The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - EATON, Charles "Moth" (1895-1979) OBE(Mil). AFC. MID follow up

16 May 2001, 06:44 PM

Repost with format (I hope)

Hello All I wish to share with you our researching of Charles "Moth" Eaton (1895-1979) OBE(Mil). AFC. MID. Knight Commander-Cross of the Orange Nassau with Swords WW I RAF flying career especially his 29th June 1918 crash/shootdown.

Previously on this forum. Here are 'Moth' Eaton's own words: 'My work was chiefly long range reconnaissance and bombing. This went on until June, 1918, until the 29th, a Saturday morning, when, after carrying out a special reconnaissance of Tournay aerodrome in France, I had engine failure and immediately turned for home. The day stands out in particular. It was clear over the target and as I approached the lines the cloud base obscured the ground at 3,000 feet. On entering the clouds, still making west, they were about 1,500 feet thick and on coming out I found that I was right on top of the end trench lines. (I don't understand 'end trench' - Mitch Note) Whether I was on the German or British side I did not know until I found the aeroplane surrounded by bursting ack-ack, (so any damage could have gone unnoticed - Mitch Note) and in front of me could see the forest of Nieppe which I knew was on the British side. The aeroplane was headed west until it crashed into a shell hole. The plane turned over and I was thrown out. My Observer was under the wreckage and while attempting to get him out some men came running towards the crash. Immediately they were called upon to assist and did so, (I like the way he put that -wait and see...he did not see WHO they were) and it was not until we dragged the Observer from the wreckage that I had another shock in finding that my helpers were Germans. (sorry LOL here) The Observer was not badly injured and we were then taken into the trenches, when it was found that we had come down 800 yards from the British front line and just behind the German first line of trenches.' I'll add this verbal note. He told Charles Junior that the British had the height in their trenches to witness the whole event, and that, once they were safely in the German trenches the British artillery completely demolished the wreckage of the DH9A. Hope you enjoyed that little story. Regards Mitch

Thanks Mitch Really fascinated story...! Further on I can perhaps find some German documents with more complete information(If a remember). There exists(for sure) some documents which could give additional information. Perhaps one of our German Forumites already has some sort of German version..? With the knowledge I have at moment(mostly NB) the DH 9 was probably claimed and confirmed to a Flak unit... VBR Gunnar

We have had an answer, Gunnar, via Dr. Fritz Marktscheffel via Dr. Hubert Stoltz via finally Dr. Fuchs, Archivdirecktor of Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv.

16 May 2001, 06:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mitch Williamson Guest Posts: n/a	Repost with format (I hope) Hello All I wish to share with you our researching of Charles "Moth" Eaton (1895-1979) OBE(Mil). AFC. MID. Knight Commander-Cross of the Orange Nassau with Swords WW I RAF flying career especially his 29th June 1918 crash/shootdown. Previously on this forum. Here are 'Moth' Eaton's own words: 'My work was chiefly long range reconnaissance and bombing. This went on until June, 1918, until the 29th, a Saturday morning, when, after carrying out a special reconnaissance of Tournay aerodrome in France, I had engine failure and immediately turned for home. The day stands out in particular. It was clear over the target and as I approached the lines the cloud base obscured the ground at 3,000 feet. On entering the clouds, still making west, they were about 1,500 feet thick and on coming out I found that I was right on top of the end trench lines. (I don't understand 'end trench' - Mitch Note) Whether I was on the German or British side I did not know until I found the aeroplane surrounded by bursting ack-ack, (so any damage could have gone unnoticed - Mitch Note) and in front of me could see the forest of Nieppe which I knew was on the British side. The aeroplane was headed west until it crashed into a shell hole. The plane turned over and I was thrown out. My Observer was under the wreckage and while attempting to get him out some men came running towards the crash. Immediately they were called upon to assist and did so, (I like the way he put that -wait and see...he did not see WHO they were) and it was not until we dragged the Observer from the wreckage that I had another shock in finding that my helpers were Germans. (sorry LOL here) The Observer was not badly injured and we were then taken into the trenches, when it was found that we had come down 800 yards from the British front line and just behind the German first line of trenches.' I'll add this verbal note. He told Charles Junior that the British had the height in their trenches to witness the whole event, and that, once they were safely in the German trenches the British artillery completely demolished the wreckage of the DH9A. Hope you enjoyed that little story. Regards Mitch Thanks Mitch Really fascinated story...! Further on I can perhaps find some German documents with more complete information(If a remember). There exists(for sure) some documents which could give additional information. Perhaps one of our German Forumites already has some sort of German version..? With the knowledge I have at moment(mostly NB) the DH 9 was probably claimed and confirmed to a Flak unit... VBR Gunnar We have had an answer, Gunnar, via Dr. Fritz Marktscheffel via Dr. Hubert Stoltz via finally Dr. Fuchs, Archivdirecktor of Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv.