Bombing of Wingene airfield, Sept 11, 1917

[Marco_Sommerau]

On September 11, 1917 ‘4 enemy aircraft’ bombed Wingene airfield. As result, four a/c of Schusta 16 and one of FA 238 resulted destroyed, one hangar burned and one civilian was severely injured.

Does anybody know which unit made the attack and at what hour exactly took place?

Thanks (again),
M.

[jado]

Marco:

The History of 100 Squadron shows them bombing airfields "in and South of Lys Valley" 10/11th Sept 1917. Bombed dropped: 58/25lbs Results were:

2 25lb on lighted Aerodrome in vicinity of Courtrai, believed Marcke.

36 25lb on searchlights in vicinity of Courtrai.

12 25lb on searchlights N.E. of Lille

8 25lb on active enemy battery near Quesnoy.

Hope this is some help

Best regards,
Joe

[Marco_Sommerau]

Thanks Joe, I don’t think this was the unit involved in this precise attack. All that happened too in the south.
I know that 55 Sqn RFC made a previous attack to Wynghene (in July). Could have been this the unit?

Any help appreciated!

Best regards,

M.

[MikeW]

Where exactly in Belgium is Wingene? The DH4s of No.5 Squadron RNAS were heavily involved in plastering aerodromes in Northern Belgium during September 17.


mike

[Regulus]

Hi Mike,

Wingene is some 20 km's south-southeast of Bruges, to the east of Torhout and to the west of Aalter and north northeast of Roeselare (Roulers). Hope this helps a bit to locate the village.

Best from Johan

[MikeW]

Thanks Johan,

my geography is truly appalling!

Naval 5 were bombing aerodromes, dumps and railheads in a sector from all along the coast to Flushing, and down to St. Denis Westrem during September. The intent of bombing aerodromes was to deprive the enemy of observation and artillery spotting aircraft.

Targets that I know of during September were as follows:

Bruges
Sparapellhoek
Zeebrugge
Ghistelles
Varssenaere
St. Denis Westrem (after Gothas)
Houttave

So, Wingene would appear to fall within Naval 5's area of operation, and their "remit" during September.


Mike

[Regulus]

Mike,

One of the airfields mentioned is 'Sparappelhoek' which is in fact the Aartrijke aerodrome.
Varsenare is in fact the Jabbeke aerodrome, as you know.
And as mentioned they all are in the same area where 5th N Sqdn was very active in that period. I think it makes a chance indeed that they also attacked Wingene.
Wingene is still rather unknown territory to me concerning the airfield. It is also very close to Doomkerke where there was also an aerodrome it seems that was used by the German bombers, probably more as a reserve airfield.
It is not yet clear to me if there was one or two aifields at Wingene area. There is the mentioning of Wingene Flugplatz and of Ondank Flugplatz. Ondank is a small village to the south east of Wingene and part of Schuiferskapelle.
Doomkerke on the other hand is more to the northeast of Wingene.
Perhaps someone can shed more light on this situation and the location of the(se) airfield(s).

Best from Johan

[Rick]

Perhaps someone can shed more light on this situation

Johan, actually I'll only be able to muddle the situation some more! *The meager data I have on Schusta 16 shows they were in fact at Ichteghem airfield, and the bomb raid that wiped out the four aircraft occurred on 12Sep17 (although I will readily concede that it may have been the night of 11/12Sep17.) *Big help I am !!!!! * * R.

[Soderbaum]

Hi

The general text in the weekly Kofl 4 states that on Bombing attacks on German airfields on 11 Sep 1917 were totally 9 a/c damaged and 2 further destroyed...

The German also reported that the French Groupe Bombardment 5 were stationed in the area. Probably were these escadrilles involved in these attacks...?

I have FAA 238 stationed at Eeghem during this period and Schusta 16(like Rick) at Ichteghem(Engel)...

:-/
Gunnar

[Regulus]

Hi Rick and Gunnar,

Missed the detail on where the units were, but you are indeed correct !
Only Schusta at Wingene at that moment in my data is Schusta 4.

Best from Johan