100 years ago today - 18 July 1918

[Graeme]

THURSDAY, 18 JULY 1918

General Headquarters, July 19th.

“On the 18th inst., in spite of very changeable weather, a good deal of work was accomplished by our aeroplanes both in reconnaissance photography and bombing. Much of the bombing was done from a low height, the targets including ammunition dumps around Armentiires and Mericourt the railway stations at Rosieres and Bray, and the docks at Bruges and Ostend. Eight hostile machines were brought down in fighting, and one other was shot down by our anti-aircraft fire. Seven of our machines are missing. During the night our bombing machines dropped eight tons of bombs on the Mons-Valenciennes railway, and an additional six tons on the railways at Courtrai, Seclin, and Lille. Two of our machines failed to return."

Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, July 19th.

“Our bombing squadrons were again active during the night of July 18th-19th. The Benz works at Mannheim, the railway station at Heidelberg, and blast furnaces at Burbach and Wadgassen were attacked. At the Benz works a fire broke out. A hostile aerodrome was attacked, one of the hangars receiving a direct hit. Two trains were hit by bombs, brought to a standstill, and then subjected to machine-gun fire. On the 19th inst. the powder factory at Oberndorf was attacked; bursts were observed on buildings in the factory. All our machines returned safely."

RAF Communiqué No 16:

Weather fine, high wind, some clouds.

Thirty-one reconnaissances, nine counter-attack patrols.

Eighty-three hostile batteries engaged destruction with aeroplane observation, 13 neutralized, 60 zone calls sent.

Fifteen and a half tons of bombs dropped by day.

On the 18th instant, nine hostile batteries engaged for destruction with balloon observation and fired observed on 26 other targets.

Enemy Aircraft:

Activity very slight.

Capt W H Dore & 2nd-Lieut J E Wallace, 107 Sqn, E.A. out of control -

Capt V S Bennett, 80 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control smoking ? south-east of Soissons -

Lieut R K Whitney, 60 Sqn, DFW C crashed Boiry-Notre-Dame at 05:00/06:00 - Vfw Paul Liebau (Kia) & Ltn Wilhelm Bringmann (Kia), FA 208s[?]

2nd-Lieut F C Wilton & Lieut C P Harrison, 98 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Forêt de Fere at 08:00/09:00 -

Capt O C W Johnsen & Capt G H P Whitfield, 98 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Fère-en-Tardenois at 08:05/09:05 -

Capt J K Summers and Lieut K M Walker, 209 Sqn, Albatros C crashed Grivesnes - Plessier at 11:00/12:00 -

Lieut J J Forbes, 43 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed ? Neuilly St Font at 15:15/16:15 -

Capt C F King, 43 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Neuilly St Font at 15:15/16:15 -

Lieut J R Orr, 80 Sqn, two-seater crashed Bois du Hautwison at 16:15/17:15 -

Lieut G L Graham, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed Oulchy-le-Château at 16:25/17:25 - Ltn d R Moritz Waldemar Bretschneider Bodemer, Jasta 6, Kia (?),

Lieut G L Graham, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed Oulchy-le-Château at 16:25/17:25 - Ltn d R Moritz Waldemar Bretschneider Bodemer, Jasta 6, Kia (?),

Lieut I L Roy, 40 Sqn, DFW C crashed south-east Arras at 20:40/21:40 -

Casualties:

Lieut D C Dunlop (Ok) & Lieut G W L Day (Ok), 53 Sqn, RE8 C2345 - shot by machine-gun fire from ground on reconnaissance

Lieut R K Whitney (Ok), 60 Sqn, SE5a B186 – took off 04:00/05:00 then shot through in combat 05:00/06:00 on offensive patrol

Lieut J S Griffith (Inj), 60 Sqn, SE5a D3503 – took off 05:45/06:45 force landed in cornfield near Fortel after main petrol tank hit by A.A. fire on offensive patrol

Lieut W S K Scudamore (Kia), 208 Sqn RAF, Camel E1404 - believed hit by A.A. fire and fell out of control in enemy lines near Merville on wireless patrolanti-aircraft fire

Lieut F N Mollett (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut B Rawlings (Kia), 107 Sqn RAF, DH9 C6252 – took off 06:33/07:33 then missing on bomb raid

Capt R E Dubber (Kia) & Lieut C B Dickie (Kia), 107 Sqn RAF, DH9 D5684 – took off 06:33/07:33 then missing on bomb raid

Lieut F M Showalter (Ok), 17 USAS, Camel D6653 - force landed in 3 feet of water in advance of Belgian lines 09:30/10:30 after magneto cut out on patrol SE of Nieuport

Lieut F J Connelly (Pow), 32 Sqn, SE5a C1830 – took off 11:30/12:30 and last seen near Neuilly apparently under control on offensive patrol

2nd-Lieut W A Anderson (Kia), 32 Sqn RAF, SE5a F6060 – took off 16:15/17:15 and last seen near Grisolles on patrol; Ltn Walter Blume, Js9, 14th victory ?

Lieut R A Vosper (Pow) & Lieut A Smith (Pow), 149 Sqn RAF, FE2b D3779 – took off 22:30/23:30 then missing on bomb raid

Lieut F Kemp (Pow) & Lieut W M F Bayless (Pow) & Lieut G Rose (Pow), 207 Sqn RAF, HP O/400 C9665 – took off 22:51/23:51 then missing on bomb raid Valenciennes - Mons railway

Lieut L W D T Tratman (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut H Bosher (Pow), 38 Sqn RAF, FE2b B431 – took off 23:01/00:01 then missing from bombing Ostende

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Jasta claims this date:


Ltn Erich Lowenhardt, Js10, Spad, Chouy, 0620hrs, 38th victory.

Vfw Friedrich Schumacher, Js10, Spad, Chouy, 0629hrs, 5th victory.

OfStv Gustav Dorr, Js45, Spad XIII, Pernant, 0650hrs, 11th victory.

Flg Johann Schlimpen Js45, Breguet, Montigny, 0700hrs, 2nd victory.

OfStv Gustav Dorr, Js45, Breguet, Montigny, 0705hrs, 12th victory.

Ltn Alois Heldmann, Js10, Spad, Chaudun, 0735hrs, 8th victory. Possibly from Esc Spa.80.

Ltn Bussmann, Js1, Spad, Lechelle, 0810hrs, 3rd victory.

Obltn Hermann Goering, CO JG1, Spad, St Bandry, 0815hrs, 22nd victory.

Obltn Erich von Wedel, Js11, Spad, St Bandry, 0830hrs, 7th victory.

Ltn Eberhardt Mohnicke, Js11, Spad, St Bandry, 0830hrs, unconfirmed.

Vfw Gunther Dobberke, Js60, Spad, La Neuville, 0850hrs, 5th victory.

Ltn Heinrich Maushake, Js4, DH9, SW Authenay, 0915hrs, 3rd victory.

Vfw Franz Hemer, Js6, Breguet, no location, 0915hrs, 15th victory.

Ltn Karl Meyer, Js4, Camel, Mareuil, 0930hrs, 4th victory.

Vfw Willi Gabriel, Js11, Spad, no location, 0950hrs, 8th victory.
Vfw Willi Gabriel, Js11, Spad, no location, 1000hrs, 9th victory.
Vfw Willi Gabriel, Js11, Breguet, Beugneux, 1022hrs, 10th victory.

Ltn Paul Turck, Js21, Spad, S Montgobert, 1120hrs, 8th victory.

Ltn Erich Lowenhardt, Js10, Spad, Grisolles, 1430hrs, 39th victory.

Vfw Willi Gabriel, Js11, Spad, no location, 1530hrs, 11th victory.

Vfw Fritz Jacobsen, Js73, 2-seater, Dormans, 1630hrs, unconfirmed.

Ltn Roman Schneider, Js79, Sopwith, Soissons, 1820hrs, 4th victory.

Uffz Johann Schmidt, Js79, Dolphin, Soissons, 1820hrs, first victory.

Vfw Kister, Js72, Caudron, Neuilly, 1930hrs, first victory.

Ltn Gustav Fradrich, Js72, Spad VII, St Imoges, 1940hrs, first victory.

Ltn Herbert Mahn, Js72, Spad, St Imoges, 1940hrs, first victory.

Ltn Hans von Freden, Js50, DH9, NE Dormans, 2017hrs, 7th victory.

Ltn Karl Bolle, CO Js2, Breguet, Ferte Henelles, no time, 23rd victory.
Ltn Karl Bolle, CO Js2, Spad, Beuvarder, no time, 24th victory. From Esc Spa.159.

Vfw Wilhelm Neuenhofen, Js27, Breguet, W St Crespin, no time, 3rd victory.

Ltn Friedrich Noltenius, Js27, Breguet, Soissons, no time, unconfirmed.

Ltn Helmut Brunig, Js50, DH9, La Magnerelle, no time, 3rd victory.

Ltn Arthur Laumann, Js66, Spad, Billy, no time, 9th victory.

Uffz Berner, Js66, Breguet, no time or location, first victory.

Ltn Arthur Laumann, Js66, Spad, Festigny, no time, 10th victory.
Ltn Arthur Laumann, Js66, Breguet, Villers Cotterets, no time, 11th victory.

Ltn Werner Preuss, Js66, Breguet, Villers Cotterets, no time, 6th victory.


Casualties to follow.


Tony

[MASTIFF]

Jasta losses this date:


Ltn Hermann Bolle, Js2, WIA, Grand-Rozoy, combat with Breguets.

Gefr Ludwig Moller (1 victory), Js10, KIA, Chaudun.

Ltn Kurt Jacob (7 victories), Js36, WIA, combat with a Spad.

Ltn Konrad Schwartz (5 victories), Js66, WIA/POW. DOW 24 August in French prison camp.

Ltn Moritz-Waldemar Bretschneider-Bodemer (6 victories), Js6, KIA Grand-Rozoy. ATL says Adj Lebrand, Br.131, 0835hrs, Neuilly-St Front. ATL says Capt Georges Madon, Esc Spa.38, 38th victory, no time or location. However, FASWC has Madon's claim as an unconfirmed 2-seater on this date, North of Main de Massiges. ????


Tony

[James A. Pratt III]

NB
SF! 3167 kg of bombs dropped this day
claim 39 aircraft 5 by flak 1 balloon
loss 4 aircraft air combat 3 MIA 4 aircraft damaged?

Note this day is when the Allied counteroffensive begins

5 GP
217 Sqn attacks trawler off Ostende
211 Sqn bombs Ostende

FASWC
balloon claims
Adj Hudellet Spa 75
S/Lt Coiffard & MdL Ehrlich Spa 154
MdL Ehrlich & MdL Barbreau Spa 154
S/Lt Gros Spa 154

?? GC prob

J 10 Muller KIA possibly S/lt Chavannes Spa 112
J 6 Bretschneider-Bodemer KIA possibly Lt Thuillier & Lt Fischer, Sgt Jacququot & Adj Lebrand Br 131

[josquin]

Aircrew--
107 Squadron:
Lt Frederick Norman Mollet (Hampshire Regiment & RFC/RAF) born 12 November 1894, Southampton, Hampshire; prewar residence, Portswood, Southampton; joined RFC 12 August 1916; embarked to EF 5 June 1918, to 107 Sqn 6 June 1918;surname is Mollet, not Mollett
2Lt Benjamin Rawlings (RFC/RAF) born 27 June 1891, birthplace not listed; family lived at Chalfont St.Giles, Buckinghamshire; joined RFC 30 January 1918, embarked to EF 5 June 1918, to 107 Sqn 6 June; given the prevalence of men misstating their age to facilitate enlistment, this may be Reuben Benjamin S. Rawlings, whose birth was registered in the 3rd Quarter of 1897 at Buckingham, Buckinghamshire.
Capt Roy Edward Dubber (General List & RFC/RAF) born 31 March 1899, Yarmouth, Elgin, Ontario, Canada; lived in St. Thomas, Ontario before the war; joined RFC18 June 1917; embarked to EF 1 April 1918; to 9 Sqn 1 April 1918, to 107 Sqn 13 July 1918
Lt Cecil Barron Dickie (1/Royal Highlanders Black Watch) born 8 May 1898, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; prewar residence, Peterhead; joined RFC 15 December 1917; accepted as observer on probation 2 December 1917; to 107 Sqn 6 June 1918; RAF records give his birthdate as 1896, the birth registry in Scotland states 1898
208 Squadron:
Lt William Samuel Kemp Scudamore (RFC/RAF) born 14 July 1899, birthplace not listed; prewar residence, Kingston, Jamaica, British West Indies; joined RFC1 August 1917; embarked to EF 22 May 1918, to 208 Sqn 22 May 1918
32 Sqjuadron:
2Lt William Alwin Anderson (General List & RFC/RAF) born 31 July 1888,
birthplace not listed but he seems to be from the United states, as he listed a fiance in New Albany, Indiana and a cousin in Bayshore, Long Island, New York

Josquin

[James A. Pratt III]

Most of the unmatched Jasta claim are in the German 7 Armee sector made against the FAS which suffered heavy losses this day.

J 66 Schwartz POW/WIA 24 Aug 18 DOW could be the claim of ??? (P) Y S/Lt Guiouard Sal 17 EA POW
or Ltn Barber (P) & Uffz Ellert (G) SS 20 both POW (German 3 Armee area

FASWC has:
S/Lt (O) OK 49 Cie d'Aerostiers V Armee probably by J 72 Mann while the JWC has him claiming a Spad(!?)

CGAS
LtndR Hermann Wolff (P) & Gefr Sammet (G) SS 37 both WIA (ground fire)
Ltn Hningen (O) FAA 213 WIA (AA fire)
LtndR Werner Lehmbruch (P) & LtndR Max Busch (O) FAA 224 both WIA
LtndR Pleisser (P) & LtndR Wulff (O) FAA 265 both WIA

[James A. Pratt III]

CGAS
killed
Uffz Kersten Eeg BG 3 Gent
LtndR Horst Fauser (P) & LtndR August Boethin (O) FAA 245 Montider W Hangest sur Somme
Flg Otto Ziegert (P) & Sgt Heinrich Dung (G) SS 1 Neully (German 7 Armee)
Flg Ernst Stucker (P) FA 7 Rouge de Pont (can't find on map)
LtndR Kurt Loeber (O) FA 39 Saconin et Breuil (W of Soissons) WIA 7 Aug 18 Trelan* DOW
Flg Joesf Kaiser (M) SS (30) Tagnon* (flu)
LtndR Fritz Albert (P) FA 44 Thonne le Pres (50 km N of Verdun)
LtndL Paul Rieck (O) FAA 219 Villers Bretonneux, Perone

[James A. Pratt III]

FASWC
casualties
Sgt Bernhardt (P) & S/Lt L'Etang both MIA Br 210 Bregeut 14A2 3 696 (Verdun area)
Capt Maurice Aron (P) & Lt Harle (O) Br 104 both MIA X Armee Breguet 14B2
Cpl Reby Br 104 (P) MIA Breguet 14A2
1/lt Lawrence d Layton (American Spa 77 (P) KIA (Aisnearea)
S/lt Marcel Gasser Sal 8 (O) KIA ground fire (VIArmee)
S/Lt Pierre Nodet Sal 8 (O) KIA (VI Armee)
Cpl Louis L Byers Spa 38 (P) POW Spad XIII IV Armee
Mdl Glenn Sitterly (P), OK, ?? (G) OK & Sgt Marcel Faivre (G) KIA Caudron GC 15 (Somme area?)
Cpl Georges Cumont Spa 75 (P) Spad VII X Armee
S/lt Jean Debard Spa 82 (P) WIA Spad XIII (X Armee)

[James A. Pratt III]

more FASWC
Mdl Louis Quet (P) OK & S/Lt Merot (O) WIA Spa 266 Spad XI, X ARmee (possibly by SS 37 Uffz Pfraumm & Gefr Flott German & Armee)
Sgt Adrien Pauquet Spa 55 (P) WIA Spad XVI X Armee
S/lt Jean Eteve Spa 42 (O) WIA Spad XIA2 X Armee
S/lt Dupalastre Br 279 (O) WIA breguet 14A2 X Armee
Adj Eugene Lebraud Br 131 (G) WIA (Aisne GB4)
Adj Rene Germain (P) & Sgt Pierre Dionnet (G) both WIA (Aisne GB4)
Sgt Paul Danton (P) OK & Asp Gaston Camot (O) WIA Br 134 flak (Aisne GB 4)
Sgt caccia Br 11 (P) WIA Breguet 14A2 (II Armee Verdun area)
Mdl Mouchot (P) WIA/DOW & Mdl Cirotteau (O) WIA/DOW Sal 105 Salmson 2A2 X Armee
MdL Masurel (P) WIA Lt Lafeuille (O) WIA Salmson 2A2 X Armee

[James A. Pratt III]

more FASWC
errata Masurel & Lafeuille in Sal 8

Cpl Laserre (P) OK & S/lt Alexander Perugia (O) WIA 20 Jul 18 DOW Sal 16 Salmson 2A2 (I Armee)
Adj-Chef Loius Majorel (P) OK & Lt Andre Peronne (O) WIA (III Armee Oise area)
Adj marcel Thierry (P) OK & S/Lt Lavedrine (O) WIA Sal 18 Salmson 2A2 30 CA, VI Armee)
S/Lt Jean Arnoux & S/lt Georges Derre (P) WIA Sal 253 Salmson 2A2 X Armee
1/Lt Floyd evans 88US (P) WIA Salmson 2A2 ground fire
Cpl Border (P) WIA MdL Jus (O) OK V Armee

Lt Jacquart (O) Inj 33 Cie d'Aerostiers X Armee
Lt Brisset & Lt Desbois 36 Cie d'Aerostiers II Armee Observers landed safely (Verdun area)
Lt Clement 86 Cie d'Aerostiers II Armee (Verdun area)
?? (O) OK 76 Cie d'Aerostiers V Armee attacked not flamed 1230 hrs