108 Sqdn

[JoaoMVM]

Hello everyone!

Im looking for information about victory claims of 108 Sqdn RAF during the months of September, October and November of 1918. Can anyone help?

Thank you in advance!

João

Graeme, where are you???

[Graeme]

I'm here. Just, after the latest heart attack (just short of 3 weeks ago) the good lady wife limits my time on the PC (she thinks I'll wear myself out). I've got some data from August to November 1918, so I'll knock it into shape and post it in the next couple of days.

Graeme

Hi Graeme,

I am very sorry to hear of your recent health problems. I hope that you fully recover soon. I know exactly what your wife is talking about; I think I've gained a couple of extra gray hairs from this forum as well!

best wishes,

Darren

[Graeme]

Hi Darren

By the standard of the heart attack that led to my triple bypass 5 years back, this was minor; the medicos have said that the damage done was small, due in part to my wife whisking me off to hospital direct rather than wait for an ambulance.

The cause has been identified as narrowing of a blood vessel close to one of the grafts. Since it's too small for a stent to be put in (fear of rupturing the wall) I'm on what they've called "aggressive drug therapy". That being the case, if any of this is more nonsensical than the stuff I normally post, that's the reason why!

Don't talk to me about grey hair - I've got far in excess of my fair share!

As far as 108 Squadron goes, I've got details of 15 victories, the bulk of them shared. I'll pull the various strands together and post the info asap (or when 'er indoors ain't around to interfere!)

Graeme

[JoaoMVM]

Thank you so much Greame!

I hope we are not contributing for ur ill-health!

Best regards!

Hi Graeme,

Glad to hear that it wasn't a major heart attack. I hope that the drug treatment helps your condition. You need to stay around for a long time to help straighten out us who are deficient in the knowledge of British aerial operations during the war.....

regards,

Darren

[Graeme]

I'm glad to say that the Forum is my oasis of tranquility - since I don't get involved in any of the heated "debates" but stick to recorded facts, none of what's gone on here has contributed to the latest hiccup. Just a case of the body falling apart quicker than expected!

As for No 108 Squadron, here are the claims I've got listed:

1. 2 August 1918; I have a note of a Fokker DVII “destroyed” by 2nd Lt A A S Milne & 2nd Lt G E McManus but am tempted to believe that this is a duplicate of the shared claim submitted by this crew on 21 August. This claim does not appear in the RAF Communiqués.

2. 21 August 1918. A Fokker DVII claimed as crashed by 2nd Lt A A S Milne & 2nd Lt G E McManus and 2nd Lt A T W Boswell & 2nd Lt W Holt. Reported in RAF Communiqué number 21. Timed at 17:35 over Schoore.

3. 7 September 1918. A Fokker DVII that fell into the sea off Ostende at 11:20, claimed by three crews - 2nd Lt C R Knott & 2nd Lt F D McClinton, 2nd Lt H L M McLellan & 2nd Lt F X Jackson and 2nd Lt R Russell & 2nd Lt G B Pike. Reported in RAF Communique number 23.

4. 21 September 1918. A Fokker triplane claimed as Out of Control by ten crews at 11:45 over Gits - Capt C G Haynes & Lt G Brown, Lt D A Shanks & Sgt R J Sear, Lt A M Matheson & Lt H Gargett, 2nd Lt P A Haynes & Lt G Windle, 2nd Lt A S Jones & Sgt R Richardson, 2nd Lt H L M McLellan & 2nd Lt F X Jackson, 2nd Lt A T W Boswell & 2nd Lt W Bott, 2nd Lt R Russell & 2nd Lt G B Pike, Lt A A S Milne & Sgt W Greenwood and 2nd Lt P L Phillips & 2nd Lt P C S McCrea.

5. 21 September 1918. A Fokker DVII claimed as Out of Control by the same ten crews at 11:45 over Staden. Although data on Out of Control claims was collected, these were not reported in the Communiqués after about mid-May.

6. 1 October 1918. A Fokker DVII in pieces at 17:35 between Ingelmunster and Roulers by nine crews - Lt A T W Boswell & 2nd Lt R P Gundill, Capt C G Haynes & 2nd Lt G Brown, 2nd Lt C R Knott & Lt G Windle, Lt F Hopkins & 2nd Lt J W Firth2nd Lt J G Kershaw & 2nd Lt W L Walker, Lt G A Featherstone & 2nd Lt F Owen, 2nd Lt A A S Milne & Sgt W Greenwood, Lt A M Matheson & 2nd Lt F R Eveleigh and 2nd Lt G C Paget & Sgt P Hoolihan.

7. 1 October 1918. A Fokker DVII Out of Control at 17:35 between Ingelmunster and Roulers by the same nine crews.

8-10. 1 October 1918. Three Fokker DVII in flames at 17:35 between Ingelmunster and Roulers by the same nine crews.

From RAF Communiqué number 27: After dropping their bombs on Ingelmunster Station, the formation was attacked by a large formation of 33 EA. During a running fight, which lasted for over 10 minutes, the DH9s kept together in close formation and shot three of the hostile machine down in flames, one was seen to break up in the air and another was seen to fall out of control and crash near the railway line at Roulers. Later, the enemy formation were seen to be attacked by some of our scouts

11. 28 October 1918. A Fokker DVII crashed by 2nd Lt H G Daulton & Sgt W Greenwood at 14:10 south of Ghent. Reported in RAF Communiqué number 31.

12. 30 October 1918. A Fokker DVII “Out of control, smoking” by Lt R T O Hawthorn & Sgt P Hoolihan at 12:20 over Ledeberg.

13. 4 November 1918. An enemy aircraft claimed Out of Control at 09:40 over Sotteghem by seven crews - Capt R Russell & Lt J E Hermon, 2nd Lt E B Thomson & 2nd Lt E L Chafe, 2nd Lt W Shackleton & Lt J E Radley, Lt W Marsden & 2nd Lt W McGowan, 2nd Lt J D Sloss & 2nd Lt J D Todd, 2nd Lt H N Tiplady & 2nd Lt F L P Smith and 2nd Lt H G Daulton & Sgt J Crowther.

14. 4 November 1918. A second enemy aircraft claimed Out of Control by Capt R Russell & Lt J E Hermon. Possibly a duplicate of the shared claim above.

15. 9 November 1918. An enemy aircraft claimed out of control by six crews at 09:05 east of Sotteghem - 2nd Lt H N Tiplady & 2nd Lt F L P Smith, Capt R Russell & Lt J E Hermon, Lt J G Kershaw & Lt H S Gargett, 2nd Lt C Campbell & 2nd Lt J T R Wynne, 2nd Lt J D Sloss & 2nd Lt J D Todd and Lt R T O Hawthorne & 2nd Lt W M Elvery.

I might have some more information but it will be in the attic and I don't think "she who must be obeyed" will let me loose up there for a while!

Some or all of these should be in "The DH9/DH9A File"; I'll see if there's anything further that can be added from that source.

Graeme

[JoaoMVM]

Perfect Greame!!!!

This is great info for me, many thanks! ~

And i can see Josef Jacobs was once again claimed this time on the 21st of September, and got away with it with two victories to his credit from among his claimants!

Best Regards!

João