8 July 1917

Gregvan · 7 July 2007, 11:12 PM

90 years ago today....

Not much happened in the air war on the Western Front!

No, seriously, the weather was lousy and there wasn't a lot of aerial ops. I'm sure that aircrew on both sides of the lines breathed great sighs of relief when their missions were cancelled.

However...

90 years ago today, a Handley Page 0/100 3124, that had been flown from Manston, Kent, all the way to the RNAS airfield at Marsh, on Mudros island in the Aegean, successfully bombed Constantinople harbor. The aircraft had been flown by Sqn Cdr K S Savory, DSO, in stages all the way from Manston, starting on 23 May 1917. On the night of 7 July, at 2047 hrs, Savory took off in the Handly Page loaded with 12 112lb bombs. I believe his crew consisted of Flt Lt H McClelland (2nd pilot), 1/Lt P T Rawlings (navigator), CPO J L Adams, and Leading Mechanic B Cromack. I'm certain that Graeme could add a great deal more. Anyway, Savory reached the target minutes before midnight, and began his bombing run at 800 feet. He dropped four bombs which hit some moored ships near the cruiser 'Goeben" (his primary target), then four more bombs "which appeared to hit the Goeben amidships", then dropped two bombs on the German ship "General" and his last 2 bombs on the Turkish War Office. He landed back at Mudros at 0340 hrs on 8 July 1917. Savory was awarded the DSO for this raid. Actually, little damage seems to have been done to the Goeben, as it exited the harbor in January 1918 to sink two British monitors at Imbros, and remained with the Turkish navy for some time.

90 years ago today, four German aviators died. Indicative of the sparse flying on the Western Front - one died at Hamburg and another at Kottbus (training accidents?), and one died at far-off Baghdad and another at Samarra.

90 years ago today, a German Giant R.IV bomber hit ammo dumps and baracks on Oesel Island in the Baltic just outside the Gulf of Riga.

90 years ago today, Ltn M Schoen of "Jasta Ober Ost" on the Eastern Front destroyed a Russian balloon at Jezierna for his first victory. His squadron mate Vzfw Klüpfel claimed a Russian Nieuport at Batkow, but only received a credit for a "zur Landung gezwungen" aircraft (forced to land - which unlike British OOCs, counted as basically nothing).

90 years ago today, On the Western Front, however, Ltn F Vossen of Jasta 33 was credited with a balloon southeast of Arras at 2105 hrs as his second victory (he attacked British Balloon 24-21-1 which was not flamed, but he got credit anyway). His squadron mate Ltn F Kuke attacked a 'fuselage biplane' at Inchy but did not get confirmation.

90 Years ago today, Sgt Charles Bonnard (a gunner/observer) of Escadrille F 35 was wounded in a Caudron R 4 during a fight with a German 2-seater. No French victory claims were filed this day.

Greg

Soderbaum · 8 July 2007, 03:37 AM

Hi Greg

A little addition regarding the attack made by the HP on the ships anchored at Stenia (mentioned by me earlier on this Forum)....

They actually hit and sunk the Vessel S-166*...It was probably the largest airship lost by aerial action during the War and also caused the loss of 29 sailors...

*named "Yadighiar i Milet" by the Turks

For me, Savory and his team deserved more then a DSO for this, but maybe the British were unsure of the great succes they did...??

There were also some "heavy action" in Palestina and in the Macedonian area this day...

On the eastern front a further Balloon was shot down by FA 22, and another Balloon was shot down at Sturin....

Back on the Western front, the German reported 2 e/a shot down, one of these by Flak. And one of these was reported to hav fell within German hold lines....No losses where reported but a crew of RBZ 2 was reported WIC...

I also have a note that a crew of B 4 esc did shot down an e/a but no exact location...

Gunnar

Intrepid · 8 July 2007, 02:59 PM

Hi Greg and Gunnar,

90 years ago today ....

In the skies over Palestine fliers of FA 300 scored two victories.

Vzfw. Willy Kern and Obltn. Kurt Jancke in a Rumpler C.1 shot down Capt. Charles A. Brookes flying Martinsyde G.100 7477 .Brookes died in their encounter over Tel esh Sheria.

Ltn. Claude H. Vautin flying B.E.12a A6321 survived his encounter with Oblt. Gerhard Felmy flying an Albatros D.III.

Later Vautin had his photo taken with Felmy on the German airfield.

This photo and a letter was later dropped by Felmy on the Australian airfield to let his comrades know Vautin was still alive.

Marlon Schultz

Gregvan · 8 July 2007, 03:38 PM

Hi All,

Gunnar and Marlon, thanks for that terrific additional information. Great material! Sounds to me like either or both of you have so much information you could keep this "90 Years Ago today" thing going!! Good luck

Greg

Laserlloyd · 8 July 2007, 06:43 PM

Oh Greg don't give up so easily...

I think you have what it takes to make a daily entry.

Well, it was great while it lasted. I always look forward for your next entry in the book format.

Lloyd...

1Mark66 · 8 July 2007, 06:44 PM

What a great little window on the past. If you guys could stand continuing this "90 years ago..." idea, however intermittently, it will make absorbing reading.

And while I'm writing, to Greg vW my admiration for Albatros Aces part 2. Just finished reading my copy, and greatly appreciate the way you build the text on quotes from the pilots themselves. Lots of great stories. If Osprey is looking for ideas, I'd say that we could stand a Spad Aces part 2, concentrating on the French. Or a French Aces volume, expanding both the Nieuport and Spad fliers.

Mark66

James A. Pratt III · 14 July 2007, 08:36 PM

The HP flight and op are covered in "Seas of Adventures" E Keble Chatterton,which includes photos taken on the way there and the R.D. Layman artical "Naval Warfare in a New Dimension" Warship 1989.
As for the Iraq deaths two Albatros? 2-seaters were on a transfer flight between Ramadi and Tikrit when one was forced down with engine failure. The other laneded picked up the crew and their gear but was also forced down with an overheated engine . the 4 men tried to walk out 2 fell out do to the heat and the other 2 were POW. British patrols were sent out but neither of the other 2 men were found. See In the Clouds above Baghdad J.E. Tennant.