100 years ago - the missing months, 12 July 1916

[Graeme]

WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 1916

RFC Communique No 43:

Hostile aeroplanes displayed no activity, and no combats took place.

A great deal of counter battery was done by the 4th Brigade. Thirteen hostile batteries were silenced. In the 3rd Brigade two hostile batteries were engaged and one silenced by 8 Sqn.

Altogether 51 targets were engaged with aeroplane observation and 18 by kite balloon observers.

The machines of the 1st Brigade again carried out a series of successful night bombing attacks against various points of military importance in the enemy's lines. At least 8 searchlights endeavoured to locate our machines, and though they sometimes found them, they were unable to keep them in their rays. The machines were subjected to inaccurate anti-aircraft fire.

On the night of 11th/12th July 18 Sqn (F.E.2bs) made 8 flights, dropping 52 bombs on La Bassee, Douvrin, Pont a Vendin, Lens, Avion, Vimy, Sallaumines, and Henin Lietard. Observers were carried.

Six searchlights were successfully engaged with bombs or machine-gun fire. In one case Lieut G. N. Teale, pilot, and 2nd-Lieut A. G. A. Davis, observer, extinguished a searchlight near Harnes, from a height of 300 feet in spite of being caught in the beam and being met with heavy rifle fire. The observer fired at the searchlight with his machine-gun until it was extinguished.

No claims or casualties.

Graeme