100 years ago today - 22 January 1918

[Graeme]

TUESDAY, 22 JANUARY 1918

General Headquarters, January 23rd.

"On the 22nd inst. there was a great improvement in the weather, visibility being excellent after the rain. A great many hostile batteries were engaged by our artillery with aeroplane observation, and numerous photographs were taken. Nearly 400 bombs were dropped by us on the enemy's billets at Roulers and Menin, on a large ammunition dump near Courtrai, and on other targets in the enemy's forward areas. Several thousand rounds also were fired from our aeroplanes at different ground targets, including hostile troops and transport on roads and active hostile batteries and machine guns. Seven of the enemy's machines were brought down in air fighting, and two others were driven down out of control. A hostile observation balloon was brought down in flames. Two of our machines are missing."

RFC Communiqué number 124:

In spite of occasional rain-storms, a considerable amount of flying was done, especially by the 2nd Brigade, who, considering the time of year, did a record day’s work.

Seventy-nine hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction, 11 neutralized, seven gun-pits destroyed, 37 damaged, 37 explosions and 31 fires caused. 196 active hostile batteries were reported by zone call.

A total of 1,258 photographs were taken, 576 bombs dropped, and 18,670 rounds fired at ground targets as follows:

1st Brigade: 187 photographs were taken; 65 25-lb bombs dropped and 475 rounds fired by the 1st Wing, and 5,800 rounds fired by the 10th Wing.

2nd Brigade: 641 photographs were taken, 75 25-lb bombs dropped, and 3,785 rounds fired. No 57 Squadron dropped 57 25-lb bombs on Bisseghem ammunition dump. Eleven machines of No 70 Squadron, carrying 20-lb bombs, carried out a very successful raid on the Canal Wharf at Menin. Nine hits were obtained on the objective, one on the wharf and six on the town.

205 photographs were taken, 49 25-lb bombs dropped, and 2,380 rounds fired.

5th Brigade: 182 photographs were taken. 22nd Wing fired 2,530 rounds and dropped 16 25-lb bombs; No 8 Squadron dropped 28 25-lb bombs and fired 2,145 rounds; No 35 Squadron dropped 20 25-lb bombs and fired 1,450 rounds; No 48 Squadron dropped 16 25-lb bombs, and No 52 Squadron fired 1,050 rounds.

9th Wing: No 25 Squadron, while on a bomb raid over Roulers, caused two fires – one in buildings beside the railway and one in buildings on the road.

On the night of the 21st/ 22nd, No 101 Squadron dropped 16 25-lb bombs on Bisseghem Aerodrome, obtaining one direct hit on hangars; 48 25-lb and eight incendiary bombs on Heule Aerodrome, 36 25-lb bombs on Rumbeke Aerodrome, 28 25-lb bombs on Moorslede Aerodrome, 16 25-lb bombs on Harlebeke Aerodrome, obtaining three direct hits on hangars, and fired 1,850 rounds.

Artillery Co-operation: Machines of the 2nd Brigade carried out 35 counter-battery shoots.

With observation by machines of the 5th Brigade, four direct hits on gun positions were obtained, two gun-pits were demolished, three damaged, four fires and an explosion caused.

RNAS Communiqué number 14:

The weather greatly impeded flying, at times the sky was completely overcast, several showers of rain occurring.

A photographic reconnaissance was carried out by No. 2 Squadron to Zeebrugge and Ostende. The only clear patch in the sky, however, was at Zeebrugge, and two plates were exposed over the Solway Works.

Six hostile seaplanes were observed about 20 miles off Blankenberghe. A flight of No. 3 Squadron gave chase, and drove E.A. to within five miles of Blankenberghe. The rearmost E.A. were attacked, and one of them was driven down into Ostende. Hostile T.B.D. fired on our pilots.

Few other E.A., were observed during the day. Nothing else of importance to report.

Enemy Aircraft:

Enemy aircraft were unusually active on the 1st Brigade front until noon.

Lieut K A Seth-Smith, 70 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Oostnieuwkerke at 10:35/11:35
2nd-Lieut G R Howsam, 70 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Westroosebeke at 10:45/11:45

A patrol of No 70 Squadron were attacked by seven EA scouts. In the fighting Lieut Seth-Smith dived on one which was about 500 feet below him; he fired a good burst and the EA half-rolled over and went down completely out of control. 2nd-Lieut G Howsam of the same squadron destroyed one EA

Sergt H Smith & 2nd-Lieut C J Agelasto, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Dadizeele - Moorslede at 11:07/12:07
Lieut D G Cooke & Lieut H G Crowe, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-west of Roulers at 11:10/12:10
Capt R K Kirkman & 2/AM J McMechan, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Moorslede at 11:15/12:15
Lieut D G Cooke & Lieut H G Crowe, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames south of Moorslede at 11:15/12:15

A patrol of eleven Bristol Fighters of No 20 Squadron were attacked by about 20 Albatros scouts. 2nd-Lieuts D Cooke and H Crowe shot down one of the enemy machines completely out of control, and dived on another which was seen to fall issuing smoke and crash in flames south of Moorslede. Capt R Kirkman and 2/AM J McMechan shot down one Albatros Scout out of control. Sergt H Smith and 2nd-Lieut C J Agelasto engaged an Albatros Scout and were able to get in a good burst at close quarters. The EA fell out of control and crashed

Lieut J P McCone, 41 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-west of Lille at 11:20/12:20 - Lieut J McCone, No 41 Squadron, dived on an EA firing two bursts and observed tracers entering the cockpit. The EA turned to the right and Lieut McCone got off another burst of 40 rounds. The EA immediately went down completely out of control, side-slipping and spinning, and was followed down to within 2,000 feet of the ground

Flt Cdr G W Price, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Vitry at 11:20/12:20
Flt Sub-Lieut H Day, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Vitry at 11:20/12:20

A patrol of Naval Squadron No 8 attacked seven Albatros scouts in the vicinity of Vitry. Flight Cdr G W Price and Flight Sub-Lt H Day each shot an EA down out of control

Capt W E Molesworth, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control smoking north-east of Staden at 12:35/13:35 - Capt W Molesworth, No 29 Squadron, engaged an EA at about 100 yards range and the enemy machine went down out of control emitting a long string of smoke

2nd-Lieut G R Howsam, 70 Sqn, two-seater in flames north-east of Houthulst Forest at 13:05/14:05 - Lieut G Howsam, No 70 Squadron, while on a bomb raid, attacked an enemy two-seater over Houthulst Forest. After 400 rounds had been fired the EA burst into flames and crashed north-east of the Forest

Capt F G Quigley and 2nd-Lieut G R Howsam, 70 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames north-east of Houthulst Forest at 14:14/15:14
Capt F G Quigley and 2nd-Lieut G R Howsam, 70 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of Houthulst Forest at 14:20/15:20
Capt F G Quigley and 2nd-Lieut J Todd, 70 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-east of Houthulst Forest at 14:30/15:30

Capt F Quigley, No 70 Squadron, attacked one EA from the side and Lieut Howsam attacked from beneath its tail. The EA started to spin and then burst into flames. An Albatros scout attacked Capt Quigley from above. He turned and fired at it nose-on. The EA then dived and Lieut J Todd followed it down, firing at it, and it was observed to fall and crash north-east of Houthulst Forest. Capt Quigley and Lieut Howsam engaged another Albatros scout and followed it down until it became enveloped in a cloud of black smoke.

Casualties:

Flt Sub-Lieut J E Beveridge (Wia), 9N Sqn, Camel N6370 - hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Houthulst Wood; possibly also credited to Ltn d R Richard Plange, Js2, 2nd victory [Langemarck at 10:40/11:40] Langemarck is south of Houthulst Wood

2nd-Lieut A R Paul (Kia) & 2/AM Mann (Pow), 20 Sqn, Bristol F.2B C4825 – took off 10:30/11:30 and last seen east [east of aerodrome/heading east?] at 11:20/12:20 on offensive patrol; Oblt Theodor Cammann, Js2, 2nd victory [St Julien at 11:05/12:05] ?

Lieut F W Dogherty (Pow), 70 Sqn, Camel B6426 – took off 12:20/13:20 and last seen over Menin on bomb raid and offensive patrol; Vzfw Otto Fruhner, Js26, 5th victory [Coucou – Bousbecque at 15:55/13:55]

Graeme