German flight attacking German flight

In " Air Power And War Rights," by J.M. Spaight, the author claims that on June 5, 1918, a flight of six Albatross scouts attacked a second flight of German aircraft (aircraft unidentifyed) and brought some of the second flight down. The author's source was a story in the Dail Mail of June 12. I've read about individual pilots attacking friendly aircraft and can understand it: new pilot, new aircraft type, similar looks, etc., but a flight attacking a flight--particularly that late in the war--seems extraordinary. Has anybody heard of similar incidents on either side? Do you have any particulars?
DD

[Volker_Nemsch]

Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay was wounded by friendly fire and died later of his wounds.

For further information please have a look at:

http://209.235.66.44/WW1/Germans/Pilots/Be...eumarconnay.htm

Hope this helps
Volker Nemsch

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Denny:
That was the precise reason Idflieg gave in their telegram of 12 April 1917 to all manufacturers to to cease using, "Red or red brown paint on the top surface of the wings has lead to misunderstandings- being taken to be enemy colors- and led to fighs between our own aircraft. Therefore DARK GREEN and LILAC should be used only."
blue skies,
Dan-San

[Cigogne]

I think that some of the "Daily Mail" and other newspaper accounts were stories meant to boost morale and sell papers so some of these accounts must be taken with a grain or more of salt. Many were cobbled together from a number of incidents to craft a story.

But there were quite a few incidents where misidentification occurred with individual pilots with tragic results.

Erich Loewenhardt is reputed to have attacked a Rumpler C.IV and shot it up pretty good. (There was an account of an old German pilot in OTF a few years back, Otto ???, can't remember his last name right now.) The aircraft was marked in the standard national markings and camouflage pattern of the Rumpler series but apparently Loewenhardt messed up on that. According to the pilot being interviewed the bullet tore a big hole in the radiator, possibly an explosive bullet.

Also, Charles Nungesser was jumped by an overanxious British pilot.

Lautenschlager was killed in his new Fokker Dr.I by fellow German pilots who mistook his plane for a Sopwith Triplane.

Also, a pilot from No. 46 Squadron apparently shot down a British Nieuport from a neighboring squadron in Summer 1917.

This was a common problem that reflected the rapid rate at which pilots were being pushed through the training system.

The Winter Issue of Over The Front will have an interesting article on Groupe de Combat 14 by Bill Bailey and Alan Roesler that includes an instance of this nature and how it impacted the military of the two respective allied countries to try and solve the problem.

Aaron

[rammjaeger]

Hi Aaron,

Otto Rosen was the pilot in question. He claimed that he was shot down by a German ace too (who?)!

[rammjaeger]

Hurrah!

The new "Cadet Rammjaeger" reports to duty!

[Graeme]

Entry in RAF Communique No 10 for 5 June 1918:

"Lt E C Bromley and 2nd Lt C G Gass, while leading a patrol of 22 Sqn, sighted a Halberstadt two-seater, which on their approach fired a green light. Lt Bromley, suspecting a trap, waited, and in a short time some Albatros scouts appeared and joined the Halberstadt. Almost at once, six Albatros scouts dived out of the sun on to the others, apparently mistaking them for one of our patrols. Lt Bromley then led the patrol into the melee and shot down the Halberstadt. Lt S F H Thompson and Sgt R M Fletcher shot down two of the Albatros scouts while the EA continued to fight among themselves, several of them being seen to go down out of control. Lt Bromley's good leadership thus led the Huns into their own trap."

Graeme

[Graeme]

PS

According the the RAF combat reports, the incident took place at about 10:30 (British time) to the south of Laventie. The only German claim I know of around that time was by Hans Kirschstein of Jasta 6 who claimed a Spad over Villamont for his 21st victory.

Graeme

>Has anybody heard of similar incidents on either side?

Blaxland from 2 Sqn AFC shot down a French Spad killing the French pilot. Both Blaxland and 2 Sqn AFC's OC ended up being posted to England with AFC Training Squadrons. Blaxland returned to 2 Sqn AFC late in the war and still scored 7 victories in the remaining weeks. He was obviously an effective pilot, if he had of served through May to October 1918 rather than just September/October the Australians here may have been discussing him in the same breath as Cobby and King.


cam

Gents: Graeme seems to have hit a home run with the rest of the story, but in light of Dan's comment on colors and the fact that the attacking aircraft had the sun at their back--the atttacked were illuminated by the sun--doesn't it seem odd. I can understand a single pilot making a mistake, but two flights or two squadrons is hard to believe. Or is it?