100 years ago today (catching up) - 4 September 1917

[Graeme]

TUESDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 1917

General Headquarters, September 5th.

“Last night enemy aeroplanes again dropped bombs at different places behind our lines. A few casualties were caused in one of our hospital areas and some damage done to civilian property. There was no damage of military importance. One of the enemy's raiding machines was brought down by our fire and destroyed. Our aeroplanes have continued bombing operations actively by day and night. Yesterday great activity in the air prevailed on both sides. Our military machines and balloons worked all day in' co-operation with our artillery. In spite of vigorous attacks from hostile aeroplanes, a record number of aerial photos, were taken by us, many of them at great distances behind the enemy's lines. Though the enemy's aeroplanes showed themselves disinclined to meet our fighting machines unless well east of the line, five hostile machines were brought down in combat, and nine others driven down out of control. Seven of our machines are missing.”

General Headquarters, September 6th.

“The following details are now available concerning the bombing operations carried out by our aeroplanes on the 4th inst.:—

“During the day 24 bombs were dropped on enemy's billets at Hantay, east of Lens, and 30 on billets at Lauwin-Planque, in the same area. Five bombs were dropped on Audenarde railway junction, and seven on Audigny-au-Bac ammunition dump and station of Cambrai. Eight bombs were dropped on Carnieres aerodrome, east of Cambrai, and 61 on various other targets.”

A two-seater EA landed in the Third Army area on the night of the 3rd/4th, and another landed in the Fourth Army area on the beach. The passengers in the first machine were captured, and those in the second apparently escaped.

Artillery Co-operation – 100 hostile batteries were successfully engaged with aeroplane observation, and 27 by balloons.

Photography – 102 photographic flights were carried out and a record number of photographs – 1,805 – were taken.

Two photographic reconnaissances by No 2 Squadron RNAS were carried out to Ostende. Plates were exposed over the town and the coast to the Eastward as far as the Dutch Frontier. What appears to be a floating boom is being constructed from the tip of Zeebrugge Mole to south-eastward. There were the usual fighter patrols over Fleet, and offensive sweep carried out by double patrols.

A night bombing raid was carried out by Nos 7 & 7A Squadrons. Eighty 112-lb, four 250-lb and nine 65-lb bombs on Bruges Docks, with many hits, causing two large fires and heavy explosions; fourteen 112-lb bombs were dropped on Ghistelles Aerodrome.

A day bombing raid was carried out by No 5 Squadron. Fourteen 65-lb and sixty-three 16-lb bombs were dropped on Bruges Docks, many direct hits being made, and bursting on or very close to four T.B.D.’s, from whom dense clouds of smoke arose – probably a smoke screen.

Enemy Aircraft - Enemy aircraft attacked our artillery machines but were less inclined than on the 3rd inst, to engage our scouts unless far east. On the night of the 3rd/4th, however, they were exceptionally active.

2nd Lt Armstrong & Lt Farrow, 10 Sqn, EA out of control

Lt F A Smith, 66 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roulers at 07:15/08:15 [in flames ?]

Lt T V Hunter, 66 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roulers at 07:15/08:15

2nd Lt W A Pritt, 66 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roulers at 07:15/08:15

Capt C A Brewster-Joske, 46 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Menin at 08:00/09:00

Capt M D G Scott, 2nd Lt E Armitage, Lt E Y Hughes, Lt C W Odell and Lt C Courtneidge, 46 Sqn, Albatros C out of control south of Scarpe River at 09:30/10:30

Flt Cdr J S T Fall, Flt Sub-Lt H F Stackard, and Flt Sub-Lt J E Scott, 9N Sqn, DFW C out of control Middlekerke at 09:40/10:40

Flt Sub-Lt A W Wood, 9N Sqn, Aviatik C out of control west of Middlekerke at 09:40/10:40

Lt H G Reeves, 1 Sqn, DFW C out of control south of Polygon Wood at 11:15/12:15

Capt E Mannock and Sgt L A Herbert, 40 Sqn, DFW C out of control east of Lens - Lievin at 11:30/12:30 - Capt E Mannock and Sgt L A Herbert of 40 Squadron attacked a two- seater DFW which they shot down apparently out of control; Vfw Eddelbuttel (Wia) & Ltn Kuhn, FA 211

2nd Lt M B Frew, 45 Sqn, Albatros C out of control north-east of Comines at 14:45/15:45
2nd Lt M B Frew, 45 Sqn, Albatros C out of control north-east of Comines at 14:50/15:50

Two Camels of 45 Squadron attacked a formation of 11 EA. 2nd Lt M B Frew drove down a two-seater in a spin and followed it, and when it came out of the spin he re-opened fire and shot it down out of control. He then attacked another two-seater which turned over and fell out of control. After the fight one EA was seen wrecked and burning on the ground

2nd Lt H M Moody, 45 Sqn, two-seater out of control north-east of Comines at 15:45/16:45

Capt L F Jenkin, 1 Sqn, DFW C out of control Polygon Wood at 16:00/17:00

Capt E Mannock, 40 Sqn, DFW C captured Petit Vimy at 16:30/17:30 - In the afternoon Capt Mannock attacked a DFW near Petit Vimy and shot it down in flames within our lines (G.68); Uffz Georg Frischkorn (Kia) & Ltn Fritz Frech (Kia), FA 235

Lt A S G Lee, 46 Sqn, Scout out of control north-east of Polygon Wood at 17:00/18:00

Lt D G B Jardine & 2nd Lt G Bliss and Lt C A Pike & 2nd Lt A T Williams, 25 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames south of La Bassée at 18:50/19:50 - in the evening a patrol of DH4s of 25 Squadron fought a formation of Albatros scouts near La Bassée and destroyed one

Capt J H T Letts & 2nd Lt J Frost, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Ghistelles at 19:00/20:00

Capt J H T Letts & 2nd Lt J Frost, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Ghistelles at 19:00/20:00

Sgt W H Roebuck & 2/AM W Walker, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Ostende at 19:00/20:00

Lt W J Potts, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames south of Houthulst Forest at 19:00/20:00 - Lt W J Potts, 56 Squadron, saw two SE5s diving towards Houlthulst Forest, so followed and saw three EA scouts below. He opened fire at one which fell sideways, burst into flames, and crashed; Ltn d R Gebhard Emberger, Js29, Kia

2nd Lt W D Bostock & 2nd Lt V St B Collins, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Ostende at 19:40/20:40

Flt Cdr J S T Fall and Flt Sub-Lt J E Scott, 9N Sqn, DFW C destroyed Nieuport - Middlekerke at 21:40/22:40

Casualties –

2nd Lt J H Binns (Kia), 29 Sqn, Nieuport 17 A6679 – took off 05:40/06:40 and last seen at 3,000 feet in combat over Zonnebeke at 06:50/07:50 on offensive patrol; Ltn d R Kurt Wüsthoff, Js4, 10th victory [north-west of Polygon Wood at 07:05/08:05]

Lt T E Wray (Kia) & Lt W S L Payne MC (Kia), 7 Sqn, RE8 B3411 – took off 06:20/07:20 then brought down by HAA on artillery registration C19B77; Oblt Rudolf Berthold, Js18, 14th victory [north of edge of Ypres at 07:25/08:25] ?

2nd Lt J F Wightman (Kia) & 11730 2/AM J Heedy (Kia), 11 Sqn, Bristol F.2B A7156 – took off 07:40/08:40 and seen going down in flames south-east of Havrincourt on CO patrol at 08:30/09:30; Ltn Rudolf Matthei, Js5, 6th victory [Le Catelet at 08:15/09:15] ?

Capt B K B Barber (Kia) & 540316 Pte A M Brunell (Kia), 9 Sqn, RE8 A3778 – took off 13:40/14:40 then missing on artillery registration; Ltn d R Julius Schmidt, Js3, 13th victory [Poelkapelle at 15:30/16:30] ?

Lt C J Pullen (Kia) & 2nd Lt E D S Robinson (Kia), 25 Sqn, DH4 A7480 – took off 17:35/18:35 and last seen by AA battery completely out of control after combat with 10 EA on line patrol Pont-à-Vendin – Douai; Oblt Hans Bethge, Js30, 15th victory [Auchy - La Bassée at 18:45/19:45] ?

2nd Lt G N Moore (Wia) & Lt F F Munroe (Ok), 9 Sqn, RE8 A4372 - attacked and shot down by 3 EA at 16:15/17:15 north of Vlamertinghe on artillery observation

Lt C A Pike (Ok) & 2nd Lt A T Williams (Wia; dow), 25 Sqn, DH4 A7487 - combat with 12 Albatros Scouts over La Bassée at 18:50/19:50; Oblt Hans Bethge, Js30, 16th victory [Givenchy - La Bassée at 18:50/19:50]

Capt C C Sharp (Pow), 66 Sqn, Pup B2197 - last seen over Roulers - Menin road engaged in combat with EA on offensive patrol; Ltn Eberhardt Mohnicke, Js11, 7th victory [Becelaere at 07:40/08:40] ?

Lt S A Harper MC (Pow), 66 Sqn, Pup B1838 - last seen over Roulers-Menin road engaged in combat with EA on offensive patrol No 2; Ltn Stapenhorst, Js11, 3rd victory [south of Becelaere at 07:40/08:40] ?

Graeme