomb explosion. (Anyone got firm data as to whether BE2 E786 was written off on that date?)

It'd appear that, from other RFC casualty returns, Pearson had also been injured back in 'Bloody April'.

[James A. Pratt III]

FA 3 had a crew killed at Bisseghem Belgium
FAA 202 had a pilot killed and a observer IIC at Arras don't know if it was combat related or an accident
FA 45b has a WIA at Vlamertinghe Belgium(?)
hard to tell if any are RFC/RNAS claims

[Graeme]

The 5 July data is here:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=68239

[R Gannon]

[Capt J T Milne + 2nd Lt L H Tanner, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Cambrai at 09:00/10:00
Lt O J F Scholte + 2nd Lt A W Merchant, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed east of Cambrai at 09:30/10:30

A patrol of 48 Squadron encountered six EA and Lts O J F Scholte & A W Merchant destroyed one, while a second was driven down out of control by Capt J T Milne & Lt Tanner

2nd Lt H C Farnes (Kia) & 4701 Cpl J T Park (Kia), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B A7109 – took off 07:50/08:50 then a machine seen to go down in flames during engagement on offensive patrol east of Cambrai; Vzfw Fritz John Jacobsen, Ja31, 1st victory [Sailly at 09:50/10:50]

2nd Lt H Smither (Kia) & 2nd Lt H C Clarke (Kia), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B A7137 – took off 07:50/08:50 then a machine seen to go down in flames during engagement on offensive patrol east of Cambrai; Ltn d R Kurt Wissemann, Ja3, 1st victory [Tilloy - north of Cambrai at 09:20/10:20]

These claims and losses were the same action. As noted against 6 Albatros scouts, but clearly more must have become involved as the claims are from two Jastas. Jacobson / Js 31 claim quite 30 minutes after Js 3 (but that might be a transcription error). Both locations are just north & north west of Cambrai. Pointedly only one Bristol was seen to fall in flames by the returning crews - the other was clearly downed out of sight of the others. Again there is the real possibility an Albatros crashed or crash landed.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Lt D C Cunnell + 2nd Lt A E Woodbridge, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30 - Ritt Manfred von Richthofen, Jasta 11, Wia,
Lt D C Cunnell + 2nd Lt A E Woodbridge, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30
Lt D C Cunnell + 2nd Lt A E Woodbridge, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30
Lt D C Cunnell + 2nd Lt A E Woodbridge, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30
Lt C R Richards + Lt A E Wear, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wervicq at 10:30/11:30

An Offensive Patrol of 20 Squadron engaged about 30 Albatros scouts in several formations. The EA came much closer than usual and attacked keenly. Captain D C Cunnell & Lt A E Woodbridge drove down four of their opponents out of control. 2nd Lts C R Richards & R E Wear also drove down one EA scout out of control. All our machines returned safely

Flt Sub-Lt W M Alexander, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Deûlémont at 11:00/12:00
Flt Sub-Lt E V Reid, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Deûlémont at 11:00/12:00
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Deûlémont at 11:00/12:00
Flt Sub-Lt W M Alexander, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Deûlémont at 11:00/12:00

Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down
Flt Lt R Collishaw, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Menin at 11:10/12:10 - driven down

2nd Lt W Durand (Ok) & Lt S F Trotter (Wia; dow), 20 Sqn, FE2d A6419 – took off 09:53/10:53 then force landed 1 Sqn after engagement with EA on offensive patrol 10:30/11:30

The above is a much celebrated combat, in which a 6 strong 20 Sqn OP was first attacked by a formation of 8 EA scouts (Js 11) joined by many more - numbers given as between 30 & 40 EA. Four 10 Naval Triplanes also joined the fray. 2Lt Durrand & Trotter also Drove Down an Albatros scout. Whilst Collishaw thought he saw one of Alexander's EA crash.

No doubt there was a fair amount of duplication in the British claiming, but also one must recognise that many a German machine would quit fights when things got a little hot.

Popular wisdom has it that Js 11's Brauneck & Niederhoff followed MvR down, but one might ask as to whether they follow him down because their machines took hits????

There is a cold case theory that MvR was hit from behind, but I would not put too much weight on that. Anyone who has experienced the supersonic crack of a bullet just over ones head will known the involuntary action is to duck, indeed to bury ones head between ones shoulder blades.

Russ

PS contested claims noted in the original JG I KTB demonstrates time and again that more than one JG I Jasta were involved in a great many of their combats.

[Graeme]

With regard to Francis Gilbert Pearson, I have him listed in my casualties database but chose not to include him on my postings here since his death was not due to enemy action. He had been on a special bombing raid in BE2g A2754 (E786 was the engine number) and was fatally injured in the explosion of one of his own bombs that detonated when he landed.

The BE was removed to 1 AD where it was struck off charge on 9 July 1917 with 131 hours 45 minutes on the clock.

Graeme