100 years ago today - 24 January 1918 (a bit late)

[Graeme]

THURSDAY, 24 JANUARY 1918

General Headquarters, January 25th.

"On the 24th instant there was great aerial activity on the northern portion of the front where the weather was good. Hostile batteries were engaged throughout the day by our artillery, with aeroplane observation, and photographs were taken. Over 300 bombs were dropped on Courtrai, Ledeghem, and Douai railway stations, on a hostile aerodrome near Courtrai, and on the enemy's billets west of Cambrai. One of our pilots fired into the hangars on the enemy's aerodrome at Douai with his machine-gun, and other ground targets were repeatedly attacked in this way. In air fighting seven hostile machines were brought down and five others were driven down out of control. Two of our machines are missing, including one which was seen to collide with a German machine during combat.

"As soon as it was dark our night-flying squadrons bombed a German aerodrome north-east of Ghent, as well as other aerodromes near Courtrai and hostile billets round Roulers. In spite of a thick ground mist, which rose after our machines had left their aerodromes, all returned safely. At the same time other night-flying machines carried out most successful raids on several objectives in Germany. Bombs were dropped on the factories at Mannheim, on the Rhine, where direct hits were obtained on a large factory, and also on the docks and on the town. The barracks and railway station at Treves, the steel works at Thionville, and the railway stations at Saarbrücken and Oberbillig (south-west of Treves) were also attacked with excellent results. Our pilots report large explosions on all objectives, and that a large fire was caused at Treves. One of our machines failed to return."

RFC Communiqué number 124:

The weather was fine in the north; in the south there were low clouds, and visibility was bad.

Six reconnaissances were carried out, 42 hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction (30 of these were by the 2nd Brigade), and three neutralized; one gun-pit was destroyed, 12 damaged, 30 explosions and 35 fires caused. Forty-four zone calls were sent down.

A total of 1,309 photographs were taken, 446 bombs dropped and 14,812 rounds fired at ground targets as follows:—

1st Brigade: 402 photographs were taken. No 18 Squadron dropped 18 25-lb bombs; 1st Wing dropped 57 25-lb bombs; No 40 Squadron fired 137 rounds; 10th Wing fired 3,200 rounds and No 43 Squadron fired 500 rounds into the hangars on Douai Aerodrome.

2nd Brigade: 568 photographs were taken, 68 25-lb bombs dropped and 4,895 rounds fired. No 57 Squadron dropped 60 25-lb bombs on Harlebeke Aerodrome.

3rd Brigade: 300 photographs were taken, 48 25-lb bombs dropped on Quèant. and 530 rounds fired.

5th Brigade: No 35 Squadron dropped four 25-lb bombs and fired 500 rounds; No 8 Squadron fired 1,000 rounds, and No 52 Squadron fired 100 rounds.

9th Wing: Thirty-nine photographs were taken. No 25 Squadron dropped nine 112-lb bombs on Courtrai Railway Station; No 27 Squadron dropped two 112-lb and 14 25-lb bombs on Ledeghem, and two 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs on Douai.

On the night of the 23rd/24th: In spite of low clouds which blew up after the machines of No 101 Squadron had left the ground, all machines crossed the lines and dropped 6 112-lb, 74 25-lb, four phosphorus and seven incendiary bombs on Heule, Oostacker, Abeelhoek, Abeele, Beveren and Rumbeke Aerodromes, Thourout, Lichtervelde and Roopebeke. 2,100 rounds were fired at hangars, lights on roads, searchlights and billets.

2nd-Lieuts Paull and Golding successfully bombed the station and a train at Roopebeke with phosphorous bombs; one of these exploded and caused a large fire which burned for a considerable time, and could be seen from the lines.

No 102 Squadron also went out on the night of the 23rd/24th and dropped 84 25-lb bombs on Roulers, and 29 25-lb bombs on Rumbeke. 49 2-lb shells and 1,850 rounds were fired at Rumbeke and other ground targets.

RNAS Communiqué number 14:

A special reconnaissance was carried out by No. 2 Squadron to observe enemy shipping.

Two hundred and fifty rounds were fired at coast and trenches from heights between 1,500 and 2,000 feet.

One of our machines when over Ostende at 2,000 feet was hit by shrapnel, and was compelled to make a forced landing on the beach at La Panne.

Few E.A. were observed during the day. Two of our pilots saw a formation of 16 E.A. in the vicinity of Houthulst Forest. They had the appearance of a new type of machine with dihedral on top plane and rotary engine. Good climb and speed.

A special patrol by two machines of No. 9 Squadron, fired 1,200 rounds into enemy trenches behind Nieuport. Flammenwerfer, A.A. and machine guns were fired at these two machines, one of which was hit in several places.

Enemy Aircraft:

Lieut E Comber-Taylor & Sergt J Morris, 7 Sqn, EA out of control - Lieut E Comber-Taylor & Sergt J Morris, No 7 Squadron, whilst on photography, were attacked by about 12 EA. The observers fired 170 rounds as each EA attacked. One enemy machine went down out of control, and another appeared to have a piece of the machine shot off, as something fell from it. 2nd-Lieut Taylor’s machine was badly shot about by bullets.

Capt F G Quigley, 70 Sqn, two-seater crashed south-east of Wervicq at 11:10/12:10 - while on offensive patrol Capt Quigley, No 70 Squadron, attacked an enemy two-seater, firing many rounds. Capt Quigley turned west, the two-seater turning after him, so he again attacked the EA which dived and crashed into a hedge

2nd-Lieut W E Green & 2nd-Lieut H S Gros, 57 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames north-west of Roulers at 11:30/12:30 and Albatros Scout out of control north-west of Roulers at 11:30/12:30 - whilst on photography, 2nd-Lieuts W Green and H Gros, No 57 Squadron, were attacked by ten EA - five from below and five from above. The observer (2nd-Lieut Gros) fired a burst at a triplane below him and the EA burst into flames. Another drum was fired at an Albatross Scout which fell into a sleep side-slip and was last seen falling out of control.

2nd-Lieut A Koch, 70 Sqn, Albatros C out of control Westroosebeke at 11:30/12:30 - 2nd-Lieut A Koch, No 70 Squadron, attacked an enemy two-seater into which he fired 150 rounds from close range and the EA went down in a spin completely out of control and was seen still spinning at 1,000 feet

2nd-Lieut G R Howsam, 70 Sqn, Albatros C crashed Westroosebeke at 11:30/12:30 - 2nd-Lieut G Howsam, No 70 Squadron, fired 400 rounds into an Albatros two-seater which went down and crashed in a field

Flt Sub-Lieut W L Jordan and Flt Sub-Lieut E G Johnstone, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Neuvireuil at 11:30/12:30
Flt Sub-Lieut R L Johns, Flt Sub-Lieut W L Jordan, Flt Sub-Lieut C R C Walworth and Flt Sub-Lieut J B White, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Fresnes - Vitry at 11:40/12:40 -
Flt Sub-Lieut J B White, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Fresnes – Vitry at 11:40/12:40
Flt Lieut G K Cooper, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Fresnes - Vitry at 11:40/12:40
Flt Cdr R B Munday, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Fresnes - Vitry at 11:40/12:40

Naval Squadron No 8, while on offensive patrol encountered a formation of Albatross Scouts and a general engagement ensued. Flight Commander Munday fired 250 rounds at one of the EA at close range and it fell on its back and went down in nose-dive. Flight Sub-Lieut J B White attacked one EA which was attacking one of our machines. He fired 50 rounds point blank range and tracers were observed going into the pilot's cockpit. The EA turned over sideways and fell out of control.

Another patrol of this Squadron encountered several Albatross Scouts and Flight Sub-Lieuts Jordan and Johnstone both fired bursts at one EA which went down apparently quite out of control. Later, Flight Sub-Lieuts Johnstone and Johns attacked a single Albatross Scout close to the lines. They fired between them about 200 rounds, and the EA was last seen at 1,500 feet still descending and quite out of control

Capt W E Molesworth, 29 Sqn, two-seater out of control north-east of Roulers at 12:00/13:00 - Capt W Molesworth, No 29 Squadron, while leading a patrol, attacked an enemy two-seater from behind and fired a drum at 150 yards range. The EA went down completely out of control and this is confirmed by another pilot

Capt H F S Drewitt, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Comines at 12:20/13:20 - Capt H Drewitt, No 23 Squadron, while on offensive patrol attacked one of six Albatros Scouts and fired several bursts at very close quarters, the EA diving straight east, aming an excellent target as he did not endeavour to manoeuvre at all. Capt Drewitt continued to fire until the EA eventually fell over, got into a spin, and was lost sight of as it entered the clouds

More to follow

Graeme