A Victim of Manfred

[KINGSNORTH36]

October 7th 1916 and the pilots of 21 Squadron Royal Flying Corps would have stood in the the early morning rain and high winds and may have feared the worst. The official RFC Communique recorded “A stormy day unfavorable for flying”. However the British Army was ordered forward to support the French at Sailly-Saillisel and the RFC would have to play its part. Two young pilots of 21 Squadron prepared for an Offensive Patrol. The Squadron was armed with Royal Aircraft Factory BE12’s, originally intended to be long range reconnaissance aircraft the RFC where now pressing them into service as Fighters, with disastrous effect. Its poor maneuverability making it no match for the New German planes such as the Albatross or Halberstadt.

Two pilots of 21 Squadron, Lieutenant James Aitchison Stewart and Cecil Fenwick, sat in their machines at 07.30hrs and waited for the signal.

Stewart was 26 years of age, a veteran by normal Royal Flying Corps Standards. Born in Edinburgh he had enlisted in the Royal Scots in 1911. Prior to that he had served OTC Artillery as a cadet. Stewart had been studying medicine before his army career. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, getting leave from the front to return to Blighty to marry his Fiancee, Olive Lizzie Stratton. Like many young men of his generation he was drawn to the thrill of the air and was attached to the Royal Flying Corps.

Another young flier of 21 Squadron was 2nd Lieutenant William Cecil Fenwick. Fenwick was much younger than Stewart, aged 19 years of age. Born in Acton he enlisted in the RFC on April 17th 1916. An excited teenager he was to write home to his Aunt Jessie on September 30th, one week before October 7th.

“You said in in your letter that you though perhaps I should continue with instruction out here and not sent to fight for some while, as a matter of fact I started across the lines as soon as I joined the squadron. I have just returned from a 3 hour patrol and bomb raid, after dropping my bombs I had to escort some slower machines, that is protecting them ( or rather trying to ) against hostile aircraft. Anyhow we returned safely. I did not have a very comfortable time being 13,000 feet up and absolutely frozen, also the bolts on my carburetor broke and the engine was throwing oil all over the place. It was impossible to see through the windscreen and only just possible to see through my goggles. One good thing is that the engine did not let me down as it very well might have done so over the circumstances. I will try to send you some war relics but it is hardly any point in sending you some wayside flowers from behind the lines, something in the lines of a crashed aeroplane is more in line.

One week after writing these words 2nd Lieutenant Fenwick was to meet Freiherr Manfred Vin Richthofen. This is how he described the encounter in his Combat Report

“Machine type: New and not seen up til now. Plane No 6618 a two deck plane with 12 cyl Daimler Motor No. 25 226d.

09.10hrs near Equancourt.

About 09.00 I attacked at 3000 metres altitude and accompanied by two other machines attacked an English plane near Rancourt. After 40 shots enemy plane dashed downwards, the pilots having been mortally wounded. Occupant lieutenant Fenwick killed by shot to the head.

Von Richthofen was able to land and view the wreck, the wreck sustained little damage and it was he that was to claim a war relic, cutting the serial number from the aircraft fin and fixing it to the wall of his hut. German Authorities examined the wreckage of the B.E.12 identifying the pilot as Fenwick and his Squadron. Little care seems to have been taken with his corpse, Fenwick has no known grave.

From Under the Guns of the Red Baron five BE.12’s took of from their base at Bertangles at 07.30hrs on an offensive Patrol led by Captain R.Neville, Neville and Lieutenant Stewart each carried 112 bombs, they were escorted by three escorts. Jasta 2 and Jasta 5 intercepted them, Stewart dropped his bomb on a dump at Ytres and dived, he managed to land his plane at 18 Squadron’s base. He was mortally wounded in this action, having been shot up by Ltn Hans Berr, an Ace and Blue Max Winner. Richthofen was at this time chasing Fenwick, one of the escorts detailed to protect Stewart and Neville. Richthofen first engaged Fenwick near Rancourt, which is someway to the southwest of Ytres so he must have chased Fenwick some distance before he went down.

Two brave young men who met the feared Baron, Fenwick becoming his forth victory. Fenwick’s father was to suffer for six months trying to understand if his son was alive or dead. Fenwick was originally posted as missing before the conformation was received from the Germans. Originally a letter to his parents by the CO of 21 Squadron gave then hope that he may have been taken prisoner. This alas was not to be. Stewart was to linger for several days succumbing to his wounds on October 11th.

[MikeMeech]

Originally Posted by KINGSNORTH36

October 7th 1916 and the pilots of 21 Squadron Royal Flying Corps would have stood in the the early morning rain and high winds and may have feared the worst. The official RFC Communique recorded “A stormy day unfavorable for flying”. However the British Army was ordered forward to support the French at Sailly-Saillisel and the RFC would have to play its part. Two young pilots of 21 Squadron prepared for a Contact Patrol. The Squadron was armed with Royal Aircraft Factory BE12’s, originally intended to be long range reconnaissance aircraft the RFC where now pressing them into service as Fighters, with disastrous effect. Its poor maneuverability making it no match for the New German planes such as the Albatross or Halberstadt.

Two pilots of 21 Squadron, Lieutenant James Aitchison Stewart and Cecil Fenwick, sat in their machines at 07.30hrs and waited for the signal.

Stewart was 26 years of age, a veteran by normal Royal Flying Corps Standards. Born in Edinburgh he had enlisted in the Royal Scots in 1911. Prior to that he had served OTC Artillery as a cadet. Stewart had been studying medicine before his army career. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, getting leave from the front to return to Blighty to marry his Fiancee, Olive Lizzie Stratton. Like many young men of his generation he was drawn to the thrill of the air and was attached to the Royal Flying Corps.

Another young flier of 21 Squadron was 2nd Lieutenant William Cecil Fenwick. Fenwick was much younger than Stewart, aged 19 years of age. Born in Acton he enlisted in the RFC on April 17th 1916. An excited teenager he was to write home to his Aunt Jessie on September 30th, one week before October 7th.

“You said in in your letter that you though perhaps I should continue with instruction out here and not sent to fight for some while, as a matter of fact I started across the lines as soon as I joined the squadron. I have just returned from a 3 hour patrol and bomb raid, after dropping my bombs I had to escort some slower machines, that is protecting them ( or rather trying to ) against hostile aircraft. Anyhow we returned safely. I did not have a very comfortable time being 13,000 feet up and absolutely frozen, also the bolts on my carburetor broke and the engine was throwing oil all over the place. It was impossible to see through the windscreen and only just possible to see through my goggles. One good thing is that the engine did not let me down as it very well might have done so over the circumstances. I will try to send you some war relics but it is hardly any point in sending you some wayside flowers from behind the lines, something in the lines of a crashed aeroplane is more in line.

One week after writing these words 2nd Lieutenant Fenwick was to meet Freiherr Manfred Vin Richthofen. This is how he described the encounter in his Combat Report

“Machine type: New and not seen up til now. Plane No 6618 a two deck plane with 12 cyl Daimler Motor No. 25 226d.

09.10hrs near Equancourt.

About 09.00 I attacked at 3000 metres altitude and accompanied by two other machines attacked an English plane near Rancourt. After 40 shots enemy plane dashed downwards, the pilots having been mortally wounded. Occupant lieutenant Fenwick killed by shot to the head.

Von Richthofen was able to land and view the wreck, the wreck sustained little damage and it was he that was to claim a war relic, cutting the serial number from the aircraft fin and fixing it to the wall of his hut. German Authorities examined the wreckage of the B.E.12 identifying the pilot as Fenwick and his Squadron. Little care seems to have been taken with his corpse, Fenwick has no known grave.

From Under the Guns of the Red Baron five BE.12’s took of from their base at Bertangles at 07.30hrs on an offensive Patrol led by Captain R.Neville, Neville and Lieutenant Stewart each carried 112 bombs, they were escorted by three escorts. Jasta 2 and Jasta 5 intercepted them, Stewart dropped his bomb on a dump at Ytres and dived, he managed to land his plane at 18 Squadron’s base. He was mortally wounded in this action, having been shot up by Ltn Hans Berr, an Ace and Blue Max Winner. Richthofen was at this time chasing Fenwick, one of the escorts detailed to protect Stewart and Neville. Richthofen first engaged Fenwick near Rancourt, which is someway to the southwest of Ytres so he must have chased Fenwick some distance before he went down.

Two brave young men who met the feared Baron, Fenwick becoming his forth victory. Fenwick’s father was to suffer for six months trying to understand if his son was alive or dead. Fenwick was originally posted as missing before the conformation was received from the Germans. Originally a letter to his parents by the CO of 21 Squadron gave then hope that he may have been taken prisoner. This alas was not to be. Stewart was to linger for several days succumbing to his wounds on October 11th.

Hi

Just one thing should be mentioned, these two 21 Sqn. aircraft were on 'Offensive Patrols' not 'Contact Patrols'. 'Contact Patrols' were to spot where infantry were in an advance and operated generally below 2,000 ft (sometimes much lower), on the day in question 'Contact Patrols' were undertaken by the 4th and 5th Brigades and IXth Wing RFC. Three aircrew on CP missions were wounded on 7th October, 2Lt A Rice-Oxley (probably pilot) of 15 Sqn. by bullet from trenches, 2Lt S A Gibbons (observer) of 34 Sqn. by AA, 2LT R St J Hartley (observer) of 34 Sqn. by rifle ground fire.
As far as I can tell MvR never shot down any RFC aircraft that was undertaking a 'Contact Patrol'

Mike

[KINGSNORTH36]

Thanks Mike, every day's a school day
Regards
Richard

[VtwinVince]

Thanks for posting this combat, and I like the looks of your displays.

[R Gannon]

Just a reality check in regards the 'feared baron', in his combat report he admits he attacked with two other machines and indeed Lt Brophy of 21 Sqn reported that Fenwick's machine was attacked by 3 HA. The harsh light of day shows that a large number of German aerial successes were not the result of 'one on ones' as is the popular two dimensional image. Of course the Germans, alone of all the combatants, did not recognise shared victories (excepting 2-seater crews). Actually I fancy most Allied scout pilots, with one months combat experience, on a half decent machine, in a true 'one on one' in a truly neutral environment would fancy their chances against the 'feared baron'. Fenwick of course had little chance, he was 8km over the German side, on an inferior machine and attacked by 3 HA.

Russ

[KINGSNORTH36]

Indeed Russ all we can go on are the claims and reports made at the time. A poignant casualty grouping to a pilot who would have stood little chance. What is for certain is that Von Richthofen claimed him.

[sator]

Thanks for posting the story and the photos of the medals. He was definitely out classed as far as aircraft are concerned.

[R Gannon]

Originally Posted by KINGSNORTH36

Indeed Russ all we can go on are the claims and reports made at the time. A poignant casualty grouping to a pilot who would have stood little chance. What is for certain is that Von Richthofen claimed him.

I don't doubt MvR was the foremost of the three that shot him down. Js 5's Obln Berr also involved claiming a BE over Combles (then in Allied lines) - likely reflects the BE12 of Lt Stewart, who was wia and landed at 18 Sqn. Berr far more likely to pursue an Allied machine across the lines.

But as a general comment; modern historians have fallen over themselves to award MvR victims, not all of which stand the acid test.

Russ

[KINGSNORTH36]

As you say unless the action was an one on one (ALL) claims are subject to error neither one of us can argue with Manfred

[Graeme]

The argument is not with Manfred, it is with the system that says he alone was responsible from bringing down Fenwick when all evidence points to at least three German pilots being involved.

Always makes me smile when I hear that line in Highlander - "there can be only one."

Graeme