Combat Reports

[Billy_Bishop]

Ok, does ANYONE know if a combat report would be filled out if there were either or both of the following:

No claims for enemy aircraft downed

No contact with the enemy at all during the flight.

Enquiring minds want to know.

Thanks,

Al Lowe

[MikeW]

Al,

I have some copies somewhere of RNAS CARs where no claim was made, just an indecisive engagement.

I have never seen the second case but I suppose it's possible.


Mike

[Frank_Olynyk]

Al,
There are an enormous number of combat reports for indecisive victories. I suspect there were originally even more, but some of them got weeded out during the paper shortage of World War 2 (ie, an indecisive claim by a basically unknown pilot). Many units, or Brigades/Wings numbered the reports, and there are gaps. But there never seems to be a description in the Communiqués that is not backed up by an existing combat report.
There are some combat reports which cover ground attacks. Not many actually, because there was a different form to fill out for this purpose. Just as there was a third form for a reconnaissance mission.
The number of reports for indecisive combat starts to tail off during 1917, and within a few months of 1918 they are pretty much gone. I suspect there was an order to the effect of "don't waste my time, and the country's paper" with reports of no intelligence value.

Frank.

[Billy_Bishop]

Thanks for the Info Mike and Frank. *It's a big help!

VBR,

Al Lowe

[stevedrew]

Al,

No contact with the enemy would NOT warrant a COMBAT report.

A reconnaissance report or some such other beast, but not combat report.

Steve Drew

[Billy_Bishop]

How much different was a recon report from a combat report?

VBR,

Al Lowe

[stevedrew]

Al,
A combat in the air report was a form which I'm sure you're familiar with, but observations made during a flight in which no action occurred would be noted and sent by telegram or messenger to Headquarters for the brass hats to pore over.

Steve Drew

[Billy_Bishop]

Thanks for the info Steve.

VBR,

Al

[Graeme]

Thumbing through my bits of paper I've come across a copy of a page from a file at the PRO - Air 1/862/204/5/479 - which contains a precis of reports received for 6 September 1916. The first entries are for Nos 9 and 34 Sqns in which the type of mission is given, the names of the crew quoted and a rundown of events.

For example, the entry for No 9 Sqn reads:

2.2 pm Photography. MANN. WYNNE. 11.30 - 1.5 pm. 13 exposures of T.20, T.26, B.2.a.b, T.21.a.c, T.27.a.c, B.3.a.

So, while no combat report would have been completed, the recording officer would have filled out an Army form of some description (at present I don't know which) and forwarded this to HQ through the "normal channels".

Graeme

[Billy_Bishop]

Thanks for the added info Graeme.

VBR,

Al