Flying at night

Gurgast · 1 May 2009, 05:05 AM

I keep coming across references in various memoirs about WW1 to night flying, mostly with regard to bombing missions. One from 1917 talks about hand-held electric torches and dim little bulbs incorporated into instrument panels, and another the method of using "petrol flares" to delineate a home aerodrome when it was time to put down. As to the bombing itself, unless they were trying to flatten a blast furnace, it must have been a wee bit on the inaccurate side, although on a clear, starry night I suppose navigation would have been somewhat easier. The point was made that no scouts or Archie made the flights more comfortable than usual!

But does anyone know when night flying started to evolve as a war tactic?

I have seen an interesting story from "Flight" 14 Oct 1960 p, 618 (Correspondence) of the first night flight, it having been part of the race from London to Manchester between Paulhan and Grahame-White in 1910. They were competing in a couple of Maurice Farmans for the huge sum of £10,000. If nothing else, it shows that night flights pre-date the war considerably. (Oddly enough, it seems that G-W was lodging at the time in my local pub that night -- the North Pole, near Shepherd's Bush. No wonder he lost!)

Presumably they painted night planes black underneath even at that early period?

Old Man · 1 May 2009, 11:40 AM

My hazy recollection, Sir, is that the French were doing night bombing routinely by the end of 1915, and that the first raid by the German B.A.O. on a Channel port was a night-time effort. I will look through my books when I have an opportunity.

Old Man · 1 May 2009, 01:26 PM

According to 'A History of French Military Aviation' by Christienne and Lissarrague, Sir, French night bombing efforts began in July, 1915, and were routine by September of that year. Among the navigation aids employed were arrows marked by gasoline fires pointing in the direction machines were to fly. Some machines were fitted with small searchlights under the nose as landing aids. Night bombing became general between November of 1915 and March of 1916 for the French Groupes de Bombardment. Day bombing was revived to some degree in 1916, but GB 3 and GB 1 remained dedicated night bombing units.

TomVrille · 2 May 2009, 06:19 AM

Probably the earliest instances of night flying were the so-called special missions. These usually involved setting down well behind enemy lines to deliver spies, saboteurs,and the like. These missions had to be made under cover of darkness for obvious reasons. These missions were almost always flown by volunteers, owing to their extremely hazardous nature. Landing on an open field about which little was known was risky enough in daylight, but doing so at night bordered on the suicidal. These missions became somewhat common once trench warfare took hold, and the Western Front became static. Documentation of special missions is fragmentary, but a good guess as to the timing is early 1915.

Gurgast · 5 May 2009, 10:42 AM

Thanks chaps. I expect Zeppelin raids on England must have been night operations too in the main -- along with the poor fellows sent up to try and intercept them?

I did read about a Zeppelin crewman who, amazingly, fell through a convent roof and into a nun's bed -- if she was in it at the time presumably that was at night!

TomVrille · 5 May 2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurgast

......I did read about a Zeppelin crewman who, amazingly, fell through a convent roof and into a nun's bed -- if she was in it at the time presumably that was at night!

That would be the well-documented flight which led to the award of the Victoria Cross for FSL R.A. Warneford of No.1 Squadron RNAS. Warneford took off around midnight, but the destruction of the LZ37 occurred in the pre-dawn light. The bed was unoccupied, the nuns being early risers. I believe it was the helmsman of the airship whose life was spared by his relatively soft landing. The engagement was in the early morning of 7 June 1915.

Southside Bucky · 5 May 2009, 03:12 PM

His name was Alfred Muhler. He's standing 2nd left in this photo of LZ37's crew: FlickCabin.com - zep 001.jpg

Incidentally, he was still in the forward gondola when it crashed through the roof, then he was hurled clear and onto the bed.

Regards.

Bucky

PS. Yet another MASSIVE game tomorrow night, eh Gurgast?...C'MON YOU BLUES!!

Gurgast · 10 May 2009, 03:48 PM

Astonishing photo, Bucky -- they look like they've had a hard night on patrol.
Can't say I'd have fancied the Zep business. I bet top gunner must have had its moments.

P.S. Just watched the arsenal getting done up like a kipper -- nice -- but I'm still in mourning about the big one ... gutted!

HarryZhe · 10 May 2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomVrille

Probably the earliest instances of night flying were the so-called special missions. These usually involved setting down well behind enemy lines to deliver spies, saboteurs,and the like.

Any idea what they would have flown? I can't think of any period aircraft which were really suited to the job of transporting passengers :/ Just many two-seaters?

Southside Bucky · 11 May 2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurgast

P.S. Just watched the arsenal getting done up like a kipper -- nice -- but I'm still in mourning about the big one ... gutted!

Yeah, man...That Norwegian ref did US up like a kipper, good 'n proper!...Still, another F.A. cup will have to do for this season, eh?

Re: LZ37.
Interesting to relate that there are only eight men in that photo. There were actually nine on board the night LZ37 was destroyed. maybe the other one took the photo?...

A crew of nine seems a very small number to manage such a large airship. Zeppelin's usually had a crew of between 16-24.