Army Co-Op Hall of Fame

Several posts have lately acknowledged the greater significance of army cooperation aviation as opposed to fighter pilots. I propose to nominate a gentleman to the (newly created) Army Cooperation Aviation Hall of Fame (First World War Division) and invite suggestions respecting other such personnel, whatever air force. However, I would recommend omission of such individuals as Alan McLeod or F.H. McNamara; Victoria Crosses notwithstanding, their exploits did not focus upon their most essential work - that of assisting in the land battle. As the first member of the ACAHF (1) I propose:

Basil Everard CATCHPOLE, No.21 Squadron and "L" Flight. Some of his career (which included receipt of an MC, DFC and Croix de Guerre) may be read at http://www.airforce.ca/citations/wwi/index...tm. Public Record Office Air/1255/204/8/39 has the recommendation for his MC as of 23 May 1918 and the original recommendation for his DFC dated 20 August 1918. Both are enormously more detailed than the published citations. One incident alone, mentioned in the MC recommendation, is a measure of the man:

"On the 20th May 1918 he left the ground in the dark at 3.15 a.m. on artillery patrol between Calonne sur la Lys and Lacon, and located accurately 20 hostile batteries. The majority of these were new positions and in most cases he pin-pointed each gun separately, and altogether brought back very valuable information. This flight was undertaken at a very low altitude under heavy anti-aircraft and machine gun fire."

Another incident mentioned (also in the MC recommendation) was described as follows:

"On the night of the 1st February 1918, he went up in a storm and dropped twelve bombs on Oostnieukerke. No other machine crossed the lines this night."

Those with access to RAF Communiques may read more of Captain Catchpole under dates of 26 May, 1 June, 9 June, 18 July, 14 August, 16 September and 29 September 1918.

Bravo Hugh!

Notwithstanding the bravery and skill of the scout/fighter pilots lauded in this Forum we tend to forget the thousands of other aircrew who fought in the Great War in less spectacular fashion.

I have said before that ultimately the fighter pilot's job was to allow his recce machines to look at the other side of the lines and stop the other side looking at his side.

As well as individuals Forumites might like to nominate squadrons as well. I know very little about the German aspects of this sort of aviation during the Great War and will look on with interest.

Just for the the record I'd like to nominate 3AFC as the best Corps squadron on the Western Front and 1AFC as being the most effective squadron in the Middle East (and not for their aerial victories but more for their influence on the campaign as a whole by their strategic recon and photography).

Okay guys I know I'm being parochial but I am proud to be an Aussie! ; )

At the risk of being highly parochial;

3 Sqn AFC had the aircraft that did the most hours over the lines, the RE8, A4397 "Sylvia" completing 440 hours over the lines in 147 flights.

3 Sqn, or Wackett in particular devised the parachute drop for ammunition which was used in the Battle for the village Hamel, with RE8 aircraft of 3 AFC and 9 RAF being used.

Added to that, they not only did the Co-op side but contributed to air superiority as well, "June 9th, 1918 : Lts R.C. Armstrong and F.J. Hart, 3 Sqn AFC, on returning from the line had their attention attracted by anti-aircraft bursts to an EA two seater which was making for the line. Lt Armstrong cut the EA off and by skillful manouevring forced it to land intact on his own aerodrome."

and

"Lts A.E. Grigson and H.B. James, 3 Sqn AFC, while on an artillery patrol observed two of our balloons shot down by an enemy scout, at which they dived. Lt Grigson having fired 150 rounds in bursts, turned away, allowing Lt James to fire 100 rounds into the EA, which they followed down to within 200 feet of the ground, where they saw it crash."

The latter similar in outcome and circumstance to what would happen nearly 22 years later on Dec 26th, 1942 when the crew of F/Lt J. Archer and Sgt J Coulston shot down a Zeke near Gona in a No.4 Sqn RAAF Wirraway. Probably a worse mismatch than an RE8 vs Albatros.

For the one operation that deserves ot be in a hall of fame, 1 Sqn AFC in Palestine and the photographing of a strip of Turkish territory 32 miles deep from the Turkish frontline covering approx. 620 square miles. The task was completed in a fortnight by five machines. On one occasion, Lt L.T.E. Taplin's camera broke and he dismantled the camera to fix it, flying with his kness when he was attacked from behind by an Albatros of Jasta 1F. Taplin turned to engage it and his gun jammed after one shot from the cold at 12,000 feet. he cleared the stoppage but the Albatros had turned ot get underneath him, Taplin managed to get behind the tail of the Albatros and fire again, the Albatros dove away. Taplin mended his camera and continued photographing. Taplin claimed a DD from the engagement.



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At the risk of being highly parochial;

3 Sqn AFC had the aircraft that did the most hours over the lines, the RE8, A4397 "Sylvia" completing 440 hours over the lines in 147 flights.

3 Sqn, or Wackett in particular devised the parachute drop for ammunition which was used in the Battle for the village Hamel, with RE8 aircraft of 3 AFC and 9 RAF being used.

Added to that, they not only did the Co-op side but contributed to air superiority as well, "June 9th, 1918 : Lts R.C. Armstrong and F.J. Hart, 3 Sqn AFC, on returning from the line had their attention attracted by anti-aircraft bursts to an EA two seater which was making for the line. Lt Armstrong cut the EA off and by skillful manouevring forced it to land intact on his own aerodrome."

and

"Lts A.E. Grigson and H.B. James, 3 Sqn AFC, while on an artillery patrol observed two of our balloons shot down by an enemy scout, at which they dived. Lt Grigson having fired 150 rounds in bursts, turned away, allowing Lt James to fire 100 rounds into the EA, which they followed down to within 200 feet of the ground, where they saw it crash."

The latter similar in outcome and circumstance to what would happen nearly 22 years later on Dec 26th, 1942 when the crew of F/Lt J. Archer and Sgt J Coulston shot down a Zeke near Gona in a No.4 Sqn RAAF Wirraway. Probably a worse mismatch than an RE8 vs Albatros.

For the one operation that deserves ot be in a hall of fame, 1 Sqn AFC in Palestine and the photographing of a strip of Turkish territory 32 miles deep from the Turkish frontline covering approx. 620 square miles. The task was completed in a fortnight by five machines. On one occasion, Lt L.T.E. Taplin's camera broke and he dismantled the camera to fix it, flying with his kness when he was attacked from behind by an Albatros of Jasta 1F. Taplin turned to engage it and his gun jammed after one shot from the cold at 12,000 feet. he cleared the stoppage but the Albatros had turned ot get underneath him, Taplin managed to get behind the tail of the Albatros and fire again, the Albatros dove away. Taplin mended his camera and continued photographing. Taplin claimed a DD from the engagement.



cam

To another theatre,
The siege of Kut....

Nine air mechanics of the Australian Half Flight trapped in the besieged town erected mills for grinding wheat, one of the original Half Flight pilots Captain Petre, now seconded to the RFC squadron, helped in dropping over 5 tons of grain, medical supplies and even millstones.

Considering that they were flying mainly BE's or a MF7, ranks it among one of the most remarkable efforts of the war. Although Kut was lost, mainly due to the fact that Tonwnsend was a bungler, this still was a supreme effort.

Andrew, any recognition by way of awards to these gentlemen ? I note at least one "Canadian" (by virtue of a brief pre-war spell of education here) was also involved at Kut. The following from the RCAF Association website mentioned in my first post:

DAVIDSON, Captain Donald Alastair Leslie - Military Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 22 June 1916; citation published in London Gazette dated 27 July 1916. Born 1891; educated in England and page of honour to Edward VII, 1902-1907. Studied at McGill University (mechanics or engineering), 1908-1911 and worked in the Far East in the employ of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Obtained Royal Aero Club Certificate No.1201, 30 April 1915. Appointed Flying Officer and 2nd Lieutenant, 22 July 1915. Posted to Egypt and Mesopotamia; on 26 April 1916, flying an unarmed BE.2c, badly wounded in a fight with a Fokker while dropping supplies to besieged Kut (The War in the Air, Volume V, p.280); awarded Military Cross as a result. Invalided to England; killed in action 30 April 1917. Most information from AEROPLANE, 30 May 1917.

"For conspicuous gallantry and determination. When attacked by an enemy fighting scout his machine was heavily damaged, the controls being shot away, and he himself being wounded in three places. He succeeded, however, with great skill in reaching his aerodrome and landing safely, after which he had to be lifted out and carried to hospital."

I would not be so chauvanistic as to include this man in an "Army Co-Op Hall of Fame" (at least not yet) - but the place is not exactly filling up in a hurry, is it ?

G'day Hugh,
The nine Air Mechanics were all captured by the Turks when Kut fell, only 2 survived their captivity. As far as I know none of these men were recognised by an award. AM William Lord one of the men, was a relative of mine, and I have found no mention of awards of any kind for this action in his service records.

As for Captain Petre, he was awarded a DSO and MC during the course of the war but I am not sure that this action saw him decorated.

Andrew.