100 years ago today

Graeme · 29 January 2018, 10:16 AM

FRIDAY, 25 JANUARY 1918

General Headquarters, January 26th.

"After the thick morning mist on the 25th inst. had cleared, there was again great activity in the air. Work with the artillery was continued by our aeroplanes, and a large number of photographs were taken of the enemy's back and forward areas. The large railway sidings at Courtrai and the enemy's billets at Roulers were bombed, as well as other targets. Hard fighting took place all along the line, the results being greatly in our favour. Ten hostile aeroplanes were brought down and six others driven down out of control. One of our machines is missing,

"On the night of the 25th-26th inst. our night-flying squadrons were active as soon as it was dark, their activity continuing until about 3 a.m., when a very heavy mist set in and rendered flying impossible. During the fine period of the night over eight tons of bombs were dropped by us, several pilots doing two trips. Five of the enemy's large aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Ghent were bombed and also billets in the vicinity of Douai. Over 160 bombs were dropped on a new hostile aerodrome west of Tournai. All of our machines returned."

Admiralty, January 25th.

"During January 25th a bombing raid was carried out by naval aircraft on the enemy aerodrome at Varssenaere. Direct hits were made. All our machines returned safely.”

RFC Communiqué number 124:

After the mist had cleared, at about 10 am, the weather was mainly fine on the whole front.

Seventeen reconnaissances were carried out – two by the 1st Brigade, three by the 2nd Brigade, four by the 3rd Brigade and three by the 5th Brigade; and five long-distance photographic reconnaissances, on which 189 photogtraphs were taken by No 25 Squadron (9th Wing).

Sixty-five hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction, and eight neutralized; eight gun-pits were destroyed, 23 damaged, 27 explosions and 18 fires caused; 41 active hostile batteries were reported by zone call.

1,791 photographs were taken, 261 25-lb and fourteen 112-lb bombs were dropped, and 9,672 rounds fired at ground targets as follows:

1st Brigade: 358 photographs. 1st Wing dropped 58 25-lb bombs and fired 560 rounds, and 10th Wing dropped eight 25-lb bombs and fired 1,340 rounds.

2nd Brigade: 537 photographs. No 10 Squadron, on a night bombing raid, dropped 35 25-lb bombs on a cinema at Bousbecque, and some of the bombs dropped were seen to burst on the objective.

During the day, No 57 Squadron dropped eight 112-lb bombs on Courtrai railway sidings, and four bursts on the objective were observed; 2,465 rounds were fired.

3rd Brigade: 394 photographs were taken, 12 25-lb bombs dropped and 560 rounds fired.

5th Brigade: 313 photographs. 22nd Wing dropped 16 25-lb bombs and fired 200 rounds, and 15th Wing dropped 36 25-lb bombs and fired 3,047 rounds.

9th Wing: On the night of the 24th/25th, No 101 Squadron dropped 4 112-lb, 49 25-lb, 3 phosphorus and 8 incendiary bombs on Oostacker, Rumbeke, Abeele, Bisseghem and Heule aerodromes, and Lendelede Station, Beveren and Roulers. Direct hits were obtained on the hangars at Oostacker and Rumbeke. 1,500 rounds were fired at ground targets.

No 102 Squadron dropped 10 25-lb bombs on Roulers.

8th Brigade: On night of the 24th/25th, 16 machines of No 100 Squadron set out to bomb Trier barracks and railway station. Five returned with engine trouble and eleven crossed the lines. Bombs were dropped as under from an average height of 1,500 feet:

Eight 230-lb, two 112-lb, 17 25-lb and two 40-lb phosphorous bombs making a total of 2,569 lbs; 1,950 rounds were fired at ground targets.

Two 230-lb., 2 112-lb, 5 25-lb and 2 40-lb phosphorous bombs were dropped on Trier; very good bursts were observed in the northern portion and centre of the town, and a very large fire was started in the north-east portion of the town and was later observed by other pilots.

For 230-lb and 8 25-lb bombs were dropped on Thionville steel works, bombs bursting and large explosions being observed. 700 rounds were fired at searchlights, trains and moving lights on the roads.

One 230-lb and two 2-lb bombs were dropped on the railway at Oberbillig, six miles south south-west of Trier.

One 230-lb and two 25-lb bombs were dropped on the railway station and junction at Saarburg, 10 miles south of Trier, causing large explosions in the town.

Capt Albu and Capt Lindsay were by an enemy machine near Homburg. E.A. used tracer ammunition. Capt AIbu, although handicapped by his load of bombs, managed to elude the enemy machine. On his return, his machine was found to be shot about.

Owing to the very heavy banks of clouds from the north, only those machines that left the aerodrome early were able to reach Trier. One pilot, Lieut Martin, made four attempts and only reached Trier on his fourth attempt.

Two machines of Naval Squadron No 16 left for Mannheim, and a third for Thionville. One machine succeeded in reaching Mannheim where six 112-lb bombs were dropped on the Badische Analine and Soda Fabrik, three on the docks and three on the town itself. As a result of the bomb bursts on the factory, dense clouds of smoke were seen to rise after the explosions. The second machine for Mannheim did not reach its objective owing to bad weather, and returned with its bombs. The third machince reached Thionville, dropped theoe bombs on the town and nine in and around the railway junction and factories.

RNAS Communiqué number 14:

A photographic reconnaissance was carried out by No. 2 Squadron. Forty plates were exposed between Selzaete, Bruges, and Westcappelle. A few rounds were fired at E.A. east of Bruges.

A second reconnaissance was also carried out. Plates were exposed over Jacobinessen battery, Turkijen battery, and the Ateliers de la Marine. A number of E.A. were seen, and visibility was good.

Bombing raid by day, No 5 Squadron, D.H.4’s: A bombing raid was carried out on Varssenaere Aerodrome. Eight 50-lb., eight 20-lb., and thirty-five 16-lb. bombs were dropped on the objective. A direct hit is reported among a group of twelve small sheds at the north-east corner of the aerodrome.

Photographs were secured of the Ostende-Thourout railway (northwest of Engel), and of the objective.

While over Ostende the escort to photographic machine was attacked by three E.A., who, after firing at close quarters, dived away to allow A.A. guns to fire at our machine, which was hit in several places.

A flight of No. 9 Squadron observed a machine go down in flames from 10,000 feet. No other machine was seen in the vicinity.

A Pilot of No. 13 Squadron pursued an E.A. which was seen over Dunkerque and sighted it near Dixmude. A large number of other E.A. were seen and several indecisive engagements took place. In one instance six German triplanes (with rotary engines and lower plane less span than the other two) were encountered.

Another Pilot of the same Squadron fired 500 rounds into enemy trenches and huts near Pervyse from a height of 15 feet.

Two of No. 9 Squadron Pilots on special patrol attacked six E.A. over Cortemarck, who, however, showed no fight. A large number of rounds were fired without decisive results.

More to come

Graeme