squadron combat records 1917

jonathon · 30 July 2005, 11:57 AM

My father 2nd lt D.W.Lane with 32 Squadron flying out of Droogland on 19th Nov 1917 flying a Dehav5 a/c no 9493 had a forced landin at V.25.A.O.4(Sh:20) this was found in the squadron record book at the PRO London.It further states "shell smashed portion of L.wing and knocked engine out.Pilot wounded in thigh(R) and admitted ECCS.:" Can anyone enlighten me as to where the forced landing was? The casualty record shows G.S.W. right thigh which seems to be more like a bullet wound.I know the squaron was involved in ground strafing in the Ypres and Cambrai area

Regulus · 30 July 2005, 12:58 PM

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum, this is in fact a question for the People part so our Webmaster wil probably move it that way.

Henshaw only mentions that a DH5 from 32 Sqdn had a Capt. WR Fish wounded in action. Unfortunately he didn't find the place neither...

And for the moment I have only Flak claims of the German 4th Army till September 1917

Not much, sorry.

Best from Johan

Taz · 31 July 2005, 07:58 PM

Jonathon- No offense sir, but my father flew in WW-II and passed away in 2003. How old are you to have a father who flew in WW-I? Most of the people I work with related to WW-I veterans are their grandchildren. My hat is off to you, sir. Hopefully one of our British experts can dig up the information you need. And if your father survived combat ops in a DH-5, he must have been very good at what he did.

Taz
Terry Phillips

CNOCK · 1 August 2005, 09:59 AM

Hallo,

Henshaw (The Sky their Battlefield) mentions Your father as been wounded on 20/11/1917, but indicates no place. During this period 32 Sqn seems to have been in action NE of Ypres.

Greetiongs,

Cnock.

Regulus · 1 August 2005, 10:57 AM

Hi again,

According to Henshaw, your father was wounded indeed as mentioned the next day, the 20th but there is no location given.
What makes you refer to the 19th ? Of course it could be that the report was to late and that the event was placed the next day, nothing that unusual, but a great difference to find out more on the event.

Best from Johan

jonathon · 1 August 2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taz

Jonathon- No offense sir, but my father flew in WW-II and passed away in 2003. How old are you to have a father who flew in WW-I? Most of the people I work with related to WW-I veterans are their grandchildren. My hat is off to you, sir. Hopefully one of our British experts can dig up the information you need. And if your father survived combat ops in a DH-5, he must have been very good at what he did.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Thanks for your prompt reply,my father dies aged 67 born 1898, I am 75 with hopefully all my faculties .Jonathon

jonathon · 1 August 2005, 12:50 PM

Casualty reports show my father admitted hospital 20th Nov but the squadron record book shows he had a forced landin on 19th,actuel wording."Line patrol 3.30,40 mins flight.Had forced landing atV.25.A.O.4(Sh:20).Shell smashed portion of L.wing and knocked engine out.Pilot wounded in thigh(R) and admitted ECCS". THis is from investigation at the PRO London. This has been a three year investigation I am hoping to firstly find the location and secondly to ascertain if the shell was anti aircraft fire or land fire,my father told me in my somewhat misty memories that he had a close hit by ack ack fire causing his engine to fall out whatever happened it sure was hairy.