August 9, 1916

Recently saw a photograph of what appears to be a burnt out Fe2b being examined by the German pilot that shot it down. Any thoughts on the victor or the victim. Thanks in advance.

VBR,

Holck

[Graeme]

The only FE lost was 6996 of No 25 Sqn, flown by Lt Clifford John Hart and Lt John Anderson Mann MC, both killed (Henshaw, p 101).

I have no record of a German claim on 9 August 1916 so it might have been anti-aircraft fire.

Graeme

[Rick]

Your description is best matched by a loss given in TSTB of FE 2b 6996, 25 Sqn. RFC, Lt. CJ Hart,KIA and Lt. IA Mann,KIA ("Vickers" found completely burnt.)

Doesn't state who found it. You'll have to ask Frank Olynyk about a possible victor.

[Rick]

Graeme, beat me by a whisker!!

[Graeme]

Rick

fastest forefingers in the UK!

Graeme

[Soderbaum]

Hi

The German Heeresbericht(HB) reported 4 e/a shot down this day.
Two in air combat were shot down South Lille and South Bapaume.
The other two were shot down by Flak at Lens and Saarburg respectively.

Another source gives two claims to Wilhelm Frankl of FFA 23(KEK Vaux) at 12:20(South Bapaume) and 12:25 reported to be a Nieuport and a Sopw-2s..

So it seems that the FE was claimed by a Flak unit...

VBR
Gunnar

[Graeme]

Hi Guunar

Above The Lines gives the date for Frankl's victories as 10 August 1916, but even if they took place on 9 August the time would be wrong as the FE2 took off at 3 pm (British time). It is suggested that it crashed and burned out at about 7 pm but I am not sure that the FE2 could have stayed in the air for 4 hours.

Another possibility is structural failure, although the FE was generally regarded as a pretty rugged aeroplane for its time.

I think anti-aircraft fire is the most likely "culprit".

Graeme

[rammjaeger]

My source says the Germans got five victories that day (Flak and fighters):
2 a/c south of Bapaume,
1 a/c south of Lille,
1 a/c near Lens and
1 a/c Saarburg/Lothringen.

[leo]

I read somewhere that the FE had a penchant for shedding cylinders from its radial engine. Sometimes, when this happened, said cylinder would damage the rear booms causing the FE to crash.

[Frank_Olynyk]

I show four German (aerial) claims on this date. (1) Vfw Walter Kypke, a Nieuport two seater, no time,SW of Saarburg, ds. (2) Ltn Wilhelm Frankl, a Nieuport at 1200 hours, at Gueudecourt, ds. (3) Fraankl again at 1225 hours, a BE (but noted as being Sopwith A981), S of Bapaume, ds. (4) Ltn Max Mulzer, an FE at 1800 hours, at La Coulotte, ds. The notation "ds." indicates diesseit, literally "this side", indicating that the claim was made over German territory. Henshaw's reference to a "Vickers" found completely burned would seem to indicate that it came down in/behind German lines.

Frank.