100 years ago today - 13 June 1918

[Graeme]

THURSDAY, 13 JUNE 1918

General Headquarters, June 14th.

“On June 13th low clouds and poor visibility impeded work in the air, but our machines took advantage of spells of clearer weather to observe for artillery fire, and to carry out numerous patrols and reconnaissances. Nine tons of bombs were dropped by us on Zeebrugge Mole, Armentieres and Comities stations, and on targets in the French battle area. Ten hostile aeroplanes were destroyed during the day, and two driven down out of control. A German balloon was brought down in flames. We lost five machines. Heavy mists prevented flying at night."

RAF Communiqué number 11:

Weather, cloudy; visibility poor.

Twenty-nine reconnaissances, 19 contact and counter-attack patrols.

Sixty-two hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 13 neutralized, 79 zone calls sent.

Nine and a half tons of bombs dropped.

On the 13th instant, five hostile batteries were engaged for destruction with balloon observation and fire observed on 28 other targets.

Enemy Aircraft:

Inactive, except for a brief spell on the Third Army front.

Capt J D Belgrave, Lieut R G Lewis and Lieut H A Gordon, 60 Sqn, E1261, two-seater crashed east of Albert at 04:45/05:45 - ooc ?

Capt A Claydon, 32 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Couchy at 06:00/07:00 -

Capt G A H Pidcock and Lieut E R Trendell, 73 Sqn, two-seater crashed south of Thiescourt at 07:30/08:30 -

Capt A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Balloon in flames east of Contoire at 08:00/09:00 -

Lieut P T Iaccaci & Lieut W Noble, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control [by Iaccaci] north-north-west of Armentières at 08:00/09:00 -

Capt W Beaver & Sergt E A Deighton, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-west of Armentières at 08:00/09:00 -

2nd-Lieut H C Daniel, 43 Sqn, E.A. crashed Ribécourt at 08:15/09:15 -

Capt H R de Wilde, 201 Sqn, LVG C crashed Tilloy (south-east of Arras) at 08:15/09:15 -

Capt C F King, 43 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed north-east of St Amand at 08:40/09:40 -

Lieut C C Banks, 43 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Ribécourt at 08:40/09:40 -

Lieut W G Claxton, 41 Sqn, DFW C crashed Bois de Champien at 09:50/10:50 -

Lieut S Carlin, 74 Sqn, DFW C crashed south-east of Zillebeke Lake at 10:15/11:15 -

Lieut F R McCall and Lieut J S Turnbull, 41 Sqn, DFW C crashed east of Montdidier at 10:35/11:35 -

Capt W O Boger, 56 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Le Sars at 11:15/12:15 -

Capt W H K Copeland, 56 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Le Sars at 11:15/12:15 -

Lieut C B Stenning, 56 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Le Sars at 11:30/12:30 -

Lieut A W Chadwick, 80 Sqn, Scout out of control Dreslincourt at 18:45/19:45 -

Capt P J Clayson, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Passchendaele at 20:25/21:25 -

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut W Legge (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut A McKenzie (Kia), 55 Sqn IF, DH4 A7466 - last seen going down under control near Treves during bombing; believed shot down in flames; Vzfw Kurt Handrock, Kest 2, 2nd victory [south-east of Trier, no time] ?

2nd-Lieut C B Stenning (Ok), 56 Sqn, SE5a C9566 - force landed 57d.O.7 central [near Hebuterne] after being badly shot about on Offensive Patrol

2nd-Lieut C J Bayly (Wia), 103 Sqn RAF, DH9 – combat?

2nd-Lieut W J Rivett-Carnac (Wia) & 242568 Pte2 W E Flexman (Wia, Dow), 104 Sqn, DH9 C6267 - wounded in combat during bombing, force landed near Toul on day bombing raid Hagondange; Ltn d R Heinrich Zempel, Js65, 1st victory [Ückingen at 11:45/12:45] ?

Capt J D Belgrave MC (Kia), 60 Sqn RAF, SE5a D5988 – took off 04:14/05:15 and last seen 4 miles east of Albert 04:45/05:45 on tail of enemy 2-seater on patrol; ground fire

2nd-Lieut R G Lewis (Pow), 60 Sqn, SE5a C9498 – took off 04:15/05:15 and seen to land with engine trouble between Ablaincourt and Chaulnes 05:00/06:00 on offensive patrol

Lieut E T S Kelly (Kia), 1 Sqn RAF, SE5a B8508 – took off 07:48/08:48 and last seen landing south of Laventie 08:50/09:50 after aerial combat on offensive patrol; Ltn d R Otto Creutzmann, Js43, 5th victory [south-west of Aubers at 08:50/09:50] ?

1st Lieut H H Gile (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut E M Nicholas (Pow), 49 Sqn RAF, DH9 D1723 – took off 10:55/11:655 and last seen going down under control near Orvilliers during bombing

Lieut C R Hall (Pow), 85 Sqn RAF, SE5a B7830 – took off 17:20/18:20 and last seen between Ypres and Baillieul 18:55/19:55 at 8,000 feet on offensive patrol

Graeme