First Gotha Raid on England

[jsontag]

On May 25, 1917, the first Gotha Raid on England, does anyone know which British Squadrons flew against the Gotha raiders?

Thanks,
James Sontag

[Patrick]

Hi James, the following comes from The Air Defence Of Britain 1914-1918 by Chistopher Cole and E. F. Cheesman:

25 May, 1917 (Daylight)
Target: Folkestone.
Enemy forces: 23 Gothas despatched, 21 Gothas attacked.
Results: 95 killed, 195 injured, £19,405 damage.
Defence sorties: 77.

RNAS

Dover: Sopwith Pups 3691 (Flt Sub-Lieut R. F. S. Leslie) 18.20-19.30 hr; N5197, 18.15-19.26 hr; N5194, 18.20-18.43 hr, returned with engine trouble; Sopwith Camel N6348, took off 18.40 hr, landed Dunkirk; Short 830 1337 (Flt Sub-Lieut L. C. Pincott, CPO Hanna) 17.25-18.05 hr; 1337 (Flt Sub-Lieut Pincott, AM W. A. Coppins) 18.15-19.50 hr.

Eastchurch: Bristol Scout D 8978, 17.45-18.10 hr.

Felixstowe: Curtiss H-12s 8658, 17.00-20.00 hr; 8662, 17.30-20.55 hr; Sopwith Babies 8137, 17.45-18.30 hr; N1102, 17.40-17.55 hr; N1037, 17.45-1900 hr; Short 184 9068, landed 19.55 hr.

Grain: Sopwith Pups 9912 (Flt Lieut C. T. Freeman) 17.28-19.30 hr; 9922 (Sqn Cdr H. R. Busteed) 18.05-18.52 hr, returned with engine trouble; Sopwith Babies 8168 (Flt Sub-Lieut W. F. Dickson) 17.35-19.30 hr; 8118 (Flt Sub-Lieut F. I. Jacks) 17.55-19.35 hr.

Manston: Bristol Scout Ds 8969 (Flt Sub-Lieut H. R. de Wilde) 16.45-18.25 hr and 18.35-19.55 hr; N5398 (Flt Sub-Lieut A. C. Burt) 16.55-17.50 hr; 8990 (Flt Sub-Lieut R. H. Daly) 16.55-17.25 hr; 8989 (F1tSub-Lieut Daly) 17.26-18.33 hr; N5390 (Flt Sub-Lieut Daly) 18.39-19.56 hr; 8965 took off at 18.34 hr; Sopwith Pup 9907 (Flt Sub-Lieut J. E. Scott) 16.55-18.22 hr and 18.25-19.40 hr; Sopwith Triplanes N5424 (Sqn Cdr C. H. Butler) 16.55-17.25 hr and 18.05-20.30 hr (with intermediate landing at Dunkirk); N509 (Flt Sub-Lieut Burt) 18.10-19.55 hr.

Westgate: Sopwith Schneider 3766 (Flt Sub-Lieut E. B. Drake) 16.55-19.20 hr; Sopwith Babies 8186 (Flt Sub-Lieut L. G. Maxton) 16.56-17.26 hr; 8186 (Flt Sub-Lieut W. J. de Salis) 18.09-18.30 hr and 19.37-20.30 hr; 8146 (Flt Sub-Lieut F. C. Lander) 17.02-17.45 hr; 8146 (Flt Sub-Lieut L. G. Maxton) 18.45-20.05 hr; N1025 (Flt Sub-Lieut H. C. Lemon) took off 16.55 hr, forced alighted with engine trouble, towed to Burnham.

Walmer: Bristol Scout D 8957 (Flt Sub-Lieut W. H. Chisam) 18.30-18.44 hr; Sopwith Pups 9947 (Flt Sub-Lieut Chisam) 17.30-18.20 hr; 9947 (Flt Lieut S. Kemball) 18.30-19.20 hr; N5182 (Flt Sub-Lieut Chisam) 18.53-19.38 hr.

RFC

No.37 Squadron, A Flight, Goldhanger: B.E.12s 6610 (Lieut C. D. Kershaw) 19.00-20.00 hr; A4032 (Lieut W. R. S. Humphreys) 18.25-19.50 hr, forced landed near Bexhill; B.E.12as A6317 (Lieut L. P. Watkins) 17.13-19.30 hr; A590 (Lieut L. F. Hutcheon) 17.14-20.00 hr,

No.37 Squadron, B Flight, Stow Maries: B.E.12a A6318 (Capt C. A. Ridley) 17.12-21.16 hr.

No.37 Squadron, C Flight, Rochford: B.E.2d 5778 (Capt C. B. Cooke) 18.55-21.00 hr; B.E.12as A6312 (Lieut W. R. S. Humphreys) 17.10-17.25 hr, at Goldhanger with engine trouble; A6306 (Lieut Orr-Ewing) 17.15-20.03 hr; A599 (Capt C. B. Cooke) 17.22-18.15, returned with engine fire.

No.39 Squadron, A Flight, North Weald: B.E.2c 2089 (Lieut E. M. Gilbert) 17.53-18.40 hr, forced landed Hill Hall with engine trouble: B.E.2e 7233 (2nd Lieut A. A. Wilcock) 18.27-19.00 hr; B.E.12 6488 (Capt L. F. Hursthouse) 17.25-19.53 hr; B.E.12a A6326 (Capt S. R. Stammers) 17.14-17.19 hr, returned with engine trouble; A593 (Capt Stammers) 17.30-19.05 hr; A6326 (Capt R. G. H. Murray) 18.25-20.00 hr.

No.39 Squadron, B Flight, Suttons Farm: B.E.2c 2023 (Lieut E. S. Moulton-Barrett) 17.50-19.50 hr; B.E.12 6138 (Capt J. I. Mackay) 17.18-19.50 hr.

No.39 Squadron, C Flight, Hainault: B.E.2e 7151 (Capt W. T. F. Holland) 17.51-19.40 hr; B.E.12as A6325 (Capt W. H. Haynes) 17.16-19.43 hr; A6349 (Lieut G. T. Wix) 17.21-20.15 hr.

No.50 Squadron, A Flight, Detling: B.E.2c 2711 (2nd Lieut C. C. White) 17.38-19.17 hr; B.E.12 6183 (2nd Lieut W. R. Oulton) 17.16-19.59 hr; B.E.12as A577 (2nd Lieut A. J. Arkell) 17.10-19.50 hr (Throwley); A6308 (Lieut Carmichael) 17.30-20.02 hr; A6305 (Lieut R. W. le Gallais) 17.18-19.50 hr (Bekesbourne); A582 (2nd Lieut L. Lucas) 17.18-19.55 hr; A6313 (2nd Lieut N. E. Chandler) 17.19-18.38 hr (Bekesbourne).

No,50 Squadron, B Flight, Throwley: B.E.12s 649 (Lieut H. T. O. Windsor) 17.34-18.38 hr; 6185 (Lieut Windsor) 18.58-19.59 hr; R.E.8 A3836 (Capt T. R. Irons) 17.53-19.58 hr.

No.50 Squadron, C Flight, Bekesbourne: B.E.2e 6187 (2nd Lieut F. A. D. Grace) 18.13-19.40 hr; Vickers E.S.1 7759 (Capt A. J Capel) 17.35-18.40 hr and 18.45-20.12 hr.

No.78 Squadron, Telscombe Cliffs: B.E.12as A601 (Lieut J. S. Castle) 17.57-18.40 hr, returned with engine trouble; A595 (Lieut Castle) 18.43-19.45 hr, forced landed, Arlington, with engine trouble; A6320 (Capt E. R. Pretyman) 18.00-19.45 hr.

No.8 Aircraft Acceptance Park, Lympne: D.H.5 B347 (Lieut G. W. Gathergood) 18.40-19.50 hr.

[jsontag]

Patrick, thank you so much. That is exactly what I was looking for.

James