100 years ago today - 18 February 1918

[Graeme]

MONDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 1918

General Headquarters, February 19th.

"On the 18th inst. the weather was very fine, but visibility was not so good as on preceding days. This did not prevent our aeroplanes from carrying out much useful work in conjunction with the artillery, and taking many photographs in the enemy's forward and back areas. A hostile aerodrome north of Douai, a large ammunition dump near Courtrai, a railway station south-east of Douai, and the enemy's billets on various parts of the front were bombed by us during the day. Continuous fighting took place, resulting in 11 hostile machines being brought down and six others driven down out of control. Two of our aeroplanes are missing. At night a thick mist set in, but our machines, nevertheless, succeeded in making several short trips behind the enemy's lines, and dropped bombs on hostile billets and railway stations.

"Following on the successful daylight raids on the 18th inst. against Treves and Thionville, our night-flying squadrons went out after dark and again attacked these towns from a low height with equally good results. Five bursts were observed on Treves station, which broke into flames. Three other buildings were alight when our machines left. In the second raid on Thionville, bursts were seen on the railway and in the gasworks. A large fire was started which was visible to the pilots attacking Treves. German aircraft and anti-aircraft guns were very active during both raids. One of our machines failed to return.

"On the 19th inst. another raid in broad daylight, making the third within 36 hours, was carried out by us against Treves. On this occasion well over a ton of bombs were dropped on the objective. Eleven bursts were observed on the railway station and six on buildings in close proximity to it. Three good fires were started. Our machines were repeatedly attacked by hostile scouts, which were driven off. Anti-aircraft gun fire also was considerable. One of our machines is so far unaccounted for."

Admiralty, February 19th.

"On the night of February 18th bombing raids were carried out by naval aircraft on St. Denis Westrem and Bruges docks. Many tons of explosives were dropped. A hostile scout which attacked one of our machines was driven down.”

Admiralty, February 19th.

"During the forenoon of February 18th the enemy aerodrome at Varssenaere was attacked. Several direct hits are reported on hangars and sheds. During the course of offensive patrols three enemy aircraft have been destroyed. All our machines have returned safely.

"On the night of February 18th bombing raids were carried out by naval aircraft on St. Denis Westrem and Bruges docks. Many tons of explosives were dropped. A hostile scout which attacked one of our machines was driven down. To-day (February 19th) a raid was made on Aertrycke aerodrome and Engel dump. Large quantities of explosives were dropped with good results. During the course of offensive patrols a hostile seaplane was shot down and fell in flames into the sea, a scout was brought down on our side of the line, and another machine driven down out of control. All our machines returned safely."

RFC Communiqué number 127:

The weather was again fine but the visibility only fair.

Twenty reconnaissances were carried out six of these were successful long-distance photographic-reconnaissances on which 22 hostile aerodromes were photographed by machines of Nos 25 and 27 Squadrons.

On the 18th, 58 hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and two neutralized; seven gun-pits were destroyed, 30 damaged, 25 explosions and 14 fires caused. Twenty-eight, zone calls were sent down.

A total of 1,797 photographs were taken, six tons of bombs dropped, 50 2-1b. shells and 10,779 rounds fired at ground targets as follows:-

Night 17th/18th - 1st Brigade: No 16 Squadron dropped 12 112-lb bombs on Henin-Liétard, Auby and Blanc Maison; No 5 Squadron dropped eight 112-lb and 45 25-lb bombs on Douai, Vitry, Beaumont, Bois Grenier, Esquerchin and Quiery, and No 2 Squadron dropped 16 25-lb bombs on Fournes.

5th Brigade: No 82 Squadron dropped eight 25-lb bombs on Bohain.

9th Wing: No 102 Squadron dropped eight 25-lb bombs on Gontrode Aerodrome, 14 25-lb bombs on Scheldewindeke Aerodrome, 16 25-lb bombs on trains, and 50 2-lb shells and 1,000 rounds were fired.

By Day – 1st Brigade: 448 photographs. No 18 Squadron dropped 36 25-lb bombs on Faumont Aerodrome and 12 25-lb bombs on various targets: 1st Wing dropped 70 25-lb bombs; No 4a Squadron fired 100 rounds and 10th Wing fired 2,510 rounds.

2nd Brigade: 337 photographs and 3,132 rounds. No 57 Squadron dropped 72 25-lb bombs on Harlebeke dump and 11th Wing dropped 55 25-lb bombs on various targets.

3rd Brigade: Fifty-six 25-lb bombs were dropped and 570 rounds fired.

5th Brigade: 15th Wing dropped 79 25-lb bombs and fired 3,467 rounds.

9th Wing: No 27 Squadron dropped four 112-lb and 15 25-lb bombs on Dechy.

The following bomb raids were carried out by the 8th Brigade:

Night 17th/18th: Five machines of No 100 Squadron dropped three 230-lb six 112-lb, 30 25-lb and two 40-lb bombs from a height of 1,000 feet on the railway station and sidings at Conflans (15 miles west of Metz). Four bursts were observed in the sheds and on the edge of the sidings where a large fire was started. 700 rounds were fired at ground targets. All machines returned.

By day, 18th - Five machines of No 55 Squadron dropped 10 112-lb and 30 40-lb bombs from 12,500 feet on the barracks and railway station at Treves (on the Moselle). Three bursts were seen in the gas-works, one near the Post Office, one in the railway workshops, and two near the barracks. Two houses were left blazing.

Four machines of the same Squadron dropped eight 112-lb bombs and one 40-lb bomb from 13,500 feet on the station and steel works at Thionviile. Bursts were seen on the railway track. Anti-aircraft fire was considerable and accurate, two machines being hit. All machines returned.

Enemy Aircraft:

Enemy aircraft activity was about the same as on the previous day.

Lieut J H Wensley & 2nd-Lieut Creek, 25 Sqn, EA out of control -

Flt Sub-Lieut C R C Walworth, 8N Sqn, EA out of control Arleux -

2nd-Lieut H D Barton, 2nd-Lieut A K Cowper and 2nd-Lieut R T Mark, 24 Sqn, DFW C out of control La Fere at 08:30/09:30 -

Capt F G Huxley, 2 AFC, two-seater out of control Steenwerck at 09:20/10:20 – [duplicate of later claim ?]

Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Vitry at 09:40/10:40 - Uffz Julius Kaiser, Jasta 35, Kia and Albatros Scout crashed Quiéry-la-Motte at 09:45/10:45 - Uffz Joachim von Stein zu Lausnitz, Jasta 35, Wia [?] - Capt J B McCudden, No 56 Squadron, when leading a formation dived on four enemy scouts. He fired a short burst into the leader whose machine burst into flames, pilot falling out. Capt McCudden then fired a long into another of the enemy's scouts from a range of 100 yards and it went into steep dive and was seen to crash

Flt Sub-Lieut F V Hall, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed south of Menin at 09:50/10:50

Flt Lieut J G Manuel, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout destroyed south of Menin at 09:50/10:50

Lieut H L Symons, 65 Sqn, two-seater crashed Kestelhoek at 10:10/11:10

2nd-Lieut C F King, 2nd-Lieut M H Orcutt and 2nd-Lieut C R Maasdorp, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Hénin-Liétard at 10:10/11:10 -

Capt H H Balfour, Lieut R S Grandy and Capt H H Balfour, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control ? east of Hénin-Liétard at 10:10/11:10 -

Capt F G Huxley, 2 AFC, Albatros Scout out of control Loos - Lille at 10:35/11:35 -

2nd-Lieut C L Stubbs, 84 Sqn, two-seater out of control Beaurevoir at 11:00/12:00 -

2nd-Lieut H W L Saunders, 84 Sqn, LVG C out of control Beaurevoir at 11:00/12:00 -

2nd-Lieut P K Hobson, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Beaurevoir at 11:00/12:00 - Vfw Martin Klein, Jasta 5, Kia [?]

Lieut G O Johnson, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of Beaurevoir at 11:00/12:00

Capt R A Grosvenor, 84 Sqn, two-seater out of control east of St Quentin at 11:05/12:05 -

Flt Cdr R J O Compston, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Douai at 11:15/12:15 -

Flt Sub-Lieut E G Johnstone, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of Vitry at 11:15/12:15 -

Flt Sub-Lieut W L Jordan, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of Vitry at 11:15/12:15 -

Lieut J G Coombe, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout destroyed north-west of Courtemarck at 11:20/12:20 -

Lieut S A Oades & 2nd-Lieut S W Bunting, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of La Bassée at 11:40/12:40 -

Flt Sub-Lieut L D Bawlf, 3N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Thourout - Dixmude at 11:40/12:40 - Ltn d R Willy Etzold, Jasta 26, Kia [?]

More to come

Graeme