100 years ago today - 6 March 1918

[Graeme]

WEDNESDAY, 6 MARCH 1918

General Headquarters, March 7th.

“The fine weather on the 6th inst. led to great aerial activity on both sides. Our aeroplanes reconnoitred all parts of the front, and took a great many photographs of the enemy's forward and back areas. Over 400 bombs were dropped on hostile billets and railway sidings, and several thousand rounds were fired from the air from machine-guns at parties of German infantry, hostile batteries in action, and transport on roads. Continuous fighting took place between our scouts and the enemy's machines, which persistently attacked our bembing and artillery machines. Ten German aeroplanes were brought down, and 10 others driven down out of control. Three of our machines are missing.

“After dark, a thick mist developed and prevented much night flying being done. A few bombs, however, were dropped on German aerodromes close to Metz. All our machines returned.”

RFC Communiqué number 130:

The weather was very fine, enabling much work to be done.

Twenty-five reconnaissances were carried out, four being long distance photographic reconnaissances by machines of the 9th Wing.

Sixty hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and five neutralized; eight gun-pits were destroyed, 23 damaged, 24 explosions and nine fires caused. Thirty-nine zone calls were sent down.

2,562 photographs were taken, and over eight tons of bombs dropped as follows:-

Night 5th/6th —9th Brigade: No 58 Squadron dropped one 112-lb and 66 25-lb bombs on Ingelmunster railway station; No 101 Squadron dropped two 112-lb and five 25-lb bombs on Bohain, and 22 112-lb and 52 25-lb bombs on Siboncourt aerodrome.

Day 6th - 1st Brigade: 323 photographs. No 18 Squadron dropped 36 25-lb bombs on dumps and billets, and the 1st Wing dropped 97 25-lb bombs.

2nd Brigade: 492 photographs. No 57 Squadron dropped eight 112-lb bombs on Tourcoing railway sidings, and the 2nd Wing dropped 53 25-lb bombs.

3rd Brigade: 793 photographs. 59 25-lb bombs.

5th Brigade: 869 photographs. 15th Wing dropped 127 25-lb bombs, and No 48 Squadron dropped 20 25-lb bombs.

9th Wing: 85 photographs. No 27 Squadron dropped eight 25-lb bombs on Cambrai.

Enemy Aircraft:

Enemy aircraft was [sic] very active, particularly on the 5th Brigade front.

Capt G E H McElroy, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-east of Bellecourt at 07:05/08:05 – Capt G E H McElroy, No 24 Squadron, shot down one enemy scout which was seen to hit the ground N.E. of Bellicourt

2nd-Lieut B E Sharwood-Smith & Sergt J C Lowe, 57 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Bousbecque at 08:00/09:00 -

Flt Cdr W M Alexander, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of Dixmude at 08:30/09:30 -

Capt K M G St C G Leask, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Renansart at 09:40/10:40 – Capt K G Leask, No 84 Squadron, whilst on offensive patrol, was attacked by a large number of E.A. Scouts, one of which he shot down out and was seen by an observer of another squadron to crash near Renansart

Capt A H G Fellowes, 54 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control north-east of St Quentin at 09:45/10:45 - Ltn d R Erich Bahr, Jasta 11, Kia [?]

Lieut R H Little & Lieut L N Jones, 48 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed La Fère - Hanegicourt at 09:50/10:50 - Lieuts R H Little and L N Jones, No 48 Squadron, attacked a formation of enemy scouts but were themselves attacked by an E.A. formation from above. One E.A. was shot down out of control and was seen to crash

Capt R W Chappell, 41 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Niergnies at 10:00/11:00 -

2nd-Lieut E Pybus & Lieut T W Cave, 35 Sqn, EA out of control [by Cave] Bellenglise at 10:40/11:40 -

Capt A J Brown and 2nd-Lieut A K Cowper, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control St Quentin at 10:55/11:55 -

2nd-Lieut H B Richardson, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI broke up Fontaine at 10:55/11:55 - 2nd-Lieut H B Richardson, No 24 Squadron, dived on one of five E.A scouts and after firing about 60 rounds both left planes broke off the E.A. machine which fell between Fontaine and Croin

Lieut F J Scott, 4 AFC, Rumpler C crashed east of Lens at 11:00/12:00 – Lieut F J Scott, 4th Squadron A.F.C., shot down a Rumpler two-seater, which was confirmed by an observer of No 5 Squadron to have crashed near Lens

2nd-Lieut F R McCall & 2nd-Lieut F C Farrington, 13 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Monchy-le-Preux at 11:15/12:15 - Ltn Schonger, Jasta 23, Wia [?]

Sergt W McCleery & Sergt W N Dyke, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -

Sergt W McCleery & Sergt W N Dyke, 18 Sqn, two-seater out of control Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -

2nd-Lieut D A Stewart & 2nd-Lieut H W M Mackay, 18 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control by Stewart Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -

2nd-Lieut D A Stewart & 2nd-Lieut H W M Mackay, 18 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control by Stewart Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -

2nd-Lieut G W Bulmer & 2nd-Lieut S J Hunter, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control E La Bassée at 11:15/12:15 -

2nd-Lieut L N Franklin, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Inchy at 11:15/12:15 -

2nd-Lieut D A Stewart & 2nd-Lieut H W M Mackay, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control [by Mackay] Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:20/12:20 -

2nd-Lieut D A Stewart & 2nd-Lieut H W M Mackay, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control [by Mackay] Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:20/12:20 -

Capt A G Waller & Sergt M B Kilroy, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Carvin at 11:25/12:25 -

Capt A G Waller & Sergt M B Kilroy, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Carvin at 11:25/12:25 -

Lieut R J Owen, 43 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed east of Bois du Biez at 12:00/13:00 - 2nd-Lieut R J Owen, No 43 Squadron, whilst on patrol, was attacked by eight E.A. scouts, one of which he shot down and was confirmed by “B” Battery A.A. to have crashed near the Bois du Biez

Capt J H Tudhope, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of La Bassée at 12:00/13:00 -

2nd-Lieut W L Harrison, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of La Bassée at 12:00/13:00 -

2nd-Lieut F Belway & 1/AM F Rose, 13 Sqn, Albatros Scout captured south of Feuchy at 12:15/13:15 - 2nd-Lieut F Belway and 1st/A.M. P Rose, No 13 Squadron, whilst on artillery observation, shot down an enemy scout, which landed in our lines south of Feuchy; Ltn d R Otto Hohmuth, Js23b, Pow

Flt Lieut S W Rosevear, 1N Sqn, Fokker DrI destroyed Bouchoir at 13:15/14:15 -

2nd-Lieut J J Dawe, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control La Fère at 13:40/14:40 -

2nd-Lieut D R MacLaren, 46 Sqn, Hannover CL out of control east of Douai at 13:45/14:45 -

Lieut G D Jenkins, 46 Sqn, Hannover CL out of control east of Douai at 13:45/14:45 -

Capt G E Thomson, 46 Sqn, Hannover CL out of control east of Douai at 13:45/14:45 -

2nd-Lieut D M Clementz, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout captured at 13:45/14:45 - 2nd-Lieut D M Clements, No 24 Squadron, succeeded in shooting down an E.A. which collided with him in the air, and both machines crashed on our side of the lines; Ltn d R Otto Hohmuth, Js23, Pow [?]

Lieut H F Davison & 2nd-Lieut J L Morgan, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Douai at 14:00/15:00 -

Sergt E J Elton & 2nd-Lieut G S L Hayward, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Douai at 14:00/15:00 - Sergt E J Elton and 2nd-Lieut G S L Hayward, No 22 Squadron, shot down an E.A. which was seen to crash near Dechy

Sergt E J Elton & 2nd-Lieut G S L Hayward, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of Douai at 14:10/15:10 -

Lieut J W Wallwork, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north of Lens at 15:20/16:20 – 2nd-Lieut J W Wallork, 2nd-Lieut W L Harrison and Capt I P R Napier, all of No 40 Squadron, each attacked a hostile machine, and in each case shot it down out of control. All three E.A. were reported by ground observers to have crashed - one west of Lens; one north of Lens and one just north of Mericourt

Capt R J Tipton, 40 Sqn, Pfalz Scout captured Lens at 16:20/17:20 - Capt R J Tipton, No 40 Squadron, whilst leading a patrol, observed seven Albatros Scouts. He singled out one of the E.A. and opened fire with both guns; the E.A went down vertically and crashed on this side of the lines; Ltn d R Otto Hohmuth, Js23, Pow [?]

Capt I P R Napier, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-east of Lens at 16:20/17:20 - 2nd-Lieut J W Wallork, 2nd-Lieut W L Harrison and Capt I P R Napier, all of No 40 Squadron, each attacked a hostile machine, and in each case shot it down out of control. All three E.A. were reported by ground observers to have crashed - one west of Lens; one north of Lens and one just north of Mericourt

2nd-Lieut W L Harrison, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-west of Lens at 16:25/17:25 - 2nd-Lieut J W Wallork, 2nd-Lieut W L Harrison and Capt I P R Napier, all of No 40 Squadron, each attacked a hostile machine, and in each case shot it down out of control. All three E.A. were reported by ground observers to have crashed - one west of Lens; one north of Lens and one just north of Mericourt

2nd-Lieut R G Hammersley, 24 Sqn, DFW C out of control east of St Quentin at 16:35/17:35 -

Capt G E H McElroy, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames east of St Quentin at 16:35/17:35 – Capt G E H McElroy, No 24 Squadron, attacked an Albatros Scout and fired 200 rounds from close range. The E.A. went down smoking and before reaching the ground burst into flames

2nd-Lieut P A McDougall, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of St Quentin at 16:45/17:45 -

more to come

Graeme