Today in history -June 1 1916

If my memory serves me right the Grand Fleet and the High Seas Fleet would have returned to-day in history from the Battle of Jutland. I would imagine the only aviation reference to this action would have been the participation of a RNAS Short 184 seaplane.

Dear Marlon,
This is from Profile Publications' #74, "The Short 184":
"When the Grand Fleet and Battle Cruiser Fleet put to sea on 30th May 1916 to meet the German fleet in what was to become known as the Battle of Jutland, they should have been accompanied by H.M.S. Campania with her ten seaplanes, three of wich were Shorts. But Campania did not receive her stationing and timing signal when the Fleets sailed, consequently the only carrier with the British force was the Engadine with her two Shorts and two Baby Sopwiths. One of the Shorts, the Westland-built 8359, flown by Flt.Lt. F.J. Butland with Assistant Paymaster G.S. Trewin as his observer, made the only reconnaissance flight of the battle from 3.8 p.m. to 3.48 p.m. on 31st May. A few observations were wirelessed back by the seaplane before a broken petrol pipe terminated the flight. The arcraft was later preserved in the Imperial War Museum but was serioulsy damaged by bombing during the 1939-45 war."

[Soderbaum]

Hi

I think this is also the battle known as Skagerrak...?

The German Seeflugstation at List was the nearest German air unit available.
The Naval Ace Hubrich says in his book that the mission was so top secret from the German side that not even their aviation unit were informed.....He found that "strange" because they probably could have done some good recce work..!

The Day after the battle they were allowed to fly over the battle area...they could see the damaged "Tirpitz" which were floating low homewards...They could also discover the sunken ship "Pommern" a few days later..

Perhaps the German Naval command had some good reason not involving any air units(?) in the battle..?

VBR
Gunnar