43 Squadron.

[Ginger.]

Pilot Officer Douglas Bader joined 23 Squadron on August 25 1930.The Squadron CO was H.W. Woollett,who had scored six victories in a single day.April 12 1918 in a Camel of 43 Squadron.
From what I have learned here regarding British claims,I read this last bit with a pinch of salt.Can anyone shed any light on what must have been an epic battle for both Woollett and 43 Squadron?

[stevedrew]

Dear Ginger,
Not necessarily, he MAY have scored six victories in a single day, but maybe not in a single sortie, which would be remarkable. He most likely bagged a couple or three hun in the morning patrol, and, after a hearty meal in the mess and a full debrief to the recording officer and also to his squadron mates, he wanted another go. I believe any occasion when a British pilot bagged six in a flight would be lionised in the press, and would be of almost legendary status by now. IMHO it was probably done on two or three sorties, and, whilst this is still a great effort, it is not truly amazing or epic. I don't have access to Above the Trenches here (I've moved), but check the times of these six victories, this will tell you if it was indeed an epic flight, or just a great day's hunting.

VBR Ginger

Steve Drew (Algy)

From 'Above the Trenches'

Woollett got an Albatros D.V and a C at 1030 and another D.V at 1040. All destroyed ,the D.Vs in flames. He then got 3 D.Vs at 1700 all destroyed. All the action took place near La Gorgue.

BTW his total in ATT is 35 - 11 balloons, 20 destroyed and 4 OOC. Pretty good figures.

[Vin]

Ginger & Gordon,

Have a look at

http://www.courthouse.demon.co.uk/wo...n/hw_wooll.htm

“April 12, 1918, Captain Woollett shot down three enemy aircraft before lunch, then scored victories over a Pfalz D111, a 2-seater reconnaissance plane, and a Fokker Triplane -- a feat seldom equaled and never surpassed."

The numbers agree with you, Gordon, but not the types.


Vin

[Ginger.]

Thanks chaps,no wonder he was a hero to his men.

[stephen]

And 31 destroyed with only 4 OOC's is a darn good ratio, considering the scoring system he was in. That's dangerously close to German accuracy. Would be a barrel of fun to match up German losses to that.

[Graeme]

From Woollett's combat reports:

10.30 a.m. - I led my patrol down on to eight E.A. just south-east of La Gorgue. I fired about 30 rounds into one single seater; machine spun down and crashed just west of La Gorgue. I then dived on to another E.A. (a two-seater); this I saw crash just north-east of La Gorgue.

I climbed up and got on the tail of an Albatross (sic) and after firing about 40 rounds it burst into flames, falling to pieces. I also saw another E.A. in flames, and also one crash which was shot down by Lt Daniel.

5 p.m. - I led patrol down on to 13 E.A. just north of La Gorgue. I fired about 30 rounds into one E.A. which was going east. This turned over on its back and fell to bits. I then climbed and got on the tail of another Albatross; after firing several bursts into him, he spun down and crashed north-east of La Gorgue. On returning over lines I climbed up and found another E.A. at about 2,000 feet; this after about 20 rounds collapsed in the air and fell ot bits. I saw two other E.A. crash, engaged by machines of my patrol.

Woollett was flying Camel D6402 on each patrol. 43 Sqn submitted claims for 14 victories on 12 April 1918. The only "match" I've been able to make is Ltn Albert Dietlen (Kia) of Jasta 58 who was probably one of the two claims made by Lt H C Daniel during the morning patrol.

Graeme

[Graeme]

43 Squadron's claims for 12 April 1918:

10:30 Cagnicourt, Lt G G Bailey Camel C8262, Albatros DV Crashed
10:30 La Gorgue, 2nd Lt H C Daniel Camel C8240, Pfalz DIII Crashed
10:30 La Gorgue, 2nd Lt H C Daniel Camel C8240, Albatros D Out Of Control smoking
10:30 W La Gorgue, Capt H W Woollett Camel D6402, Albatros DV Crashed
10:30 NE La Gorgue, Capt H W Woollett Camel D6402, C-type Crashed
10:30 SE La Gorgue, Lt G G Bailey Camel C8262, Albatros DV Out Of Control
10:40 NE La Gorgue, Capt H W Woollett Camel D6402, Albatros DV In Flames

11:15 Bois du Biez, Lt C C Banks Camel D1815, Albatros DV Crashed
11:15 Bois du Biez, Capt C F King Camel D1791, Pfalz DIII Broke Up

17:00 NE La Gorgue, Lt G A Lingham Camel D1785, Albatros DV Out Of Control
17:00 NE La Gorgue, 2nd Lt H C Daniel Camel C8240, Albatros D Crashed
17:00 NE La Gorgue, Capt H W Woollett Camel D6402, Albatros DV Broke Up
17:00 NE La Gorgue, Capt H W Woollett Camel D6402, Albatros DV Broke Up
17:00 NE La Gorgue, Capt H W Woollett Camel D6402, Albatros DV Crashed

Ginger & Algy - Biggles would have been proud and Wilks would have been very annoyed.

Graeme