100 years ago today - 29 December 1917

[Graeme]

SATURDAY, 29 DECEMBER 1917

General Headquarters, December 30th.

“Although the weather was fine on the 29th inst., visibility was bad, and greatly interfered with the co-operation of our aeroplanes and artillery. Much successful photographic work was accomplished, however, and many bombs were dropped on Ingelmunster aerodrome and Staden and other hostile billets. Two hostile machines were brought down in our lines and a third in the enemy's lines. Two other hostile machines were driven down out of control. None of our aeroplanes are missing,”

RFC Communiqué number 120:

Low clouds and mist prevented much work being done.
Three reconnaissances were carried out by the 3rd Brigade and two by the 5th Brigade.

Nine long photographic reconnaissances were attempted by the 9th Wing but all proved unsuccessful owing to the weather. 801 photographs were taken during the day (442 by the 3rd Brigade), 188 bombs dropped and 4,960 rounds fired at ground targets as follows:—

1st Brigade: Eighteen 25-lb bombs on various targets. (No 4 Squadron).
Thirteen 25-lb bombs on various targets. (Corps Squadron).
1,100 rounds fired by Corps Squadrons
1,100 rounds by Naval Squadron No 8.

2nd Brigade: Forty-eight 26-lb bombs on Staden. (No 57 Squadron).
500 rounds at various targets,
300 rounds on an active machine gun which was silenced. (No 70 Squadron).

3rd Brigade: Fifty-one 25-lb bombs.
460 rounds.

5th Brigade: Fifty-eight 25-lb bombs. (Corps Squadrons).
400 rounds. (No 8 Squadron).
1,100 rounds. (No 35 Squadron).

With aeroplane observation, seven hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction, one gun-pit was destroyed and one fire caused.

RNAS Communiqué number 12:

Owing to the unfavourable weather conditions no reconnaissances or bomb raids could be carried out.

Fighter Patrols were maintained up to noon, but then low clouds and mist prevented any further flying during the day. Nothing of importance to report.

Enemy Aircraft: Enemy aircraft activity was slight all day.

2nd-Lieut F Westfield & Lieut Fenelon, 10 Sqn, Scout out of control - 2nd-Lieut F Westfield and Lieut Fenelon, No 10 Squadron, were attacked by three EA Scouts. After considerable fighting, one of the enemy machines was shot down completely out of control and the RE8 returned safely

Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, LVG C captured Havrincourt at 09:55/10:55 - Left aerodrome at 9 a.m. and crossed the lines east of Gouzeaucourt at 9.45 at 14,000. Saw three EA two-seaters coming west. I dived on these followed by my patrol and drove an LVG down from 13,500 to the ground. EA. made a pretence of landing in our lines, but put his engine on again and made north-east at about 10 feet. I headed him west again, but he turned east, so I fired another burst into him and then he got into a flat spin and crashed near Havrincourt at 9.55 a.m. Climbed and onlv found two members of my patrol. I then approached four Albatross Scouts over Bois de Vancelles, who went down east. Several EA two-seaters patrolling east of the Canal at Vendhuille at about 3,000, too low to engage. Returned 10.50; Vfw Kurt Gerschel (Kia) & Uffz Lehnert (Pow), Schsta 10, G.118

Lieut A B Fairclough, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 10:10/11:10
Lieut J G S Candy, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north of Houthulst Forest at 10:10/11:10
Lieut A B Fairclough, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Houthulst Forest at 10:15/11:15
Maj A D Carter, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of Houthulst Forest at 10:15/11:15
Lieut J D de Pencier, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 10:20/11:20
Capt P Huskinson, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 10:20/11:20
Capt P Huskinson, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 10:25/11:25

Pilots of 19 Squadron had considerable successful fighting but had one machine missing. Major Carter shot one EA down out of control, while Lieut Candy attacked another which was diving on Major Carter from behind and shot it down out of control. Lieut Fairclough destroyed one and shot down a second out of control, and Lieut De Pencier hit one which fell out of control, while Capt Huskinson shot down two out of control

Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, LVG C captured north-east of Epehy at 13:55/14:55 – Left ground at 11.25 to look for EA west of the lines. At 11.55 attacked an LVG over Lagnicourt at 16,000. I fired short burst into EA at 100 yards when water and steam came from EA's centre section. EA dived very steeply and by the time I caught up to EA again he was too far east of the line to re-engage. Last saw him gliding down north over Haucourt at 4,000 at 12 a.m. under control, but certainly damaged. At 1.50 dived on an LVG over Gouzeaucourt at 15,000. EA saw me and started a left hand circle, the EA gunner firing at long range. After half a dozen turns, EA pushed his nose down as we were drifting west. I now fired drum of Lewis and 100 rounds of Vickers into him at 100 yards range and then his right hand wings fell off and the wreckage fell in our lines north-east of Epéhy at 1.55. Returned at 2.5 as I had no more petrol. EA not very active west of the lines; Ltn Walter Dern (Kia) & Ltn Georg Muller (Kia), FA 33, G.119

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut D M Christie (Wia), 3 Sqn, Camel – shot up during bombing

2nd-Lieut H E Galer (Pow), 19 Sqn, Spad VII B6780 – took off 09:30/10:30 and last seen from lines with 2 EA on tail on offensive patrol; Ltn d R Carl Menckhoff, Js3, 18th victory [Draaibank at 10:20/11:20]

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Other Jasta claims this date:

Ltn Konrad von Bulow-Bothkamp, Js14, Spad XI, Reims, no time, unconfirmed.

Ltn Golz, Js13, Caudron, Cernay, no time, first victory.

Vfw Otto Rosenfeld, Js41, balloon, Lepuix, no time, 8th victory. French 51e Cie d'A. Sgt Prieur descended unharmed.


Jasta losses:

Vfw Otto Rosenfeld, Js41, POW after balloon attack (AA fire?). Escaped in April 1918 and rejoined his jasta.


Tony

[Graeme]

29 Dec 1917 - Vzfw Rosenfeld, Balloon at Lepuix (8th victory); 51e Cie. Aerostieres, Sgt P Prieur, Ok

Vzfw Otto Rosenfeld is shot down and taken POW after this balloon attack. He manages to escape in April 18 and return to the Jasta, May 1918; claims five more victories before Kia 7 July.

Graeme

[josquin]

Lieutenant Fenelon 10 Squadron observer is 2/Lt. Louis Martin Fenelon. He survived
the war and was married in London in 1929.

Josquin

[James A. Pratt III]

FASWC:
no losses for the J 13 and J 14 claims
J 41 Rosenfeld was shot down by DCA

[R Gannon]

Originally Posted by James A. Pratt III

FASWC:
no losses for the J 13 and J 14 claims
J 41 Rosenfeld was shot down by DCA

Hi James

It should be no surprise then that the Js 13 claim was jenseits.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, LVG C captured Havrincourt at 09:55/10:55 - Left aerodrome at 9 a.m. and crossed the lines east of Gouzeaucourt at 9.45 at 14,000. Saw three EA two-seaters coming west. I dived on these followed by my patrol and drove an LVG down from 13,500 to the ground. EA. made a pretence of landing in our lines, but put his engine on again and made north-east at about 10 feet. I headed him west again, but he turned east, so I fired another burst into him and then he got into a flat spin and crashed near Havrincourt at 9.55 a.m. Climbed and onlv found two members of my patrol. I then approached four Albatross Scouts over Bois de Vancelles, who went down east. Several EA two-seaters patrolling east of the Canal at Vendhuille at about 3,000, too low to engage. Returned 10.50; Vfw Kurt Gerschel (Kia) & Uffz Lehnert (Pow), Schsta 10, G.118

No doubt Schusta 10 & G 118. A little more to this one however; the other members of the DOP (Lt’s Galley, McPherson & Blenkiron) suffered gun jams allowing the other two LVG’s to escape. B Flight then attacked 4 Albatros scouts over Vaucelles Wood, but they were unwilling to fight and dived away east.

Lieut A B Fairclough, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 10:10/11:10
Lieut J G S Candy, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north of Houthulst Forest at 10:10/11:10
Lieut A B Fairclough, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Houthulst Forest at 10:15/11:15
Maj A D Carter, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of Houthulst Forest at 10:15/11:15
Lieut J D de Pencier, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 10:20/11:20
Capt P Huskinson, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 10:20/11:20
Capt P Huskinson, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Houthulst Forest at 10:25/11:25
2nd-Lieut H E Galer (Pow), 19 Sqn, Spad VII B6780 – took off 09:30/10:30 and last seen from lines with 2 EA on tail on offensive patrol; Ltn d R Carl Menckhoff, Js3, 18th victory [Draaibank at 10:20/11:20]

Pilots of 19 Squadron had considerable successful fighting but had one machine missing. Major Carter shot one EA down out of control, while Lieut Candy attacked another which was diving on Major Carter from behind and shot it down out of control. Lieut Fairclough destroyed one and shot down a second out of control, and Lieut De Pencier hit one which fell out of control, while Capt Huskinson shot down two out of control

Maj Carter was leading an OP when he sighted 6 Albatros scouts 1,000ft above. He was endeavouring to climb up to these EA, when they attacked joined by a second formation of 8 Albatros scouts (Js 3 & Js 36?). A 20 minute fight ensued, and Carter’s men were joined by Capt Huskinson. As noted 2Lt Galer was last seen with 2 EA on his tail. Credit clearly went to Js 3’s Ltn Menckhoff, with the other pilot most likely being Js 36’ Ltn Bongartz who failed to receive credit for a ‘Sopwith’ at Staden.

Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, LVG C captured north-east of Epehy at 13:55/14:55 – Left ground at 11.25 to look for EA west of the lines. At 11.55 attacked an LVG over Lagnicourt at 16,000. I fired short burst into EA at 100 yards when water and steam came from EA's centre section. EA dived very steeply and by the time I caught up to EA again he was too far east of the line to re-engage. Last saw him gliding down north over Haucourt at 4,000 at 12 a.m. under control, but certainly damaged. At 1.50 dived on an LVG over Gouzeaucourt at 15,000. EA saw me and started a left hand circle, the EA gunner firing at long range. After half a dozen turns, EA pushed his nose down as we were drifting west. I now fired drum of Lewis and 100 rounds of Vickers into him at 100 yards range and then his right hand wings fell off and the wreckage fell in our lines north-east of Epéhy at 1.55. Returned at 2.5 as I had no more petrol. EA not very active west of the lines; Ltn Walter Dern (Kia) & Ltn Georg Muller (Kia), FA 33, G.119

Again no doubt this was the FA 33 & G119.

However It may be that McCudden’s LVG Driven Down 1155BT, or his men’s earlier attack on the other two LVG’s, before their guns jammed c0955BT, caused one more casualty: as FAA 233’s Ltn Metzer was wia(s) in an air combat on 2 ARMEE sector – and these were the only combats with 2-seaters.

Russ