100 years ago today - 29 July 1918

[Graeme]

SUNDAY, 29 JULY 1918

General Headquarters, July 30th.

“On the 29th inst. ground mist and low visibility interfered with artillery observation, but our bombing and fighting machines carried out their usual work. Eleven tons of bombs were dropped on enemy dumps and billets, and 14 hostile machines were destroyed with the loss of two of our own machines. During the night, in spite of unfavourable weather conditions, bombs were dropped by us on Bray and Bapaume. All machines returned.”

Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, July 30th.

“On the night of July 29th-30th our machines attacked the at railway stations at Offenburg, Rastatt, and Baden. Stuttgart and Söllingen were also attacked. Three hostile aerodromes and numerous ground targets were bombed, and subjected to machine gun fire. All our machines returned.”

RAF Communiqué No 18:

Weather fair, misty, visibility bad.

Thirty reconnaissances, 10 contact and counter-attack patrols.

Nine hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, five neutralized, 18 zone calls sent.

One ton of bombs dropped by night and 10 tons by day.

Enemy Aircraft:

Active in the north, otherwise quiet.

Lieut R S S Orr, 201 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control ? Bailleul -

Lieut R F McRae, 4 AFC, LVG C out of control east of Armentières at 05:05/06:05 -

Lieut N W R Mawle and Lieut A C Lobley, 84 Sqn, LVG C crashed south-east Proyart at 07:55/08:55 -

Lieut R Manzer and Lieut G A Vaughn, 84 Sqn, Rumpler C destroyed east of Bois de Tailles at 08:00/09:00 -

Capt H W L Saunders, 84 Sqn, LVG C crashed N Bois de Tailles at 08:00/09:00 -

Capt L R Warren & Lieut L A Christian, 206 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Roulers at 08:40/09:40 -

1st Lieut W Chalaire & Pte/1 A E Humphrey, 202 Sqn, E.A. out of control Tervaete at 09:30/10:30 -

1st Lieut W Chalaire & Pte/1 A E Humphrey, 202 Sqn, E.A. out of control Tervaete at 09:30/10:30 -

Lieut C L Wood, 201 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bailleul - Armentières at 11:20/12:20 -

Capt S M Kinkead, 201 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bailleul - Armentières at 11:20/12:20 -

Capt R C B Brading, 201 Sqn, Fokker DVII broke up south-east Bailleul at 11:20/12:20 -

Capt R C B Brading, 201 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Armentières at 11:20/12:20 -

Maj A Coningham and Lieut E Shapard, 92 Sqn, two-seater destroyed north of Estaires at 11:30/12:30 -

Lieut O J Rose, 92 Sqn, two-seater crashed Estaires at 11:30/12:30 -

Lieut G L Graham, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames north-east Soissons at 17:45/18:45 -

Lieut R N Chandler, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north-east Soissons at 17:45/18:45 -

Lieut H A Kullberg, 1 Sqn, Albatros C crashed Steenwerck at 17:45/18:45 -

Lieut O M Baldwin, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control north-east Soissons at 17:50/18:50 -

Lieut W G Westwood & Lieut W Tinsley, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bois Grenier at 18:30/19:30 -

Lieut J P Findlay & 2nd-Lieut R E Hasell, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Bois Grenier at 18:30/19:30 -

Capt A Hepburn & Sergt E Antcliffe, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bois Grenier at 18:30/19:30 -

Capt W M Carlaw, 70 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Armentières at 19:15/20:15 -

Lieut S T Liversedge, 70 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control east of Armentières at 19:15/20:15 -

2nd-Lieut J F S Percival & 2nd-Lieut F J Paget, 206 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed east of Ypres at 19:20/20:20 -

Lieut E A Burn & Capt W A Carrothers, 206 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control east of Ypres at 19:20/20:20 -

Capt L R Warren & Lieut L A Christian, 206 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed north of Menin at 19:20/20:20 and Pfalz Scout in flames north of Menin at 19:35/20:35 -

Lieut G A Pitt & Cpl B Betteridge, 206 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed west of Courtrai at 19:35/20:35 -

A patrol of No 206 Squadron on returning from a bomb raid were attacked by about 20 Pfalz scouts. Capt L R Warren and Lieut L A Christian shot down one E.A. which was seen to crash, and sent down another in flames. Lieut G A Pitt and Corporal G Betteridge also shot down one of them in flames

Lieut A M Phillips & Lieut N S Dougall and Lieut R G Shaw & Lieut V G A Tonge, 217 Sqn, Brandenberg W29 crashed off Zeebrugge at 19:40/20:40 - FlugzgMt Fritz Marschel (Kia) & Oblt Erwin Koch (Kia), SEE I [?]

Lieut R G Shaw & Lieut V G A Tonge, 217 Sqn, Seaplane crashed Zeebrugge at 19:40/20:40 - FlugzgMt Fritz Marschel (Kia) & Oblt Erwin Koch (Kia), SEE I [?]

Lieut H A Schlotzhauzer & Cpl H W Williams, 206 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Ledeghem at 19:40/20:40 -

Maj K L Caldwell, 74 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control east of Dickebusch at 19:45/20:45 -

Capt T P Middleton & Capt F Godfrey, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed south of Gheluwe at 19:50/20:50 -

Lieut T C Traill & Lieut R Gordon-Bennett, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Gheluwe at 19:55/20:55 -

Lieut J H Colbert & Lieut R W Turner, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north-west Wervicq at 20:10/21:10 -

Sergt J J Cowell & Cpl C Hill, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control north-west Wervicq at 20:10/21:10 -

Lieut J B White, 208 Sqn, two-seater out of control south of Estaires at 20:40/21:40 -

Casualties:

Corpl H Williams (Wia) & Sergt L H Rowe (Wia), 206 Sqn, DH9 - shot up on bombing

Lieut R H Stainbank (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut E W Richardson (Ok), 206 Sqn, DH9 F5848 - crashed near Rousbrugge - Haringhe due enemy action during bombing,

Lieut W Schalaire (Wia) & 222927 Pte A E Humphrey (Wia), 202 Sqn, DH4 D8402 - shot up in combat with E.A. Tervaete 09:30/10:30 escorting reconnaissance; Ltn d R Theo Osterkamp, MFJII, 19th victory [south of Oudencapelle, no time] ?

Lieut H J C Spencer (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut T B Lamble (Ok), 2 Sqn, AW FK8 D5021 – took off 10:50/11:50 then hit by A.A. fire and force landed at ALG Mazingarbe 12:45/13:45 during artillery registration,

Lieut E Cotton (Pow), 73 Sqn, Camel D9498 – took off 16:00/17:00 and last seen over Fismes in combat on patrol

Three confirmed ‘Camel’ victories:

Ltn Franz Büchner, Js13, 12th victory [Vénizel at 17:40/18:40]
Ltn d R Theo Osterkamp, MFJ II, 20th victory [Ostende at 18:15/19:15]
Ltn Waldemar von Dazur, Js20,4th victory [Lochean at 19:20/20:20]

Lieut G Cheston (Kia) & Corpl J W Pacey (Pow), 206 Sqn, DH9 B7668 – took off 19:35/20:35 and last seen over Courtrai 19:20/20:20 during bombing; Ltn Friedrich von Roth, Js16, 17th victory [Gheluvelt at 19:35/20:35] ?

Graeme