Zeppelin shed, Evere Brussels

[jempie]

Hello!

Here a photo form the book by Thor Goote about Peter Strasser published 1938 from the burning shed after the bombing by for more your grandfather!
Remains of LZ 38 in it as it burned sith the shed!

The shedphotos which can be provided by mr. Etienne Reunis from this shed are dating from Post-WWI!
The shed was reconstructed afterwards and gor solid doors (Same for St. Agatha Brussels!)

At the origin the germans constructed this shed following a "standard type",
early WWI and it had "sail curtain doors!"
These burned away too!

So here some contemporary photo giving the result of the bombing!

VBR

Jempie

[jempie]

Hello!

Here the Evere shed as it was during 1919!

Photocredit is indeed The Brussels Air Museum
(got this photo via Mr. E. Reunis!)

I don't know photos existing from St-Agatha Berchem! However that shed was identical to this one!

After thte question,ed bombing the Brussels sheds weren't used anymore
for housing airships !
The three were;
Brussels-Evere (Haeren)
Bruseels-St-Agatha-berchem
Brussels-Evere

The same for Gontrode (South-West of Ghent) which was identical to this type!
Brussels-Evere was an exception : this shed was in fact the lenghtened former shed of the pre-WWI "Ville-de-Bruxelles airship shed!
Originally ony 90m long , in front and rear of this shed the Germans added a piece to bring it upon 180 m lenght!

Also after this bombing the shed at Maubeuge France was only used anymore by zeppelins!
However the sheds were reconstructed in sight of eventual emergency landing use by zeppelins beying in problems!
But as far I have info, never it happend!

Until 1917, 3 other sheds at Namur (Belgium!) were further used , however mainly as between stop for zeppelin on Brittain raids!
These were coming from other German basis, or returning from a raid, and refueling eventually at Namur!

VBr

Jempie

[Simba]

You've identified the basic problem in researching RNAS and Fleet Air Arm unit histories, MikeW - the destruction/loss of most of the records. I believe this is a consequence of the short and often itinerant existence of Naval flying units, particularly carrier-based squadrons and flights.

But you've certainly provided good references for what is available. Many thanks from this ol' nautic.

Up spirits!

[kmpres]

Thanks for these links, Mike. I've ordered estimates of the 1916 No 5 Wing activities, the account of the attack on St Denis Aerodrome, and the April to Oct 1916 RNAS summaries. Depending on how much is there, I'll order all or part of the collections.

I reread the diaries and DEH DSC arrived at Couderkerque Aerodrome Mar 1 1916, when the place was still under construction, and stayed until Sept 17, 1916, when he crash-landed in Holland, altogether, about 6 1/2 months. Hopefully, those documents will show not only his activities, but those of his mates during this time and shed some light on what life was like in a bomber wing. He was a bomber pilot, to be sure, and flew Maurice Farmans, Caudron G4 twins, Sopwith Babies and Strutters and BE2cs, somehow avoiding aerial combat but never missing the chance to hunt a zep whenever they threatened England, which was often. He also shuttled a few new planes from England to the front in between missions.

The Zeppelin link is also useful, thanks. I couldn't find an airship that met its fate in the Evere shed but maybe the National Archives documents will have some info. Even if it turns out that the DSC was given just for the successful shed bombing (the RFC couldn't get close enough to hit the thing), and given that it was extremely difficult to do any damage to them with 20 lb grenades that more often than not simply bounced off the buildings, that is enough of an accomplishment. I can now write the story of the unknown grandfather-pilot-pioneer who lived, loved, fought against, and died flying the early machines of the air.

Bruce

[MikeW]

Bruce,

5 Wing wasn't a bomber Wing at that time. In fact, the squadrons of each Wing were multi-role, each squadron had a flight of "fighters"* and a flight of "2-seaters". I use the term "fighters" very loosly. The two seaters would carry out bombing and reconnaissance, whilst the "fighters" (for want of a better word) would carry out defensive and offensive patrols and escort the 2-seaters. In practice, some pilots would flit about between the flights making it difficult to determine what their role was.

It was not until the end of 1916 that all of the squadrons became specialised.

You said

"The Zeppelin link is also useful, thanks. I couldn't find an airship that met its fate in the Evere shed but maybe the National Archives documents will have some info."

One is mentioned - read through the lists again!



*Fighters could very well be 2-seaters - just to confuse things


Mike