German unit(s) at Estourmel 20/11/17

[saxon lions]

Earlier in the year I purchased the first edition of the Contact magazine produced by Cross and Cockade which had the article A Camel in Profile'. The article features Sopwith Camel B6385 captured on 20/11/17 and later flown by the Germans after pilot 2Lt. T.J. Kent was forced down when his fuel tank was hit by ground fire and German troops captured him and his machine before he could destroy it.

Apparently Tom Kent along with three other aircraft from C Flight 3 Sqn RFC were assigned to attack the German aerodrome at Estourmel (Estormal?) on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai.

Can anyone confirm if Estourmel was at the time the base of Jasta 5 or which other unit may have been based there during the Battle of Cambrai.

[frontflieger]

Originally Posted by saxon lions

Can anyone confirm if Estourmel was at the time the base of Jasta 5 or which other unit may have been based there during the Battle of Cambrai.

Jasta 5 was in Boistrancourt (from March 1917 - March 1918).

For Estourmel (in November 1917) I have Bosta 22.

"The Jasta Pilots" does not show any Jasta on the aerdrome Estourmel. Perhaps it was used as an "field aerodrome" (Feldflughafen)?

Greetings, Thorsten

[Gregvan]

What the RFC called “Estourmel” was actually the airfield of Jasta 5 at Boistrancourt. Quoting Glen K Merrill’s history of Jasta 5: “No 3 Squadron with their Sopwith Camels were targeted for ‘Estourmel’, in reality Jasta 5 at Boistrancourt…They sent nine Camels against ‘Estourmel,’ Carnieres and Caudry. They lost eight of them, one in air combat, some from anti-aircraft, but most to the weather; three dead and two made POW, the other three pilots surviving and returning, although their aircraft did not…” Oblt. Richard Flashar wrote an evocative account of this day’s events. The heavy fog, mist, and rain had discouraged Flashar from ordering his pilots aloft. However, under orders, and having sighted some dark shapes of RFC planes overhead in the mist, Flashar ordered four pilots (including himself) into the air. Josef Mai got lucky and blundered on to Camel B5159 and shot it down, killing 2/Lt G W Hall.

On this first day of the Cambrai battle, Jasta 5 was the only German fighter squadron in the sector.

[saxon lions]

Thank you both for your rapid and informative replies