100 years ago today - 10 July 1918

[Graeme]

WEDNESDAY, 10 JULY 1918

General Headquarters, July 11th.

“On July 10th seven enemy machines were destroyed by us and six others were driven down out of control. Four of our machines are missing. Heavy showers interrupted progress of aerial observation and photography, but, nevertheless, a good deal of this work was accomplished whenever the sky cleared, and, in addition, 10 tons of bombs were dropped by us during the day on different targets. Rain prevented flying at night.”

Headquarters, R.A.F., Independent Force, July 11th.

“This morning, one of our squadrons bombed the railway sidings at Offenburg. Some good bursts were observed. All our machines returned safely."

RAF Communiqué No 15:

Weather cloudy, with rain storms.

Twenty-seven reconnaissances and 7 counter-attack patrols.

Ninety-two hostile butteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 10 neutralized, 48 zone calls sent.

Three and a half tons of bombs dropped by night and 10 by day.

Night Reconnaissances were carried out by machines of Nos 83, 101, 148 and 149 Squadrons, and night bombing by the last three named Squadrons.

Enemy Aircraft:

Fairly active in the North during the morning; otherwise slight.

Lieut W H Longton, 85 Sqn, Hannover CL crashed Merville at 06:50/07:50 -

Capt W F J Harvey & Lieut G Thomson, 22 Sqn, Fokker DrI destroyed [by Thomson] south-east Lille at 09:15/10:15 and Fokker DrI destroyed [by Thomson] south-east Lille at 09:20/10:20 - a patrol of 9 Bristol Fighters of No 22 Squadron encountered a hostile formation of between 15 and 20 Fokker Triplanes and Pfalz Scouts. Capt W F J Harvey and Lieut Thomson, his Observer, shot down a Triplane and sent another down out of control

Lieut P T Iaccaci & 2nd-Lieut R W Turner, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Zillebeke Lake at 09:20/10:20 and Fokker DVII out of control east of Zillebeke Lake at 09:20/10:20 -

Lieut J E Gurdon & 2nd-Lieut J J Scaramanga, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Armentières - Lille at 09:30/10:30, Pfalz Scout out of control Armentières - Lille at 09:30/10:30 and Pfalz Scout in flames Armentières - Lille at 09:30/10:30 – a patrol of 9 Bristol Fighters of No 22 Squadron encountered a hostile formation of between 15 and 20 Fokker Triplanes and Pfalz Scouts. Lieut J E Gurdon dived one of the Pfalz Scouts and sent it down in flames. Two E.A. then got on the tail of his machine. Lieut J J Scaramanga (Observer) shot them both down out of control, himself being severely wounded

Lieut F G Gibbons & Lieut V St B Collins, 22 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control by Collins Lille at 09:45/10:45 - a patrol of 9 Bristol Fighters of No 22 Squadron encountered a hostile formation of between 15 and 20 Fokker Triplanes and Pfalz Scouts. Lieut F G Gibbons (Pilot) and Lieut V St B Collins (Observer) were attacked by 3 E.A. who got on the tail of their machine. One of these the Observer shot clown out of control

2nd-Lieut R E Meredith, 43 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Laventie at 10:00/11:00 -

Lieut W T Martin & Capt D E Waight, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Lille at 10:00/11:00 - a patrol of 9 Bristol Fighters of No 22 Squadron encountered a hostile formation of between 15 and 20 Fokker Triplanes and Pfalz Scouts. Lieut T W Martin and Capt D E Waight fired long burst at a Pfalz Scout, which went down out of control

Capt V S Bennett, 80 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control east of La Bassée at 10:15/11:15 -

Lieut F C Stanton & Lieut C J Tolman, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed south of Lille at 10:15/11:15, Pfalz Scout crashed south of Lille at 10:15/11:15 and DFW C out of control south of Lille at 10:30/11:30 - a patrol of 9 Bristol Fighters of No 22 Squadron encountered a hostile formation of between 15 and 20 Fokker Triplanes and Pfalz Scouts. Lieut F C Stanton dived on another Pfalz Scout, when five got on his tail, all of which the Observer, 2nd Lieut C J Tolman, engaged, sending one down out of control. Lieut Stanton brought down 2 other machines

Casualties:

Lieut H M Dickinson (Kia) & Lieut M H K Kane MC (Pow), 22 Sqn RAF, Bristol F.2B C795 – took off 07:50/08:50 and last seen over Merville going south on OP

Lieut J Loupinsky (Pow) & 63901 Sergt J R Wright (Pow), 25 Sqn RAF, DH4 D9279 – took off 07:55/08:55 then missing from photographic duty Renaix area

Lieut L L McFaul (Kia), 80 Sqn RAF, Camel D6463 – took off 08:20/09:20 then missing on offensive patrol La Bassée

Lieut C B Ridley (Pow), 43 Sqn RAF, Camel D9500 – took off 08:50/09:50 and last seen east of Lens gliding west apparently with engine trouble on patrol; often said to be Ltn d R Hans Holthusen, Js30, 2nd victory [Kemmel at 10:09/11:09] but Kemmel is much too far north

Lieut J E Gurdon (Wia) & Lieut J J Scaramanga (Wia; dow), 22 Sqn RAF, Bristol F.2B C1003 – took off 08:00/09:00 then damaged in combat with E.A. on OP 09:30/10:30

Lieut R Moore (Ok), 4 Sqn AFC, Camel D6512 - force landed near Robecq 11:30/12:30 after being hit by shell on bombing and offensive patrol

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Jasta claims this date:

From JWC:

Ltn Hans Houlthusen (sic), Js30, Camel, Kemmel, 1109hrs, 2nd victory. *

Ltn Guntrun, Js52, Camel, l'Epinette, no time, unconfirmed. *

* JWC has " 43 or 80 Sqn RAF ."

Ltn Albert Hets, Js37, balloon, S Varennes, 1355hrs, 2nd victory. British balloon 1-19-3 (AR 4).

Ltn Wilhelm Sommer, Js39, AR2, Thillois, no time, first victory.


Jasta losses:

Gefr Paul Gohler, Js3, on a Pfalz D.XII, injured during test flight, Blaise airfield.

Ltn Eberhard Horn, Js3, on a Pfalz D.XII, injured during test flight, Blaise airfield.

Ltn August Hartmann, Js30, lightly WIA, no other info.

Ltn Wilhelm Oberstadt, Js56, severely WIA, left arm.

Flgmt Eduard Schwarz, SFSI (TJP has SFSII), on Albatros D.Va 7322/17, WIA, 1125hrs, Kenberge. DOI 14 July at Blankenberge.


Tony

[Graeme]

Not keen on matching Holthusen's claim with either 43 or 80 Squadron; Kemmel is some 25 Km north of La Bassée (where McFaul went down) and over 40 Km north of Lens (where Ridley was taken prisoner).

Graeme

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Graeme

Not keen on matching Holthusen's claim with either 43 or 80 Squadron; Kemmel is some 25 Km north of La Bassée (where McFaul went down) and over 40 Km north of Lens (where Ridley was taken prisoner).

Graeme

First, thank you, Graeme, for this wonderful series! And to everyone who contributes information for folks like me who don't have the access.

Leonard Lawrence McFaul of 80 Squadron is a distant relation of mine. The story which was printed in the paper on his death is that he was last seen having engine trouble, and that he may have had to force-land. I suppose it's possible that he flew for quite a while after being last seen near La Basee. I had hoped to see something more conclusive in today's dispatches. I will dig up the details if anyone is interested.

[Lamplighter]

Article on L L McFaul, 80 Sqn RAF as noted above.

[Graeme]

Hi Lamplighter

It is not impossible that McFaul flew some distance after last being seen; however, I would have anticipated him flying west, back towards friendly territory, rather than south.

In terms of surviving records, No 80 Squadron is quite poorly served and the squadron history "Strike True" doesn't even mention his loss by name, merely stating The first ten days of July continued on a like note with five more victories recorded - two of them by Whistler - all for the loss of one pilot." He is mentioned only in the casualty listing and then as 'MIA'.

Graeme

[James A. Pratt III]

NB
losses 1 aircraft MIA 1 crash 2 WIC 1 balloon , Flak had 1 KIA 2 WIA
claims 2 aircraft air combat 2 by flak 2 balloons and 6 FTL (these are the 6 B14 of 96 US that got lost ran out of fuel and FTL in German territory

5 GP nothing

FASWC
casualties
Cpl Pichereau RGAe (P) MIA
Lt Didier Daurat Br 134 (P) WIA Breguet 14B2

one might be the J 39 claim

[James A. Pratt III]

CGAS
Ltn (Albert) Hermann (P) SS 24 IIC (Horseback riding accident SF!)
LtndR Hermann Wolff (P) SS 37 WIA

Vfw Jonathan Haegele (P) & LtndR Norbert Fuhrer (O) FAA 255 both KIA Bastieux-Chhatillon in looking at FASWC S/Lt Haegelen MdL Gaudry Spa 100 and S/lt Nuville claim a 2 seater in flames at Baslieux