100 years ago today - 6 June 1918

[Graeme]

THURSDAY, 6 JUNE 1918

Today saw the formation of the Independent Force, RAF, comprising two wings of the 8th Brigade – 41 Wing (Nos 55, 99 and 104 Squadrons) and 83 Wing (Nos 100 and 216 Squadrons). In August 1918, these would be supplemented by Nos 97, 115 and 215 Squadrons (83 Wing) and No 110 Squadron (the sole squadron in the new 88 Wing); No 45 Squadron would be allotted to 88 Wing upon its return from Italy in September.

In his despatch summarising the work of the Independent Force, Trenchard observed: “The total weight of bombs dropped between the 6th June and the 10th November was 550 tons, of which 160 tons were dropped by day and 390 tons by night. Of this amount no less than 220¼ tons were dropped on aerodromes. This large percentage was due to the necessity of preventing the enemy's bombing machines attacking our aerodromes and in order to destroy large numbers of the enemy's scouts on their aerodromes, as it was impracticable to deal with them on equal terms in the air. I think this large amount of bombing was thoroughly justified when it is taken into consideration that the enemy's attacks on our aerodromes were practically negligible, and not a single machine was destroyed by bombing during the period 5th June to 11th November.”

General Headquarters, June 7th.

“Our airmen took advantage of the fine weather on the British front on June 6th to accomplish useful work in reconnaissance and photography, and, together with our balloons, ranged our guns on many hostile batteries. In air fighting, 14 German machines were destroyed and eight others were driven down out of control. Three German observation balloons were also destroyed by our airmen, and another hostile aeroplane was forced to descend by anti-aircraft fire. During the day we dropped 28 tons of bombs and a further 11 tons in the course of the following night. Amongst the targets attacked were Valenciennes, Le Cateau, Busigny, and St. Quentin railway stations. We lost one machine during the day and none at night.”

RAF Communiqué number 10:

Weather fine.

Twenty-two reconnaissances, 14 contact and counter-attack patrols.

One hundred and thirty-four hostile batteries were engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 16 neutralized.

Thirty-seven and three-quarter tons of bombs dropped.

On the 6th instant 76 hostile batteries were engaged for destruction with balloon observation and fired observed on 201 other targets.

Enemy Aircraft:

Enemy aircraft activity slight.

Capt C J W Darwin, 87 Sqn, Rumpler C destroyed Moreuil at 05:50/06:50 -

Capt W A Tyrrell, 32 Sqn and Lieut J W Trusler, 32 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Romagnies at 05:50/06:50 -

Capt P J Clayson, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Ploegsteert Wood at 07:40/08:40 -

Lieut C B Henderson, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Ploegsteert Wood - Armentières at 07:40/08:40 - Vfw Otto Heller, Jasta 40, Kia [?]

Lieut E E Owen, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Armentières at 07:45/08:45 - Vfw Otto Heller, Jasta 40, Kia [?]

Capt P J Clayson, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Armentières at 07:45/08:45 - Vfw Otto Heller, Jasta 40, Kia [?]

Lieut S C Joseph, 210 Sqn, two-seater crashed Neuf Berquin at 07:50/08:50 -

Capt J G Manuel and Lieut W S Jenkins, 210 Sqn, two-seater crashed Doulieu at 08:25/09:25 -

Lieut S C Joseph and Lieut K T Campbell, 210 Sqn, two-seater crashed Vieux Berquin at 08:25/09:25 -

Lieut J H Siddall, 209 Sqn, LVG C out of control Cappy at 08:30/09:30 -

Capt A A N D Pentland, 87 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control Amiens - Cléry-sur-Somme at 09:50/10:50 -

Capt A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Balloon in flames west of Proyart at 10:10/11:10 -

Capt A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Balloon in flames north of Bray at 10:25/11:25 -

Lieut A V Gallie, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control east of Montdidier at 10:30/11:30 -

Capt M Le Blanc-Smith, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII broke up south of Roye at 10:35/11:35 -

Lieut A E Reed, 29 Sqn, two-seater out of control east of Estaires at 10:35/11:35 - Ltn Josef Muller (Kia) & Ltn Christian Klee (Kia), FA 291[?]b [?]

Lieut E A Coghlan & Lieut J L Holland, 27 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roye at 10:45/11:45 -

Lieut S W Taylor & Lieut W G Hurrell, 27 Sqn, Scout out of control Roye at 10:45/11:45 -

Lieut D B Robertson & Sergt S B Percival, 27 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roye at 10:45/11:45 -

Lieut F G Powell & Sergt V Cummins, 27 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roye at 10:45/11:45 -

2nd-Lieut E W Lindeberg, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Moreuil at 11:30/12:30 -

2nd-Lieut H D Barton, 24 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Moreuil at 11:30/12:30 -

Capt C N Lowe, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed south of Mezieres at 11:45/12:45 -

Capt E Mannock, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Ypres at 15:40/16:40 -

Capt J S Stubbs & 2nd-Lieut C C Dance, 2nd-Lieut C H Heebner & 2nd-Lieut W R Henderson, 2nd-Lieut C H Henderson & 2nd-Lieut C E Eddy and Lieut I W Leiper & Pte J Buffery, 103 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Fretoy at 16:20/17:20 -

Capt J S Stubbs & 2nd-Lieut C C Dance, 2nd-Lieut C H Heebner & 2nd-Lieut W R Henderson, 2nd-Lieut C H Henderson & 2nd-Lieut C E Eddy and Lieut I W Leiper & Pte J Buffery, 103 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Fretoy at 16:20/17:20 -

Lieut H G Watson, 4 AFC, Balloon in flames north of Sailly at 16:30/17:30 -

Capt W H Hubbard, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Champien at 17:10/18:10 -

Capt J D de Pencier, Capt G B Irving, Lieut C V Gardner and Lieut F McQuistan, 19 Sqn, DFW CV out of control Vieux Berquin at 17:15/18:15 -

Lieut C J Venter, 29 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Estaires - Bailleul at 17:55/18:55 -

Lieut B R Rolfe, 29 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames west of Armentières - Estaires at 18:00/19:00 - Ltn Karl Mendel, Jasta 18, Kia

Lieut E Osborne, 29 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Armentières - Estaires at 18:00/19:00 -

Lieut C H R Lagesse, 29 Sqn, Fokker DVII captured north of Hazebrouck at 18:10/19:10 - Ltn d R Hans Schulz, Jasta 18, Pow, G/2Bde/14

Lieut A E Reed and Lieut C G Ross, 29 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed north-west of Estaires at 18:10/19:10 -

Capt W A Tyrrell, 32 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Montdidier at 18:45/19:45 -

Lieut P Hooper, 32 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Montdidier at 18:45/19:45 -

Capt W A Tyrrell, 32 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Montdidier at 18:50/19:50 -

Lieut A A Callender, 32 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Montdidier at 19:00/20:00 -

Patrol of 74 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed west of Roulers at 19:20/20:20 -

Capt E Mannock, Capt A C Kiddie, Capt W E Young and Lieut H G Clements, 74 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed west of Roulers at 19:45/20:45 -

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut D B Robertson (Wia), 27 Sqn RAF, DH4 – combat?

Maj G D Hill (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut C H F Nesbit (Wia), 27 Sqn RAF, DH4 B2071 - force landed Beauvais after being shot about by large number of E.A. on return from bombing Flaby

Lieut L F Cunningham (Kia) & Lieut W J Stockins (Kia), 27 Sqn RAF, DH4 B2080 – took off 08:20/09:20 and last seen west of Chaulnes under control during bombing

Three credited victories:

Ltn Oliver von Beaulieu-Marconnay, Js15, 2nd victory [Assainvillers at 10:05/11:05]
Ltn Georg von Hantelmann, Js15, 1st victory [Ferrières at 10:40/11:40]
Ltn Joachim von Ziegesar, Js15, 1st victory [Magnelay at 10:40/11:40]

Lieut A V Gallie (Ok), 73 Sqn, Camel D6504 – took off 09:45/10:45 then badly shot up in fight with E.A. on offensive patrol east of Montdidier

Lieut H M Golding (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut A J Bridge (Ok), 59 Sqn, RE8 D4812 – took off 15:55/16:55 then extensions came off after hit by A.A. fire while diving on party of machine gunners and crashed on landing during patrol Sh57d.NE.F.20.d central [west of Beaumont-Hamel]

Lieut R E L MacBean (Ok), 32 Sqn, SE5a C1791 – took off 18:00/19:00 then badly shot about by E.A. in combat on offensive patrol Montdidier - Lassigny, returned aerodrome 18:50/19:50

Three credited victories:

Ltn d R Josef Veltjens, Js15, 16th victory [south-west of Montdidier at 18:50/19:50]
Ltn Oliver Frhr von Beaulieu-Marconnay, Js15, 3rd victory [south-west of Montdidier at 18:50/19:50]
Offz Stv Johannes Klein, Js15, 9th victory [south-west of Montdidier at 18:50/19:50]

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Other Jasta claims this date:


Ltn Friedrich Friedrichs, Js10, balloon, La Fontaine-Crois, 0725hrs, 9th victory.

Ltn Heinrich Otto, Js10, balloon, Villers Cotterets, 0750hrs, first victory. French 43e Cie d'A., Adj Etienbied unharmed.

Ltn Ernst Udet, Js4, Spad, S Faverolles, 1140hrs, 27th victory. JWC has 27 Sqn RAF.

Ltn Erich Spindler, Js18, SE5, no location, 1855hrs, unconfirmed.

Ltn Hebler, Js18, SE5, no location, 1855hrs, unconfirmed.

OfStv Josef Mai, Js5, SE5, Hebuterne, no time, unconfirmed.


Jasta losses:

Ltn Heinrich Otto (1 victory), Js10, severely WIA, 0750hrs during balloon attack, Villers Cotterets.

Ltn Fritz Kieckhafer (8 victories), Js29, DOW at Gondecourt, hit by phosphorus bullet on 4 May. ATL has DOW on 7 June.

Ltn Karl Becker, Js61, in flames, KIA, in combat with Spads at Fretoy.


Tony

[James A. Pratt III]

NB
bomb ops Calais, Dunkirk, Coudekerque, Bellis-Belleville
loss 5 aircraft air combat 4 MIA and 2 balloons
claim 15 aircraft and 3 balloons

5 GP
214 Sqn bombs Zeebrugge and 214 Sqn bombs Zeebrugge and Bruges

5/6 EA attacked Aerodromes at Bergues, Coudekerque, petite Synthe and capelle casualties: 1 Officer and 4 ORs killed 1 Officer and 7 ORs WIA.
machines wrecked 2 BR Camels 1 DH 4 eagle and 2 DH9s
slightly damaged 10 BR camels, 9 DH 4s 11 DH 9s 3 HPs 4 FE2bs
hangers 2 completely burnt 1 wrecked (few serviceable parts)

FASWC
balloon claims
SLt de Guingand & Adj Montrion Spa 48
MdL Cardon 7 Sgt rousselle Spa 81 (notes BZ 45)
Sgt rousselle Spa 81
S/lt Haegelen Mdl Schster 7 Sgt Ouizille Spa 100
Escad GC prob

[James A. Pratt III]

FASWC casualties
Sgt Louis Durin Spa 92 (P) MIA IV Armee Spad XIII
Sgt Jean Bouilliant Spa 69 (P) MIA X Armee Spad VII probably by J 15
Mdl Picinbono (P) & Lt Digeaux (O) both MIA ? unit IV Armee
Cpl Jean Vaivre Sal 275 (G) KIA
Adj rene Pascaud spa 158 (P) WIA III Armee Spad
Asp Valtier sal 104 (O) WIA (Nancy area)
S/lt Rivier sop 55 (O) WIA (Sossions area)
q/Lt Charles L Miller sop 251 (O) WIA (11CA)

two balloons in the Picardie Sector were attacked but not flamed J 10

[James A. Pratt III]

CGAS killed
Uffz Willi Marth (?) & Gefr Julius Withenius (?) SS #* German 18 Armee Frenchies
Ltn Richard Geuer (O) FA 36 Maas-Ost

other
gefr Pruser SS 2 WIA (air combat German 1 Armee (FAS?)
Uffz Kath (P) & Uffz (G) SS 17 both WIA air combat German 2 Armee (RAF?)
Ltn Saschinski FA 5 WIA (combat)
Uffz Stromer (P) FAA 234 WIA
Sgt Karl Drescher (P) FAA 239 IIC
Ltndr Taumer (P) & LtndR Ottmer (O) FAA 277 both POW
Ltndr Hein RHBZ C WIA (most likely AA C FAS?)

[James A. Pratt III]

Ooops! Marth and Withenius should be SS 38

[James A. Pratt III]

frontflieger fatality not in CGAS
Lftsch Stefan Zblocki BZ 39 Sapicourt