German loss Oct.1,1918

21 May 2002, 09:24 AM

Amy recently sent me the bio on A/V/M K.G.Nairn,CB,RCAF, who flew with 205 Sqn. in 1918.
On 1 Oct., the unit attacked Beaurevoir and were met by eight German aircraft. The DH-9a's dropped their bombs and on the way home continued to tangle with the fighters. Apparently one of them was hit by Nairn's fire and went in to a spin,The pilot parachuted to safety, and this was the first time anyone in 205 Sqn had seen this.
Any forum members able to identify the lucky German pilot?

Rick · 21 May 2002, 08:43 PM

There were a whole slew of Marine Jasta pilots WIA on 1Oct18, any or all of whom could have taken to the chute. *Trying to pin-point one single individual is a little above my intellectual capacity! * Rick

Soderbaum · 22 May 2002, 10:47 AM

Hi Terry

I could not find Nairns claim in the RAF Com, is it clear that the day is 1 Oct 1918...?

I dont think that Beaurevoir is in the Flanders area, but could be wrong...

If it is possible to find the opposite German Army, it is at least possible to limit the amount of Jastas....to perhaps around 5 units....

sorry not much...but to survive a parachute jump was still a hazard
:-/
Gunnar

22 May 2002, 11:18 AM

Soderbaum,
The article from the 1975 Cross & Cockade listed five victories in October,1918 for Nairn. The dates were Oct.1st,3rd (E/A destroyed near Vasinie),15th (silver Pfalz D-III near Bessiay),20th (E/A broken up, while Nairn's observer 2Lt.PL Marshall was KIA), and 24th (Fokker DVII,lozenge pattern with green fuselage OOC smoking near Lemuir).
None appear in the RAF Communiques.

Soderbaum · 23 May 2002, 09:12 AM

Terry

I read through the article in C&C and also looked through the DH 4 file(book), but could not find any special additions except that the were fighting mostly against the 2nd German Army...
The German fighter units serving there at that time,are probably to be found in the TJP by Grub Street...

:-/
Gunnar

Rick · 24 May 2002, 07:33 PM

Now that we may have pinned the German loss to their 2nd Armee, the losses become much more easier to identify. Jagdstaffeln 5, 34b, 37, and 46 were (I think) the only units serving with 2nd Armee in October 1918.

The BEST bet is Jasta 5, Flg. Kurt Marocke, KIA at Benot by Originy on 1Oct18. Although there is no report that he took to his chute, he may very well have.

The second best bet is Oblt. Erich Fries, Jasta 34b, who IS known to have saved himself with a chute over Hurtise-Ferme, but on 3Oct18.

Best I can do. R.