100 years ago today - 23 September 1918

[Graeme]

MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 1918

General Headquarters, September 24th.

“Overcast and rainy weather continued till late in the day on September 23rd, when conditions began to improve. At night there was a clear sky. Enemy activity in the air was slight and intermittent. Our squadrons persisted throughout the day in their various tasks, including observation for artillery fire. Eight hostile machines were destroyed and three driven down out of control. Four of our machines are missing. In addition, two German machines were brought down by our anti-aircraft batteries. Only 1½ tons of bombs were dropped by us in daylight, but after the moon rose our night-flying squadrons attacked enemy aerodromes, railheads, and hutments with vigour and effect, dropping 17½ tons of bombs without losing a machine.”

RAF Communiqué No 26:

Weather: Overcast, with some rain and strong wind.

Twenty-one reconnaissances, 20 contact and counter-attack patrols.

Six hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 20 neutralized, 104 zone calls sent.

Four tons of bombs dropped by bight and 1¼ tons by day.

On the 23rd instant, three hostile batteries engaged for destruction with balloon observation and fire observed on five other targets.

In spite of clouds and very strong wind, No 207 Squadron carried out a successful raid on Saultain Aerodrome, dropping over three tons of bombs and obtaining a direct hit with one 1,650-lb bomb on a hangar.

Enemy Aircraft:

Activity slight.

Lieut G S Bourner & Lieut F A D Vaughan, 13 Sqn, DFW C in flames Sains-les-Marquions at 08:35/08:35 – Lieuts G S Bourner and F A D Vaughan, No 13 Squadron, attacked an enemy two-seater on which the pilot dived, and then turned, allowing his observer to fire also. The E.A. fell to the
ground and burst into flames

Lieut W E Gray, Lieut M N Hancocks, Lieut C P Sparkes and Lieut A R Talbot, 213 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control east-north-east of Dixmude at 14:25/14:25 - FlgzgObMt Karl Schiffmann, MFJIV, Kia [?]

2nd-Lieut G C Upson & 2nd-Lieut A N Thomson, 42 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Fromelles at 17:20/17:20 – 2nd Lieuts G C Upson and A N Thomson, No 42 Squadron, while on photography, were attacked by eight Fokker biplanes, one of which hit the tank, covering the pilot with petrol. The observer fired 30 rounds at this machine, when his Lewis gun was hit and put out of action; but the E.A,. was observed by another of our machines to crash

Capt G B Gates, 201 Sqn, LVG C crashed north of Bourlon Wood at 17:25/17:25 -

Lieut C K Oliver, 87 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control north-east of Cambrai at 17:45/17:45 -

Capt A W Vigers, 87 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control north-east of Cambrai at 17:45/17:45 -

Lieut R M MacDonald, 87 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed north-east of Cambrai at 17:48/17:48 -

Lieut R M MacDonald, 87 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bourlon Wood at 18:10/18:10 -

Lieut L N Hollinghurst, 87 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed Bourlon Wood at 18:10/18:10 -

Lieut E A Britton & Sergt R S Dodds, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north-east of St Quentin at 18:15/18:15 -

Lieut N S Boulton & 2nd-Lieut H L Edwards, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north-east of St Quentin at 18:15/18:15 -

Lieut N S Boulton & 2nd-Lieut H L Edwards, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north-east of St Quentin at 18:15/18:15 -

Lieut E A Britton & Sergt R S Dodds, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control west of Rouvroy at 18:15/18:15 -

Capt A W Vigers, 87 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bourlon Wood at 18:16/18:16 -

Lieut N S Boulton & 2nd-Lieut H L Edwards, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control north-east of St Quentin at 18:20/18:20 -

Lieut A D Kiernander & Lieut C G Boothroyd, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north of St Quentin at 18:30/18:30 -

Casualties:

? (Ok) & Sergt N C Dodds (Wia), 20 Sqn, Bristol F.2B - combat

2nd-Lieut M P Fraser (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut A Spotswood (Ok) & Sergt T H Barron (Ok), 58 Sqn, HP O/400 D5432 - chased back to lines by 2 E.A. in running combat during night bombing Bac St Maur

2nd-Lieut S H Richardson (Kia), 3 Sqn, Camel F6029 - seen to crash and burst into flames near 57C.K.2.a [east of Boursies] 06:35/06:35 after combat with E.A. on COP

1st Lieut M C Giesecke (Ok), 17 USAS, Camel H7275 - force landed at 12 Sqn 08:45/08:45 due damage from enemy machine-gun fire on patrol

Lieut J Nicholson (Kia) & Lieut B W Wilson (Kia), 20 Sqn, Bristol F.2B E2562 – took off 16:45/16:45 and last seen in vicinity of Villers-Outréaux believed to have gone down in flames on patrol; Vzfw Kurt Ungewitter, Ja24, 4th victory [Levergies at 17:25/17:25] Levergies is south of Villers-Outréaux

Lieut F W Goodman (Wia), 87 Sqn, Dolphin D3741 – took off 16:55/16:55 then crashed near Quéant after longerons and main planes shot through on COP; Ltn d R Fritz Rumey, Ja5, 41st victory [Bussy – Baralle at 18:15/18:15] ?

2nd-Lieut D E Newson (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut G E M Brown (Kia), 42 Sqn, RE8 C2300 - seen to go down in flames Sh36a.N.2.c.2.7 [south-west of Aire-sur-la-Lys] 17:15/17:15 in aerial combat during photography; Ltn d R Hermann Leptien, Ja63, 7th victory [south of Fleurbaix at 17:10/17:10] ?

2nd-Lieut F A Fairburn (Pow), 80 Sqn, Camel F2174 – took off 17:30/17:30 and last seen over Vendeuil diving on E.A. 2-seater on patrol

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Jasta claims this date:


Ltn Oliver von Beaulieu-Marconnay, CO Js19, Breguet, Pont-a-Mousson, 1030hrs, 20th victory. Aircraft of Esc Sal.28.

Ltn Georg von Hantelmann, Js15, DH4, S Metz, 1120hrs, 17th victory.

Ltn Oldenburg, Js22, balloon, Atilly, 1620hrs. 2nd victory. 7th Balloon Coy, USBS.

Obltn Hans von Wedel, Js24, SE5, Villers Outreux, 1620hrs, 4th victory.

OfStv Friedrich Altemeier, Js24, BF2b, Levergies, 1725hrs, unconfirmed.

Ltn Bruno Hobein, Js20, FE2b, no time or location, unconfirmed.


Jasta casualties:


Vfw Paul Farber, Js22, KIA, Sailly. Combat with 87 SQN RAF ?

Ltn Krayer, Js45, severely injured in crash landing, no other info.


Tony

[James A. Pratt III]

NB and BABS
claims 9 aircraft air combat and 1 FTL or 5 aircraft and 1 balloon
losses 1 or 2 aircraft (+?) air combat and 1 balloon

FASWC
casualties
S/Lt Bernard Schroeder SPA 95 (P) WIA
Cpl Alfred h Stanley SPA 23 (P) INJ ( OTF 26-3 and BABS have aircraft badly damaged by German 2 seater)

CGAS
fatalities
Flg Hermann Thorwart FA 13 Arweiler (German 6 Armee OTF 8-3 has KIC)

[James A. Pratt III]

more CGAS
fatalies
Flg Paul Joos (P) FA 46 Briey (NW of Metz AA C)
Sgt Leopold Bach (P) FAA 229 Sailly (BABS has possibly by Gates 201 Sqn)