Seeflugstation Flandern II victories 1917

Regulus · 12 February 2002, 05:23 AM

Hi,

This unit seems to have had it's very first victory on the 14th march 1917. A French flyingboat. In april it seems there were already 4 victories.

On the 26th of may they seem to have a very succesfull day.
Three planes of the unit get into battle with four French seaplanes and during what followed all four French planes were damaged and forced to land. The German destroyer G95 picked up two French officers and two non comissioned officers. One of the planes was taken into tow, the other three it seems were to heavily damaged and destroyed by the destroyer V67.

I know of the victories, but the only problem I have is that there are not any details on them. Who, when, where ?

Can anyone help me out ? :'(

VBR from Regulus

Soderbaum · 12 February 2002, 09:09 AM

Hi Regulus

I have 10 confirmed victories for SFS II(Ostende) during 1917...!

However I dont have any notes on the possible victory on 14 March 1917....do you have any additional information..?

Regarding the four victories on 26 May 1917, they were confirmed as follows..

Vfw(later vfmst) Müller his 3rd victory, a FBA. with a/c 1051
Fl.Ob.Mt Alfred Burgstaller his 2nd victory, a FBA with a/c 1039
Lt dR MA Paul Strang his 1st and 2nd victory, two FBAs with a/c 1041

The combat took place at Sea in area 068b..but the KTB(War Diary) states 069b.

The 3 a/c had started at 6:20 and landed again at own aerordrome at 9:20.

The aircraft from SFS I(Zebrügge) and some other a/c from SFS II started "directly" for taking "care" of the four shot Flying boats...

:

Gunnar

Billy9 · 12 February 2002, 10:58 AM

According to the book "l'Aviation Maritime Françsise pendant la Grande Guerre" theer were foutFrench flying boate lost on 26 May 1917:

FBA 150 ch, #417 (D.10) downed in combat over Gravelines, (P) QM Amiot, (O) EV1 Teste, POWs

FBA 150 ch, #419 (D11), downed in combat over Gravelines.
(P) QM Cartigny (O) Mot Franec, KIAs

FBA 150 ch, #462 (D8), downed in combat over Gravelines
(P) EV1 Battet, (O) QM MIllancourt, POPWs

FBA 150 ch, #472, (D 7), downed in combat over Gravelines
(P) EV1 Ardoin, (O) EV1 Gourguen, POWs.

THis book is well worh the price, I would advise you to obtain a copy.

Bill

Regulus · 12 February 2002, 11:46 AM

Hi,

Gunnar,

Problem is I have no more information on that first victory. But really nothing more.

Funny thing on the 26th may victories is that I knew when they left and came back, but had nothing on the pilots whatsoever. Some KTB's !

Anyway you were a lifesaver again ! I'm trying to finish the update of Marinekorps Flandern as you probably know and trying to fill in the blancs. THANKS !

Billy,

I'm very interested in that source ! Could you give me more data on the book ? Publisher and ISBN ?

I could really do a hell of a lot with it, especially concerning the Marinekorps units and claims !

Thank you so much for that !

VBR from Regulus

gregoire · 13 February 2002, 01:56 AM

the book is in french with a lot of great picture and evrything you can dream for ww1 french naval aviation.
the book is published by ARDHAN you can order it from there web site
http://www.aeronavale.org/I am not sure you can pay on line

PS on of the contributor Lucien Morareau used to post on this forum but I think he is bussy writtng a book about french navy plane 1910 to 1942.

Regulus · 13 February 2002, 11:35 AM

Bonjour Gregoire !

I've tried to order the book on line but as you feared it is not possible. There was a printable 'bon de commande' but in this case you have to enclose a Eurocheque. Which does no longer exists...

I will e-mail them tomorrow and ask what to do or if I can pay on an accountnumber or something like that. The book is to interesting not to have it, in my case !

Thanks again !

VBR from Regulus

gregoire · 13 February 2002, 11:59 AM

I can not found any trace of a loss for the 14 narch 17 for the french navy the closest I have are 10 february and 14 april (2 plane in front of zeebruge)

about the 26 may victory I have some extra imformation. the pilot were ordered not to fight in fly but to "land" on the water and then fight it is what seems to have happens
both teste and amiot will later escape

about EV1 Teste after his escape he wrote a repport I give you some of the main point. they have been attacked after over two hour of fly. as they were attacked by behind Amiot the pilot of the flying boat manadged to land the plane according to the orders
Teste start fighting with the Lewis but is touched and have to carry the machine gun in his arm. then when Teste stop fighting the german plane stop attcking but the seqplqne is very damadged and take a lot of water. he try to use some part of clothing as a sail but fail to move enought and they are finnaly captured by two german ship. it must be nottice that Teste have lauched pigeon after his landing to imform his station of the situation and that the french navy should have received them as a rescue mission was tempted (torpedo boat arriving too late)
in 17 Teste is an obsever (he will later became a pilot) one can wonder why the 4 inexperimented crew have been send to mission with no fighter escort. the german station commander Lt Christiansen have an explanation "you frenchmen call that heroism. me I call that stupidity"
Teste latter became a pilot (first french pilot to try to take off from a battleship turret)
The french ww2 seplane carrier will be named after him
he was the first french pilot to land a carrier (in 1920)

Soderbaum · 14 February 2002, 09:59 AM

Thanks gregoire for your addition..!

From the three "rescue" aircraft of SFS II was one of the French pilots picked av by Lt dR MA Max Frantz(on a/c 898) and brought back safely to Ostende on his 1-s.
It seems that the sixth surviving crew was brought back by one of the five a/c from SFS I....

Regarding the two French FBAs shot down on 14 April 1917, both were shot down at Sea, 6 seamiles outside Zeebrügge around 7:30.

Both Vfw Müller and Flugobermaat Burgstaller got their first victory. Of the four captured French non-officers one was badly wounded while two were slightly wounded...

SFS II were not ready for action in Febr 1917, so they could not have been involved...

Gregoire, does the French report for 10 Feb 1917 indicates that the flying boat was lost due enemy action/aircraft..??

:

Gunnar