100 years ago today - 11 December 1917

[Graeme]

TUESDAY, 11 DECEMBER 1917

General Headquarters, December 11th.

“At 11 o'clock on the 11th instant our machines left their aerodromes in fine weather to bomb certain factories in Germany. On reaching the area of their objectives, our pilots found their target obscured by clouds, but seeing a clear gap farther north-east they continued their flight in that direction. Through the gap in the clouds they recognised the large railway junction north-east of Pirmasens and dropped their bombs upon it. The closing of the gap in the clouds prevented observation of the results.

“Although the whole sky was covered by low clouds during the return journey all our pilots succeeded in reaching their aerodrome safely.

RFC Communiqué number 117:

Low clouds and a slight drizzle prevented much work being done.

A total of 1,052 rounds were fired at ground targets, 550 being by two machines of No 5 Squadron.

Eight 25-lb bombs were dropped by the 2nd Brigade and 18 25-lb bombs by the 3rd Brigade on various targets.

With aeroplane observation, five hostile batteries were succesfully engaged for destruction by artillery of the Third Army, which destroyed one pt and caused an explosion. Machines of this brigade sent down 10 zone calls.

With observation by balloons, two hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction, six neutralised, and 21 other targets were successfully dealt with by artillery of the Second Army. Two of the shoots were carried out in conjuction with aeroplanes and one fire and three explosions were caused.

Artillery of the Third Army dealt with three targets.

41st Wing - seven machines of No 55 Squadron left the ground in fine weather to bomb the boot factory at Pirmasens, but found the target obscured by clouds, so flew to a gap farther north from which point they saw the large railway junction north-east of Pirmasens and dropped 12 112-lb and 10 25-lb bombs from 13,000 feet. The results were not observed owing to the drifting clouds.

On the return flight the machines kept together, but became split up after recrossing the lines owing to the heavy banks of clouds at 600 feet. All machines, however, landed safely in different places, with one exception when a machine was damaged, but the crew were uninjured.

Admiralty, December 12th.

"During the night of December 10th-11th naval aircraft carried out a bombing raid on Oostacker aerodrome and Bruges Docks. Many tons of bombs were dropped on both objectives. On the former, owing to poor visibility, results were difficult to observe, but at the latter good shooting was made and a fire started. All our machines returned safely.”

Admiralty, December 13th.

“On the night of December 11th a bombing raid was made by naval aircraft on Bruges Docks. Visibility was bad, with low-lying clouds. One of our machines is missing. The usual fighter patrols were carried out; one enemy aircraft was driven down out oi control and observed to crash.”

RNAS Communiqué number 11:

Owing to unfavourable weather conditions, little work could be carried out during the day. During one of the coast patrols several ground targets were attacked.

Bombing raid by night, Nos 7 and 14 Squadrons, H.Ps: A bomb raid was carried out on the evening of the 10th on Oostacker Aerodrome and Bruges Docks.

Visibility at first was fairly good, but soon afterwards deteriorated considerably, so much so, that the last machine to leave was forced to land, as the ground by then could not be seen.

Eight 250-lb and forty 112-lb bombs were dropped on this objective; and on Bruges Docks, eight 250-lb and fifty-four 112-lb bombs were dropped.

Bombs were seen to explode among the sheds just N. of the E. Bassin, and the Docks in general were well straddled. All machines returned safely.

Enemy Aircraft

Enemy aircraft were inactive and no combats took place.

Casualty

Capt A G Waller (Ok) & Lieut L H Mackay (Ok), 55 Sqn, DH4 A7775 - force landed in ploughed field Gironcourt due bad weather on return from bombing Pirmasens

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

JWC shows a DH4 claimed by Ltn Martin Langer, Js40, Mamey, 2nd victory. This would appear to be a duplicate of the claim shown on 9 December. Or, rather, the claim on the 9th should have been listed on the 11th. Langer is shown with 1 victory only in TJP, on the 11th.


Jasta Losses:

Vfw Walter Starck, Js32, injured in accident. No other info.


TSTB Mk.1 has no entry for this date.


Tony