100 years ago today - 29 June 1918

[Graeme]

SATURDAY, 29 JUNE 1918

Air Ministry, June 29th, 10.30 p.m.

“On the 29th inst. the Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik at Mannheim, in spite of adverse weather conditions, was very successfully attacked. Many heavy bombs were dropped, and six bursts were observed on the factory. Our formation was attacked over the objective by five hostile machines. Three of these were driven down, two of which were out of control. All our machines returned safely.”

RAF Communiqué number 13:

Weather fine, visibility not good.

Thirty reconnaissances, five contact and counter-attack patrols.

Fifty-four hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and seven neutralized. Thirty-five zone calls sent.

Thirty tons bombs were dropped.

On the 29th instant, 20 hostile batteries engaged with balloon observation and fire observed on 40 other targets.

Enemy Aircraft:

Activity was not great.

Hostile machines were brought down by the following:- Capt A H Cobby, 4th Squadron, A.F.C.; Lieut R King, 4th Squadron, A.F.C.; Capt G C Maxwell, No 56 Squadron; Lieut W R Irwin, No 56 Squadron; Lieut F R McCall, No 41 Squadron; Lieut S A Puffer, No 41 Squadron; Capt J Gilmour, No 65 Squadron; Lieut K B Conn and 2nd Lieut B H Smyth, No 88 Squadron; Lieut A Williamson and Aerial Gunner E Hoare, No 88 Squadron; a patrol of No 23 Squadron (1); Lieut W C Lambert, No 24 Squadron; Lieut W G Claxton, No 41 Squadron; Lieut W E Shields, No 41 Squadron; Capt J E Drummond and 2nd Lieut J A Galbraith No 48 Squadron; Lieut E D Asbury and 2nd Lieut W N Hartley, No 49 Squadron; Capt J I T Jones, No 74 Squadron; Lieut R J Cullen and 2nd Lieut E H Ward, No 88 Squadron; a patrol of No 88 Squadron (1); Lieut W A Wheeler and 2nd Lieut T S Chilton, No 88 Squadron; Capt R M Foster, No 209 Squadron; Capt H A Patey, Lieut W W Gyles, No 210 Squadron (1); Lieut S C Joseph, No 210 Squadron

Lieut R Manzer, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south-east of Wiencourt at 08:45/09:45 -

Capt J T Morgan, 70 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Irles at 09:20/10:20 -

Lieut K B Watson, 70 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Irles at 09:20/10:20 -

Lieut G C Morris, 70 Sqn, Albatros out of control Irles at 09:20/10:20 -

Capt A B Fairclough, Dolphin C8070, Lieut J Adam, Dolphin C8063, Lieut A O Bentley, Dolphin D3715, Lieut Macpherson, Dolphin D3669, Lieut A H P Pehrson, Dolphin C4181, Lieut C C A Sherwood, Dolphin C3903 and Lieut H A White, Dolphin C3786, 23 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Hangard at 10:30/11:30 -

Lieut H E Browne, 65 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south-east of Morlancourt at 11:25/12:25 -

Lieut H Spreadbury, 65 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south-east of Morlancourt at 11:25/12:25 -

Capt J Gilmour, 65 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south-east of Morlancourt at 11:25/12:25 -

Lieut E D Asbury & 2nd-Lieut W N Hartley, 49 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames west of Lille at 14:00/15:00 -

Lieut C P Allen, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control south of Ghistelles at 14:45/15:45 -

Lieut M A Newnham, 65 Sqn, Pfalz Scout destroyed south-east of Bray at 17:35/18:35 -

Capt A B Fairclough, 23 Sqn, Dolphin C8070 and Lieut J Adam, 23 Sqn, Dolphin D3687, Fokker DVII out of control Hangard at 18:30/19:30 -

Capt W Selwyn, 24 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control at 18:30/19:30 -

2nd-Lieut J E A R Daly, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames north of Le Quesnel at 18:50/19:50 -

2nd-Lieut W C Lambert, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north of Le Quesnel at 18:50/19:50 -

Lieut W G Claxton, 41 Sqn, Pfalz Scout destroyed south of Maricourt at 19:15/20:15 -

Lieut W E Shields, 41 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed north-west of Fouquescourt at 19:30/20:30 -

A patrol of No 41 Squadron encountered several E.A. in the neighbourhood of Bray. In the fighting, two hostile machines were brought down

Capt H A Patey and Lieut W W Gyles, 210 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Armentières at 19:30/20:30 – confirmed by 3 other pilots

Lieut S C Joseph, 210 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Armentières at 19:30/20:30 – confirmed by another pilot

Lieut W E Shields, 41 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control east of Fouquescourt at 19:32/20:32 -

Lieut W G Claxton, 41 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Chaulnes at 19:40/20:40 –

A patrol of No 41 Squadron encountered several E.A. in the neighbourhood of Bray. In the fighting, three (?) hostile machines were driven down out of control

Capt J I T Jones, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Comines at 19:45/20:45 -

Capt K R Simpson & Sergt C Hill, Lieut K B Conn & 2nd-Lieut B H Smyth, Lieut R J Cullen & 2nd-Lieut E H Ward and Lieut W A Wheeler & 2nd-Lieut T S Chiltern, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed Ghistelles at 20:10/21:10 -

Lieut K B Conn & 2nd-Lieut B H Smyth, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed Ghistelles at 20:10/21:10 -

Lieut W A Wheeler & 2nd-Lieut T S Chiltern, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames north-north-west of Dixmude at 20:10/21:10 -

Lieut R J Cullen & 2nd-Lieut E H Ward, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed west of Ghistelles at 20:10/21:10 -

Lieut R J Cullen & 2nd-Lieut E H Ward, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control west of Ghistelles at 20:10/21:10 -

Capt R M Foster, 209 Sqn, Fokker DVII broke up Harbonnieres at 20:10/21:10 -

Capt J E Drummond & 2nd-Lieut J A Galbraith, 48 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Hangest at 20:10/21:10 -

Lieut W B Giles, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bailleul - Kemmel at 20:15/21:15 -

Lieut J W Warner, 85 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Kemmel at 20:17/21:17 -

Lieut A S Cunningham-Reid, 85 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Kemmel at 20:17/21:17 -

Lieut M A Newnham, 65 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control ? Guillecourt at 20:45/21:45 -

Capt J Gilmour, 65 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south of Cayeaux at 20:55/21:55 -

Capt E F Peacock, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Dernancourt at 21:00/22:00 -

Capt D V Armstrong, 151 Sqn, LVG C out of control Estrées-en-Chausee at 23:25/00:25 - Whilst patrolling over the lines at night, Capt Armstrong, No 151 Squadron [given as No 101 Squadron in the Communiqué], encountered a large tractor machine, at which he fired several hundred rounds. It went down vertically, but could be followed owing to the visibility

Casualties:

Lieut W F Purvis (Int) & 2/AM L H Locke (Int), 218 Sqn RAF, DH9 C1211 - last seen firing white Very lights and going down in direction of Holland during air raid; anti-aircraft fire

2nd-Lieut G Ballance (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut E G Turner (Kia), 38 Sqn RAF, FE2b B425 – took off 00:50/01:50 then missing from bombing Zeebrugge

Lieut C Eaton (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut E W Tatnell (Pow), 206 Sqn RAF, DH9 C1177 – took off 14:15/15:15 then missing on long reconnaissance

Lieut F P Pemble (Kia), 213 Sqn, Camel D3333 – took off 14:45/15:45 then collided with Camel D3383 at 15,000 feet and crashed near Moeres village on HOP

Lieut F L Cattle (Kia), 213 Sqn RAF, Camel D3383 – took off 14:45/15:45 then collided with Camel D3333

One of these Camels was apparently credited to Ltn d R Anton Wessels, MFJ I, 3rd victory [Nieuport - Ramskapelle, no time]

Lieut B L Lindley MC (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut D Boe (Pow), 25 Sqn RAF, DH4 A7913 - missing during photography Bruges 16:40/17:40

2nd-Lieut J N Gatecliff (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut J Harrison (Kia), 53 Sqn, RE8 D4834 - seen to descend in flames and destroyed by fire on bombardment shoot 19:00/20:00; Ltn d R Heinrich Kroll, Js24, 28th victory [west of Villers-Bretonneux at 20:25/21:25] ?

Capt K R Simpson (Ok) & Sergt C Hill (Ok), 88 Sqn, Bristol F.2B C983 - overturned in forced landing Beveren after petrol tank and landing wires shot through in fight with E.A. 20:10/21:10 on offensive patrol coast – Ypres

Lieut R J Cullen (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut E H Ward (Ok), 88 Sqn, Bristol F.2B D8022 – took off 18:30/19:30 then force landed St Jacques Cappelle 20:10/21:10 after shot in fight with E.A. on offensive patrol coast – Ypres

Four victories over ‘Bristols’ and ‘DHs’ credited:

Ltn d R Theo Osterkamp, MFJ II, 16th victory [Pervyse, no time]
Flgmt Alexander Zenses, MFJ II, 5th victory [south-east of Dixmuiden, no time]
Ltn z S Theodor Lodemann, MFJ II, 3rd victory [no location or time]
Flgmt Clemens Kähler, MFJ II, 1st victory [St Andre – Varsenaere, no time]

2nd-Lieut R P Whyte (Pow), 65 Sqn RAF, Camel B7829 – took off 19:30/20:30 and last seen over Guillaucourt 20:45/21:45 on offensive patrol; Vzfw Max Kahlow, Js34, 6th victory [west of Caix, no time] ?

Graeme

[rexee]

Lieut W F Purvis (Int) & 2/AM L H Locke (Int), 218 Sqn RAF, DH9 C1211 - last seen firing white Very lights and going down in direction of Holland during air raid; anti-aircraft fire

Lt. W.F Purvis (my Grandfather) and fellow pilots of 218 Squadron

[josquin]

Aircrew--23 Squadron:
Lt Kenneth Douglas Macpherson (RAF) born 18 June 1899, at St.Thomas, Ontario, Canada, the son of Archibald & Lilian (McCrone) Macpherson; embarked EF 17 April 1918, to 2ASD 18 April, to 23 Squadron 20 April, wia 5 July, to England 1 August 1918. Emigrated to the United States postwar and died 14 September 1939, at Detroit, Michigan.
206 Squadron:
2Lt Ernest Wilfred Tatnall (not Tatnell)--as per my 26 June post regarding Lts. Eaton & Tatnall.

Josquin

[G Sting]

Originally Posted by rexee

Lt. W.F Purvis (my Grandfather) and fellow pilots of 218 Squadron

And a link to the excellent article Sir Rexee wrote concerning that day's flight.

[MASTIFF]

Jasta claims this date:

Ltn Wilhelm Oberstadt, Js56, SE5, Poperinghe, 1045hrs, 3rd victory.

Ltn Alfred Fleischer, Js17, Spad, Soissons, 1845hrs, first victory. Esc Spa.103.

Gefr Anton Wadowski, Js52, Camel, SE La Bassee, 2010hrs, first victory.

Ltn Heinrich Kroll, Js24, SE5, Villers Bretonneux, 2135hrs, 29th victory.

Vfw Josef Schwendemann, Js41, Spad, Rosnay, no time, 8th victory. Esc Spa.68?

Vfw Alfons Nagler, Js81, Spad, S Bapaume, no time. Esc Spa.68?

Flgmstr Wagner, MFJ1, Sopwith, Leke, no time, 3rd victory.

Flgmt Kulbe, MFJ2, balloon, 6km W Oostkerke, no time, 3rd victory.


Jasta losses:

Uffz Heinrich Piel (2 victories), Js13, in flames, KIA, combat with Spads.

Ltn Heinrich Seywald, CO Js23, WIA, no other info, returned to command 19 July.

Uffz Heinrich Reckendress (TJP has Rechendress), Js56, in flames, KIA, Steenwerk, 2020hrs.

Gefr Friedrich Bar, Js81, KIA, Reims, combat with Spads.


Tony

[regular122]

Lieut James Noel Gatecliff, No 53 Sqdn RAF
b.12 Dec 1898 - d. 29 Jun 1918

Not pictured:

Lieut James Harrison, No 53 Sqdn RAF
b. c. 1891 - d. 29 Jun 1918

Lieut Frederick Phillip Pemble, No 213 Sqdn, RAF
b. 29 July 1899 - d. 29 Jun 1918.
Son of F. A. Pemble of Minnis Road, Birchington, Kent. Pemble is buried in Adinkerke Military Cemetery, Arrondissement Veurne, Belgium; his parents named their home ‘Adinkerke’ in his honor. His diary was still available at auction at Spinks as of May 2018. It includes a fellow officer's final entry of his collision with Cattle.

Lieut Frank Leonard Cattle, No 213 Sqdn, RAF
b. 2 Sep 1899 - d. 29 Jun 1918

Lieut Bryant Lutellas Lindley, MC, No 25 Sqdn, RAF
b. 10 Nov 1898 - d. 29 Jun 1918

[josquin]

Aircrew--53 Squadron:
Referring to Graeme and Steve's posts--
2Lt James Harrison (General List & RFC/RAF) born 1 May 1891, at Blackpool, Lancashire; joined RFC 17 September 1917; embarked EF 12 March 1918; to 53 Squadron 13 March; to be Temporary 2nd Lieut.(Observer) 22 April.
2Lt James Noel Gatecliff (General List & RFC/RAF), born 12 December 1898, at Bingley, Yorkshire; the son of James & Eliza (Sibthorpe) Gatecliff; residence in 1901, Bingley, Yorkshire, and 1911, Woodford, Essex; joined RFC in January 1917; embarked EF 3 June 1918; to 2 ASD 4 June; to 53 Squadron 10 June 1918.
2Lts Gatecliff & Harrison were kia 29 June 1918 whilst flying an artillery observation patrol in R.E.8 D4834.

Josquin

[James A. Pratt III]

NB
bomb ops 28/29 Abbeville, Amiens, Villers-Cottereis, Calais
Loss 1 aircraft air combat 2 MIA
claim 6 air combat 3 by flak

TSTB Mk I has the following B7175,B7200,B7203,B7215, B7274,D1866,D3356,D3364,D3369,D3398,D3407,D3412 Sopwith Camels 213 burnt and destroyed in an enemy bombing raid on Dunkirk

5GP
38 Sqn night 28/29 bombs Ostende and Zeebrugge
218 Sqn bombs Zeebrugge

FASWC

J 81 Baer KIA possibly by Lt Madon Spa 38

Ltn Werner von Bulow & Ltn Graf Bethusy FA 23 both POW FTL Allied lines cause unknown VII Armee area

[James A. Pratt III]

FASWC
casualties
S/Lt Jean Lavergne Spa 87 (P) MIA
Sgt Miniere (P) Sal 74 & Capt Saumande 36 CA (O) MIA Flak VIII Armee
MdL Jean Planiol Spa 68 (P) KIA Spad Paverolles JWC has either J 41 Schwendemann or J 81 Nagler
Lt Eugene Letetllier Spa 152 (P) POW IV Armee escaped 3 July 18 and rejoined Spa 152 probably J 41 Schwendemann (seeabove)
Asp Pierre Cour Sal 52 (O) WIA X Armee Salmson 2A2
Sgt Emile Thuillier (P) & S/Lt Pierre Fine (O) Br 44 both WIA Breguet 14A2

[James A. Pratt III]

FASWC errata the Sal 74/CA 36 crew probably downed by Flak batterie 761

CGAS
Hptm von Brandt (O) FA 23 WIA

J 13 Piel FASWC has him KIA of 30 June
J23 Seyward WIA German 17 Armee area
J 56 Reckendress KIA German 4 Armee area

my not to accurate notes have Ltn E Udet J 4 bailing out this day or the day before