AIRCRAFT ATACK ON ROLLING STOCK

Hello, gentlemen; does someone have any info on the utilization of aircraft for attacking (strafing or bombing) rolling stock (moving trains) either military or civilian during WWI or before?

Many thanks
Miguel

Many thanks
Miguel

100 sqdn attacked railway yards and trains by bombing and using 1 pounder quickfiring cannons.

andy

[Graeme]

"Strategic" bombing was one of the roles the RFC and RNAS were expected to perform and the first incident was recorded on 8 October 1914 when Sqn Cdr S D A Grey, commanding a flight of 2 Sqn RNAS at Antwerp, penetrated as far as Cologne, circled the city at under 600 feet and dropped his bombs on the railway station, causing considerable damage. For this action Grey was awarded the DSO, Gazetted on 23 October 1914.

Before they became obsessed with the exploits of the scout pilots, the RFC Communiques contained many reference to the bombing of railway yards, marshalling points, moving and stationary rolling stock and railway tracks.

Graeme

[rammjaeger]

Some examples:

Richard Euringer (FA 300) was bringing fuel from Damaskus (or Jerusalem?, from my memory) to his unit when British airplanes attacked the train which was also transporting Turkish troops (1916).

Also in Palestine Hauptmann Walz and Leutnant Heußenstamm (FA 304 B) were nearly colliding with a British train when they were forced to dive through a low cloud and noticed the ground only 30 feet below. Short time later the crew bombed a train north of Gaza but the train escaped in the mist (early 1918?).

The British flier mentioned by Graeme (Cologne, 8. October) was obviously searching the Zeppelin hangar like his collegue in Düsseldorf but not with the same success. A British book says he did not find the hangar and bombed the railway station instead. The Germans report the flier was already over the hangar but was driven-off by a MG when the biplane dived through the cloud cover. Now the pilot flew westward and a report claims he intended to attack two trains waiting near the railway station. The pilot dropped 1 bomb from 2000 metres against the railway bridge near Großkönigsdorf without causing damage. Another witness report from a guest in a civil train says the aircraft dropped one bomb which was missing his train and caused a hole (1 Meter deep and 1 Meter broad) near the train.

[Graeme]

Hannes

The wording comes from a Memorandum by the Director of the Air Department, Admiralty, dated 11 October 1914. This appeared in the London Gazette of 23 October and was essentially the citation for his DSO.

Most British accounts say that Marix and Grey set off together and while Marix successfully bombed the airship shed at Dusseldorf (destroying ZIX in the process) Grey failed to locate his target (an airship shed in Cologne ?) and instead bombed Cologne Railway Station; even if he hit his target, I can't think that "considerable damage" would have been done by a pair of 20-lb Hales bombs.

Marix's Sopwith Tabloid was badly shot up by ground fire and he eventually had to force land about 20 miles (30 Km) from Antwerp. Popular legend has it that he finished his journey to Antwerp on a bicycle borrowed from a peasant. Marix was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the Air Ministry memorandum reading:

"Flight Lieut. Marix, acting under the orders of Squadron Commander Spencer Grey, carried out a successful attack on the Dusseldorf airship shed during the afternoon of the 8th Oct. From a height of 600 feet he dropped two bombs on the shed, and flames 500 feet high were seen within 30 seconds. The roof of the shed was also observed to collapse. Lieut. Marix's machine was under heavy fire from rifles and mitrailleuses, and was five times hit whilst making the attack."

Marix later served in the Dardanelles and took part in the operations to cover the landings at Cape Helles, Anzac and Suvla Bay, being Mentioned in Despatches by the Admiral Commanding.

Graeme

Thank you very much for your response, gentlemen; how about aircraft attacking military trains, able to shoot back?

Many thanks
Miguel

You are appear to be thinking of attacks comparable to the tactical air strikes of the Second Great Unpleasantness. I doubt you will find them. Bear in mind the following: (a) no machine guns of greater than .303 or 9-mm calibre on fighter aircraft (B) fighters have limited endurance and seldom penetrate more than 20 miles behind the lines, even to attack enemy aerodromes © full-scale steam railways are not built closer than 8-10 miles to the front, owing to artillery "reach"; whatever railways operate immediately behind the front are virtual miniature railways or are man-hauled supply cars on narrow-guage rails - not the sort of target easily found or economically attacked by aircraft. Also remember that almost all resupply and reinforcement during that war is in darkness (again, to avoid artillery interference) - a procedure which lives on in the phrase "At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them (most troop rotations or restocking of trenches occured just after sundown or just before dawn).

[Rick]

Hugh,

True, true - but perhaps not true if speaking of the Russian Revolution 1918-192? Heavy duty, armored and armed trains were employed by both the Reds and the Whites, and a/c attacks on these trains DID take place. And, that about wraps up my knowledge on this subject. Wait till Augie Blume's book on the Eastern Front finally comes out (he's frantically writing) and that will answer many of the above questions. Rick

And NO, I did not get a pre-publication copy of this one (it's not yet written)!!

[rammjaeger]

Hi Graeme,

the Zeppelin "Sachsen" (Saxony) was based in Düsseldorf and flew attacks against Antwerpen etc. in this time, therefore it makes completely sense to search and destroy this hangar.

The Reds used even "Ilja Mourometz"-planes in the battleflier role (!), I think I remember also a report about such an attack against a White armored train.

Observer von Cossel, flying together with the later ace Windisch, flew attacks against Russian trains in 1916 as well. The Heeresbericht confirmed that.

100 and 101 squadrons regularly attacked German trains at night. www.patrickwilson.com has the "Annals of 100 squadron" on line.
Part of this book deals with 100 squadron missions. This gives dates railway targets and crews taking part. I believe 100 and 101 both used FE2's with the 1 pounder quickfiring canon,
albeit without great success.

I believe armed trains were used mostly in the east, although the Turks may have used them as well, it is possible that these were attacked from the air but I know of no source confirming this.

andy