100 years ago today - 18 September 1918

[Graeme]

WEDNESDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 1918

General Headquarters, September 19th.

“Enemy aircraft activity was slight on September 18th. Four hostile machines were brought down, and three more driven down out of control. Four of our machines are missing. Our aeroplanes kept in touch with our advancing troops, and assisted the attack by bombing and machine-gun fire, as well as by reporting many targets to our artillery. During the 24 hours we dropped 16 tons of bombs. On September 16th a hostile aeroplane was brought down by one of our anti-aircraft batteries, and on the night of the 17th another enemy machine was shot down by machine-gun fire from the ground. These two German machines are in addition to those already announced as destroyed on the above dates.”

Admiralty, September 18th.

“During the last 48 hours Royal Air Force contingents working with the Navy dropped 13 tons of bombs on Bruges docks and Maria Alter aerodrome. Eleven enemy machines and a kite balloon were destroyed and seven driven down out of control. Four of our machines are missing. A formation of five enemy seaplanes approaching the East Coast was met and engaged by two seaplanes and two aeroplanes. One enemy machine was destroyed, the remainder retiring eastward. Generally unfavourable weather during the period September 8th-15th has restricted operations by Royal Air Force contingents working with the Navy. Several successful raids have been undertaken when the conditions permitted and over 9½ tons of bombs have been dropped on Bruges docks and enemy aerodromes with good results. Eleven bombs were observed to burst on the quays at Bruges, where a fire was started, and hostile destroyers were attacked off Zeebrugge Mole. Uytkerke aerodrome was attacked from a low altitude. One hangar was seen to burst into flames, a hut was demolished, and fires were started among workshops. The activity of enemy aircraft has been below normal, three hostile machines being destroyed and two driven down out of control. Two of our machines have failed to return, but are believed to have landed in a neutral country. Anti-submarine and convoy patrols have been maintained in Home waters, submarines being sighted and attacked and enemy mines located and destroyed.”

RAF Communiqué No 25:

Weather: fair but cloudy.

Thirty-five reconnaissances, 49 contact and counter-attack patrols.

Forty-five hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 19 neutralized, 275 zone calls sent.

Seventeen and a half tons of bombs dropped by night and 14 tons by day.

On the 18th instant, four hostile batteries engaged for destruction with balloon observation and fire observed on 28 other targets.

Enemy aircraft:

Decreased activity.

Lieut G S Hodson, Lieut D S Ingalls and Lieut H C Smith, 213 Sqn, Balloon in flames La Barriere at 10:50/10:50 -

2nd-Lieut H Burdick, 17 USAS, LVG C in flames Rumilly at 11:00/11:00 -

Lieut J W Pearson, 23 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Lihaucourt at 12:15/12:15 -

Lieut J W Pearson, 23 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Lihaucourt at 12:15/12:15 -

Capt C F Falkenberg, 84 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Montigny at 14:00/14:00 -

Lieut M D Willis, 40 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Cambrai at 14:20/14:20 -

Capt H A Whistler, 80 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Pontruet at 14:45/14:45 -

Capt D L Evans, 64 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Havrincourt Wood at 17:30/17:30 -

Capt D L Evans, 64 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control east of Havrincourt Wood at 17:30/17:30 -

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut L C Band (Wia), 40 Sqn, SE5a C5357 - longerons shot through by E.A. on OP Cambrai

Lieut M C Sonnenberg (Wia; dow 19-Sep-18) & 2nd-Lieut J Clarke (Kia), 35 Sqn, AW FK8 F7395 – took off 10:00/10:00 then reportedly brought down in flames at Sh62c.F.25.b central [north-west of Templeux] by E.A. on patrol with camera, observer fell out at 2,000 feet body not recovered; Ltn Sylvester Garsztka, Ja31, 3rd victory [Saulcourt + Epéhy at 11:50/11:50]

Lieut C M Holbrook (Pow), 92 Sqn, SE5a D6971 – took off 09:00/09:00 and last seen descending over other side of lines after hit by A.A. north of Pont-a-Vendin on offensive patrol

Lieut D F Dimsey (Ok) & Lieut R F C Machin (Kia), 3 Sqn AFC, RE8 C2490 – took off 10:00/10:00 then hit by machine-gun fire from ground and crashed into RE7 hangar on forced landing at ALG on contact patrol

Lieut T M Phillips (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut R E Owen (Kia), 103 Sqn, DH9 D5572 ? - last seen to be hit by A.A. and spin down from 15,000 feet north-west of Lille 11:40/11:40 during bombing; also credited to Offz Stv Otto Sowa, Ja52, 4th victory [Lomme - Lille at 11:35/11:35]

Lieut H C Saunders (Kia), 46 Sqn, Camel D9405 - last seen going down in flames east of Hesbecourt 11:50/11:50 from 5,000 feet after combat with E.A. on OP; Ltn Sylvester Garsztka, Ja31, 32nd victory [Lempine at 11:40/11:40]

Lieut A R Strachan (Ok) & Lieut B W Wilson (Ok), 20 Sqn, Bristol F.2B C951 - damaged by enemy action on OP, returned aerodrome 17:30/17:30

Graeme

[josquin]

Graeme,

Lt H.C. Saunders, 46 Sqn, was not the 32nd victory for Ltn Mieczyslaw Sylwester
Garsztka, Jasta 31. Garsztka had 2 victory claims on 18 September, according to his profile on The Aerodrome--a SE5a at Lempine, 11:40 and a DH9 at Saulcourt, 11:50. So much for accuracy of aircraft identification, but Garsztka had 6 victories in all, not 32.

Josquin

[Graeme]

My mistake typing too quickly for my own good!

As you say, Garsztka claimed twice on 18 September, his second and third victories.

I've tended to shy away from quoting the type of RFC/RAF machine claimed since, as we have pointed out, aircraft recognition was, to put it politely, lousy. DH, RE and Bristol seem to have been pretty interchangeable, so I look at times and locations and if the type claimed is of the correct genera, ie a single- or two-seater, make a tentative match.

'Lempine' is undoubtedly 'Lempire', almost exactly half-way between Cambrai and Saint-Quentin and a short way north of Hesbécourt, where Saunders was last seen.

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Other Jasta claims this date:


Ltn Hans Bohning, CO Js79, balloon, Vaux, 1440hrs, 17th victory. British balloon 22-15-5.

Ltn Friedrich Noltenius, Js27, balloon, no location, 1500hrs, 10th victory. British balloon 8-1-1 (AR 37).

Ltn Carl Degelow, Js40, balloon, Poperinghe, 1520hrs, 14th victory. British balloon 36-17-2.

Uffz Karl Treiber, Js5, balloon, Longavesnes, 1540hrs, 2nd victory. British balloon 14-14-5.

Ltn Georg von Hantelmann, Js15, Spad, W Conflans, 1630hrs, 16th victory. Spad XIII #7555, 27th Aero.

Ltn Franz Buchner, Js13, Spad, Chambley, 1725hrs, 30th victory. Spad XIII #15252, 213th Aero.

Ltn Ulrich Neckel, Js6, DH4, Conflans, 1730hrs, 26th victory. Aircraft of 11th Aero.

Ltn Hermann Becker, Js12, DH4, Conflans, 1730hrs, 15th victory. Aircraft of 11th Aero.

Ltn Hermann Becker, Js12, DH4, Conflans, 1730hrs, 16th victory. Aircraft of 11th Aero.

Ltn Hans Besser, Js12, DH4, Conflans, 1730hrs, first victory. Aircraft of 11th Aero.

Ltn Alfred Greven, Js12, DH4, Conflans, 1730hrs, first victory. Aircraft of 11th Aero.

Flg Wilke, Js12, DH4, Conflans, 1730hrs, first victory. Aircraft of 11th Aero.

Ltn Franz Buchner, Js13, Spad, W Chambley, 1730hrs, 31st victory. Spad XIII #4600, 28th Aero.

Ltn Franz Buchner, Js13, Spad, Dampvitoux, no time, 32nd victory. Spad XIII #4512 marked '18', 95th Aero.

Vfw Gerhard Fieseler, Js25, Nieuport, E Cerna-Royka, no time, 18th victory. Serbian Esc 506.

Ltn Fritz Thiede, Js38, FK8, Lake Dorian, no time, 7th victory. 47 Sqn C3590, Lt JA Brandt & 2/Lt H Gerhardt, both KIA.


Jasta casualties: Nil.


Tony

[James A. Pratt III]

NB & BABS
claims 21 or 19 aircraft air combat 9 to 7 ground fire 4 balloons to aircraft and 1 to artillery
losses 4 aircraft and 4 balloons

FASWC
claims:
balloons
Asp Bonneau Spa 48-1
Adj Ehrlich, Adj petit & Sgt Peillard Spa 154-1

Ltn Ernst Hohne & Ltn Ernst Schulz FA both KIA probably 1/Lt Snclair USAS & S/lt Gaudermann Spa 68 (BABS has Luke 27US claim as well)

LtndR Wilhelm Thormann (P) KIA & Ltndr Wilhelm Babatz (O) KIA (probably by Adj E regnier, Lt Fedoroff,, Sgt Lasnes, & Cpl Harvard Spa 89 and Sgt Stanley Spa 23)

[James A. Pratt III]

FASWC
casualties
Adj Jacques Ehrich Spa 154 POW V Armee Spad N 7921 departed 1640 (BB ACES and BABS most likely flak)
Adj Paul petit Spa 154 (P) POW/DOI V Armee Spad n 15060 departed 1650 hrs (BABS most like flak)

BZ 112 balloon burned by 2Lt Frank Luke or joe Werner

CGAS
Uffz Hoppe (P) WIA & Ltn Buchwald (O) WIA FA 17 (AA fire or 17 US Burdick BABS?)
Flg Fackert (P) IIC & ? (O) OK FAA 207 La Ferieres
LtndR Kruger (O0 FAA 211 WIA
Flg Wilhelm Krebs (P) POW & LtndR Alfons Rogier (O) POW FAA 255 (German 7 Armee)Ltn Schulz (O) FAA 269 IIC

[MikeMeech]

Hi

From L-M's 'History':

"On September 15th orders came that a small operation was to take place on the Fourth Army front in a few days time, and consequently 'B' Flight, No. 8 Squadron, and 12 machines of No. 73 Squadron, moved to FOUCAUCOURT on the AMIENS - ST QUENTIN road. Since we had left the Fourth Army fighting opposite CHAULNES and ROYE, they had pushed forward a long way, having taken PERONNE, crossed the SOMME, and when we arrived back, had driven the Germans on to the line held by the Fifth Army in March. The attack on Sept. 18th had as its objective EPEHY, RONSSOY, and COLOGNE FARM & RIDGE, 20 Tanks of 2nd Battalion being employed in the attack. The morning was a very bad one for aeroplane co-operation, there being a thick fog early. Machines left the ground at 8.0 am, but the clouds were very low and it was still very misty, and almost impossible to get any information. However, Lieut. Peffers being determined to find out the exact position of our Tanks and infantry, stayed up 3 hours 30 minutes, flying all the time at about 500 feet, till he managed to see that we had taken COLOGNE RIDGE, and RONSSOY, and EPEHY. He also located a gun East of COLOGNE RIDGE in G3b, which was firing at our Tanks. This he silenced with his bombs and machine guns. On his way back he dropped a message at the 2nd Battalion, giving the exact situation and position of the Tanks. This was the first information received concerning that part of the line that day."

Mike