May's 27 August 1918 double victory

James A. Pratt III · 26 February 2010, 07:27 AM

In looking through "RAF communiques" I found on 27 August 1918:
Lt W.R. May 209 Squadron, was attacked by a Halberstadt at whioch he fired 250 rounds , killing the obsever, and saw the machine spin down. It was seen to crash by an A.A. Battery. He then attacked a Hannoveraner, the wings of which crumpled up in the air and the machine crashed into a wood.

James A. Pratt III · 26 February 2010, 07:36 AM

Looking through the artical on May in OTF 24-2, CGAS, Via michelin ect. It seems one of his claims could be the SS 15 crew killed at Arras. His first claim this day was at Monchy and there is a Monchy-Le-Preux near Arras and both these claims were within five minutes of each other. As for the other claim there is a Lftsch. Gerhard May (!) killed at Sin-le-Noblee which is in the area. It could be possible he could have been the first claim and the SS 15 crew the second claim. any comments?

James A. Pratt III · 26 February 2010, 07:58 AM

Also on this date Uffz Johann Dietz was killed at Tincourt-Boucly. frontflieger.de has in BZ 209b and there are two balloon claims by Beauchamp-Proctor the balloon buster ace in this region.

Graeme · 26 February 2010, 08:41 AM

James

Sorry to burst your balloon, but

"Proccy's" balloons were busted at Flaucourt and Mont St-Quentin. Flaucourt is over seven miles south-west of Tincourt-Boucly; Saint-Quentin is about a dozen miles south-east of Tincourt-Boucly. Not sure that BZ209b fits either claim.

May's claims were made at "Monchy" (13:05) and east of Rémy (13:10). Monchy-le-Preux is about five miles south-east of Arras and Rémy about three miles further south-east. Sin-le-Noble is 14 miles north-east of Arras (in fact only a couple of miles south-east of Douai) so doesn't appear to be match for either of these claims.

Graeme

James A. Pratt III · 1 March 2010, 08:38 AM

I wasn't sure either so thats why I made the above post. Are there any other RAF 2 seat claims for this day in this area?

Graeme · 1 March 2010, 11:54 AM

Hi James

The only other RAF claims for two-seaters I have for that day are:

A DFW C crashed by Capt A T Whealy and Lt F J S Britnell of No 203 Sqn; this was south of Combles at 12:10. This is something like 20 miles south of Arras.

A DFW C crashed by 1st Lt T L Moore and 1st Lt H R Clay of the 148th Sqn USAS; this was over Rémy at 13:05.

Looks like we have three claims for two-seaters in the vicinity of Arras (the two by May and the claim by Moore and Clay). Given the timing and location, it looks likely that May, Moore and Clay claimed the SS15 machine at 13:05/13:10 over Rémy, a short way south-east of Arras.

Graeme

TimS · 1 March 2010, 05:24 PM

Where do you get to 'look through' old RAF communiques?
I'd like to look at old RFC/RAF communiques to look up some of my grandfathers missions.

Graeme · 2 March 2010, 11:34 AM

TimS

Three books are available:

Royal Flying Corps Communiques 1915-1916, Christopher Cole, 1969
Royal Flying Corps Communiques 1917-1918, Chaz Bowyer, 1998
Royal Air Force Communiques 1918, Christopher Cole, 1968

These cover activities on the Western Front but "routine" operations (bombing, artillery observation etc) are excluded except for noteable events.

Graeme

TimS · 2 March 2010, 02:57 PM

Thanks for the heads-up Graeme - I've ordered these through Amazon..

James A. Pratt III · 4 March 2010, 08:42 AM

Thanks for the above info. I also forgot about until now according to CGAS on 27 Aug 18 a Uffz. Nichte (P) of FA 236 (A) was WIA. I think was stationed on the British front at this time. Could he possibly be one of the above claims?