100 years ago today - 26 October 1917

[Graeme]

FRIDAY, 26 OCTOBER 1917

General Headquarters, October 27th.

“On the 26th inst. rain fell most of the day. In spite of this our aeroplanes went out and performed valuable work, locating our attacking infantry and reporting suitable targets to our artillery. Aeroplanes flying at a low altitude fired 10,000 rounds from their machine guns on hostile troops endeavouring to repair wire, on the enemy's horse and mechanical transport on roads and on his infantry on the march and in shell holes. Two of our machines flew down the main streets of a town at the level of the housetops, firing at bodies of hostile troops. Some fighting took place at low altitudes in which three German machines were brought down and one was drives down out of control. Two of our machines are missing.”

In spite of heavy rain which continued most of the day, a good deal of low flying and artillery work was carried out.

Ten hostile batteries were engaged for destruction and nine neutralised with aeroplane observation; three gun-pits were destroyed, eight damaged, two explosions and four fires caused. 118 zone calls were sent down, 65 by machines of the 2nd Brigade and 44 by those of the 5th Brigade.

Three contact and four counter-attack patrols were carried out by the 2nd Brigade and five contact and four counter-attack patrols by the 5th Brigade.

A total of 8,780 rounds were fired at various ground targets.

Bombing – Nineteen 25-lb bombs were dropped by machines of the 4th Brigade and six 25-lb bombs by those of the 5th Brigade on various targets.

On the night 25th/26th, No 101 Squadron attacked Rumbeke and Abeele Aerodromes, 13 112-lb bombs being dropped on the former place, where a direct hit was obtained on a group of hangars.

During the same night, No 102 Squadron attacked Bisseghem Aerodrome, on which one 230-lb, four 112-lb and eight 25-lb bombs were dropped. Machines of the same squadron also dropped five 112-lb bombs on Marcke Aerodrome and two 230-lb bombs on Menin.

Admiralty, October 27th.

“During the afternoon of the 26th inst. bombing raids were carried out by naval aircraft on Varssenaere Aerodrome and on Thourout Railway Junction. Bad weather conditions rendered observation difficult. All our machines returned safely.”

Weather very bad, so that little flying was possible. A few patrols, but no E.A. seen.

Bombing raids by day - No 5 Squadron, D.H.4’s: four 65-lb and twelve 16-lb bombs were dropped on Thourout Railway Station; four 16-lb bombs were dropped on Varssenaere.

These two objectives were detailed in conjunction with the Military Operations in the vicinity of Passchendael, and although it was raining and the clouds thick and low, two pilots, Flight Sub-Lieuts. Lupton and Dickson, with Observer Sub-Lieut. Pattison and Gun-layer Smith volunteered to go, and carried out their mission successfully, returning and landing in the dark.

Enemy Aircraft

Flt Sub-Lt A G A Spence, 1N Sqn, two-seater out of control Moorslede - Passchendaele at 10:10/11:10 - Flight Sub-Lt Spence, Naval Squadron No 1, attacked a two-seater EA, which he shot down out of control

Lt R A Hewat, 19 Sqn, two-seater out of control north of Gheluwe at 10:20/11:20 - Lts Hewat and de Pencier, No 19 Squadron, attacked about 20 men on a road south of Moorslede, and then went to Moorslede. Seeing troops in the main street, they flew down it practically between the house-tops at a height no greater than 50 feet. Lt de Pencier stated that he himself was lower than the church spire, and Lt Hewat was below him. Lt Hewat fired 200 rounds at these troops and Lt de Pencier 80 rounds, when he had a stoppage. Both pilots then flew to Gheluwe and when just north of the town Lt Hewat saw a two-seater EA at 800 feet; he attacked it at very close range and, despite heavy fire from the ground, followed it down to 400 feet; while correcting a stoppage he was hit in the face by a bullet and was badly cut over the eye and mouth and had his glasses broken, but returned safely to his aerodrome. The EA was seen to be going down completely out of control when not more than 200 feet up

2nd Lt E Olivier, 19 Sqn, two-seater out of control south-west of Gheluwe at 10:20/11:20 - 2nd Lt Olivier, No 19 Squadron, fired 300 rounds from 150 feet at troops marching along the Ypres - Gheluwe road, and then attacked a two-seater EA which he shot down out of control

2nd Lt K B Montgomery and Lt M B Frew, 45 Sqn, Junkers JI (?) crashed Houthulst Forest at 10:25/11:25 - 2nd Lts Montgomery and Frew, No 45 Squadron, fired 700 rounds from 500 feet at troops loading railway trucks, and also fired at troops and transport on roads. The same two pilots subsequently saw two EA, dived at the rear one and, after firing about 15 rounds each, saw it fall out of control and crash

2nd Lt H S Malik, 28 Sqn, EA out of control at 10:45/11:45 - 2nd Lt Malik, No 28 Squadron, shot down an EA out of control

Capt W G Barker, 28 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames west of Roulers at 12:15/13:15 - Ltn Otto Schober, Jasta 18, Kia [?]
Capt W G Barker, 28 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Roulers - Thielt at 12:20/13:20 - OffStllv Klein, Jasta 18, Ftl

Capt Barker, No 28 Squadron, attacked a German scout west of Roulers and after fighting for 15 minutes he secured a favourable position from which he shot down the enemy machine in flames and saw it crash. He was then attacked by another scout and succeeded in destroying this one also

2nd Lt E B Booth, 70 Sqn, two-seater out of control Houthulst Forest at 12:50/13:50

Lt F J Williams, 29 Sqn, two-seater out of control east of Houthulst Forest at 17:05/18:05 - 2nd Lt Williams, No 29 Squadron, shot down an EA out of control

Casualties

Flt Sub-Lt G Andrews (Pow) & 2nd Lt W W Hutton (Kia) & G/L G A Kent (Pow), 7AN Sqn, HP O/100 3122 – shot down during night bombing raid to St Denis Westrem Aerodrome

Lt J B Fenton (Wia), 28 Sqn, Camel - shot up on low reconnaissance

Lt E D Clarke (Wia), 45 Sqn, Camel B2327 – took off 08:15/09:15 then wounded in arm and brought down by hostile gunfire at Sh20.SE.3.20.D.73 [north-west of Terrest] on low flying patrol

2nd Lt E A L F Smith (Pow), 45 Sqn, Camel B5152 – took off 08:15/09:15 then missing from low flying patrol; Ltn Joachim von Busse, Js3, 4th victory

2nd Lt R A Hewat (Wia), 19 Sqn, Spad VII A6662 – took off 10:20/11:20 then shot up while clearing stoppage, returned to aerodrome [combat at 10:20/11:20?]

2nd Lt H E Singh-Malik (Wia), 45 Sqn, Camel B5406 – took off 10:45/11:45 then brought down in combat at Vlamertinghe on ground raid

Lt H L Marvin (Kia) & 2nd Lt C H Barton (Kia), 6 Sqn, RE8 A3850 – took off 10:50/11:50 then believed hit by one of own shells and broken up and descended in enemy lines at 28.J.13.D.64 [south-east of Bellewaarde] on flash reconnaissance

Graeme