German "Giant"

[MikeW]

On the 8th March 1918, Flight commander WM Alexander was leading a 10 squadron RNAS Photographic Escort mission, the patrol passed over Ghistelles aerodrome at 1.30pm, where the pilots reported seeing "a giant aeroplane, more than twice the size of a Handley Page, painted yellow".

To my mind, a Gotha or a Friedrichshafen would just not have been big enough. Was it a Zeppelin Staaken that the pilots of 10(N) saw? Does anyone know the colour scheme applied to this particular Giant?

Hi Mike,

In the night of 7/8 march 1918 there were 6 planes that left from Gent airfield. The planes are discribed as Giants in the British text I have on it and they were to go bombing London.

Normally the airfield of Nieuwmunster was used for a stop before flying over the Channel.

It seems that one plane got in trouble, it is even a question if it ever reached the Belgian coast and perhaps made a landing at Gistel airfield. This is probably the one photographed by 10N (Gistel was used by Bogohl I untill january 1918 and I don't know of any new Bogohl units being stationed there afterwards).

Of the five others only three reached London, and bombing resulted in 23 killed and 39 wounded Londoners. In total 29 bombs were dropped that night.

As far as I know, concerning the Staaken R IV in late 1918, did not have any yellow colors, but rather darkish colors on fuselage and wings. However I have to admit that I know very little on colours of these units.

In may 1917 f.e. Kagohl III planes had one very bright colour, as show lots of photo's taken that day at Nieuwmunster airfield it could be a lighter yellow.

Concerning wingspan of the Staaken it was in average the double of the classic Gotha's and Friedrichshafens (and HP). So it should be the only possibility. However what did the British text mean with Giants ? Were all or several planes Staaken or was the plane at Gistel wrongly identified or was there only one of them participating ?

Does anyone know more about the Englandgeschwader planes of that period used at Gent ? I know that they had at least three Staaken in may 1918.
I am also very interested in hearing more about this !

VBR from Johan

[MikeW]

Thanks very much Johan,

It seems entirely logical to me that Ghistelles arerodrome would make an ideal emergency landing area for one of the 6 "Giants" flying from Ghent to London.

What was your reference source, we must be able to pin down the aircraft type and squadron. The RNAS pilots would have been very familiar with Handley Page bombers, so I would be very surprised if they all made a mistake over the size of the Giant. Mel Alexander was very experienced indeed, and had been at the front a long time, albeit with a period of leave.

Regards,


Mike

Hi Mike,

Part of my source is the rather good 'The German air raids on Great Britain' by captain Joseph Morris, published 1925 by Sampson Low, Marston & co ltd. It gives excellent details on the raids on GB by Zeppelin and planes.
I think someone like Peter Kilduff should be able to shed some light on this units colors.

VBR from Johan