100 years ago today - 16 July 1917

[Graeme]

MONDAY, 16 JULY 1917

General Headquarters, July 17th.

“Although handicapped by thick clouds and strong winds, our aeroplanes carried out a great deal of successful work yesterday in conjunction with our artillery, and, in addition, our raiding machines dropped a large number of bombs on various points of military importance behind the enemy's lines. In the evening many fights took place in the air, as the result of which six enemy aeroplanes were brought down, one of which was forced to land in our lines, and three others were driven down out of control. None of our machines are missing.”

Artillery Co-operation — 92 hostile batteries were successfully engaged with aeroplane observation.

Photographic reconnaissances were attempted by No 2 Squadron RNAS in the vicinity of Bruges, but abandoned owing to heavy cloud banks.

Usual offensive patrols by No 4 Wing RNAS, also anti-submarine patrols by Seaplanes.

Enemy Aircraft –

Lt Carter & 2/AM F Farmer, 4 Sqn, Albatros Scout broke up by Farmer - while taking photographs, Lt Carter & 2/AM Farmer, 4 Squadron, were attacked by two Albatros scouts. 2/AM Farmer fired at both in succession and his first opponent was seen by a heavy battery to fall out of control and then break to pieces in the air

Capt W J C Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roulers - during a large encounter which took place over Roulers between ten Albatros scouts and Spads, Sopwith Pups, Camels and SE5s, Captain K C Patrick and 2nd Lt D U McGregor, both of 23 Squadron, each shot down one EA scout completely out of control [I have an issue here; most records show McGregor claiming his 6th victory on 15 July and K-C-P his 21st on 16 July. I haven’t got copies of combat reports for these claims so have no details of times etc, so for the time being, I’ve listed the claims as McGregor on 15 July and K-C-P on 16 July; anybody got information that clarifies the matter?]. This was K-C-P’s last claim before being promoted Major and being given command of No 60 Sqn.

Flt Lt R A Little, 8N Sqn, Camel N6378, DFW C out of control Izel - Gavrelle at 08:30/09:30 - Flight Lt R A Little, 8 Squadron RNAS, attacked two Aviatiks and drove one down out of control

Lt W B Wood, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Ypres at 08:50/09:50 - 2nd Lt W B Wood, 29 Squadron, while on Offensive Patrol, observed eight Albatros scouts below him. He saw one behind the rest, so dived and drove it down out of control

2nd Lt M B Frew & 2nd Lt G A Brooke, 45 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Polygon Wood at 09:10/10:10
2nd Lt R H Deakin & Capt J W Higgins, 45 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Polygon Wood at 09:10/10:10

While searching for reported EA, three machines of 45 Squadron were attacked by six Albatros scouts near Houthem. 2nd Lts M B Frew & G A Brooke shot down one in flames, and 2nd Lt R H Deakin & Capt Higgins drove another down out of control

Lt D Langlands, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout captured south-east of Poperinghe at 16:35/17:35 - in the evening two Albatros scouts attacked one of our balloons and 2nd Lt D Langlands, 23 Squadron, succeeded in overtaking them and prevented one from crossing the lines by making it fly west. The EA made frequent attempts to escape but 2nd Lt Langlands followed it closely and continued firing until the German pilot gave in and landed on our side of the lines south-east of Poperinghe and was taken prisoner; Vfw Ernst Clausnitzer, Ja4, Pow, G.56 [Alb DV 1162/17]

Flt Sub-Lt H W Taylor, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout broke up Polygon Wood at 18:00/19:00 - Flight Sub- Lt H Taylor, 10 Squadron RNAS, lost his formation and joined six French machines. When over Polygon Wood they engaged four EA and one, fired on by Flight Sub-Lt Taylor, broke to pieces in the air

Capt G H Bowman, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Polygon Wood at 18:15/19:15
Lt R G Jardine, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Polygon Wood at 18:15/19:15
Lt R A Maybery, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Ypres at 18:15/19:15

An Offensive Patrol of 56 Squadron, when escorting Martinsydes of 27 Squadron, was attacked by four Albatros scouts but these were driven off. Shortly afterwards Capt G H Bowman noticed 15 EA above him, so turned to take his patrol nearer the lines as there was a strong west wind blowing. A number of other machines joined the EA formation and then dived at our SES who were underneath at 14,000 feet. Our machines were out-numbered and driven down to 4,000 feet. Eventually, Captain Bowman secured a favourable position on the tail of one EA which, like all the rest, simply dived past and fired. This machine after being fired at dived straight into the ground, completely crashed. In this fight Lt R G Jardine destroyed one EA, and Lt R A Maybery sent one down completely out of control

Capt W C Campbell, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout destroyed Poelcapelle at 19:20/20:20 - Ltn Hermann Göring, Ja27, OK [?]

Flt Sub-Lt O C Le Boutillier, 9N Sqn, two-seater out of control north-west of Nieuport at 19:30/20:30

Sgt G P Olley, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed south of Poelcapelle at 19:30/20:30
Lt L F Jenkin, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Ten-Brielen at 19:35/20:35
Capt W C Campbell, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Zonnebeke at 19:40/20:40 - Vfw Fritz Krebs, Ja6, Kia [?]
Capt W C Campbell, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Zonnebeke at 19:42/20:42

In the evening, an Offensive Patrol of 1 Squadron led by Captain W C Campbell encountered eight Albatros scouts which they attacked over Becelaere. Captain Campbell picked out the leader into which he fired a drum and the EA was destroyed. Shortly afterwards he dived at the leader of a formation of 14 EA which the Nieuports attacked, and followed it down until he saw it crash in a field. Sgt G P Olley picked out a scout painted bright green which he shot down and saw crash, and Lt L F Jenkin picked out an EA painted slate-grey and last saw it falling over and over completely out of control

Casualties –

2nd Lt R G Jardine (Ok), 56 Sqn, SE5 A8931- took off 17:45/18:45 then damaged in forced landing Dranoutre after engine shot through on offensive patrol 18:15/19:15 - Ltn Hermann Göring, Ja27, 9th victory [east of Ypres at 19:10/20:10] or Vzfw Max Krauss, Ja27, 2nd victory [north-east of Ypres at 19:10/20:10] ?

2nd Lt P E Palmer (Ok), 29 Sqn, Nieuport 17 B3478 – took off 16:00/17:00 then engine damaged by AA and crashed Elverdinghe on balloon patrol

Capt M Johnstone (Killed), 27 Sqn, Martinsyde G.100 7499 - returned from bomb raid with bomb caught in landing gear and landed in lake at Arques but drowned

Capt S H Starey, (Ok), 54 Sqn, Pup – took off 04:20/05:20 then hit by AA east of Nieuport and overturned in forced landing on the sand at Bray Dunes on OP

Graeme

[James A. Pratt III]

Goring J27 JWC has Jardine 56 Sqn hiting him HITEB has either Jardine or maberry getting him

Kerbs J6 KIA could be Bowman 56 or Taylor 10 N the FAS aircraft that he joined up with could be either N3 or N103 S/Lt Rabatel N3 and Adj-Chef Fonck both have Probables this day and area according to the FASWC

Von Tutshek J 12 was damaged in the morning
SS 26 2 KIA this day
FAA 295 had a crew killed

[MASTIFF]

MONDAY, 16 JULY 1917

Casualties –

2nd Lt R G Jardine (Ok), 56 Sqn, SE5 A8931- took off 17:45/18:45 then damaged in forced landing Dranoutre after engine shot through on offensive patrol 18:15/19:15 - Ltn Hermann Göring, Ja27, 9th victory [east of Ypres at 19:10/20:10] or Vzfw Max Krauss, Ja27, 2nd victory [north-east of Ypres at 19:10/20:10] ?




JWC has Jardine credited to Goering at 0805hrs and then shows Goering shot up and FTL by Jardine.

Krauss claim shown as a Sopwith at 0810hrs.


Tony

[MASTIFF]

Other claims this date:

Ltn O Kissenberth, Js16, Spad VII, Mort Homme,1235hrs, 6th victory. Spad #1286, MdL P Roux, N.85, in flames POW. Only Spad lost this date.

Ltn H Gontermann, Js15, balloon, S Reims, 1400hrs, 24th victory. French 53 Cie d'A, not flamed.

Obltn O Schmidt, Js32, balloon, Mourmelon, 1445hrs, 6th victory.

Ltn F Kieckhafer, Js32, balloon, Villers Mamery, 1447hrs, first victory.

Vfw K Petzinna, Js32, balloon, ... le Petit (?), 1450hrs, first victory.

Vfw K Wusthoff, Js4, balloon, Kemmel, 1815hrs, 4th victory. British balloon 38-7-2.

Vfw F Tabaka, Js32, Farman, Cornilette-Hohe, 194?, first victory.

Ltn H Adam, Js6, Sopwith, NE Ypern, 2005hrs, 6th victory.


Losses:

Ltn Heinrich Geist, Js9, killed in test-flight accident S of Vouziers.


Tony

[centurion]

2nd Lt R G Jardine (Ok), 56 Sqn, SE5 A8931 - to 1AD, repaired [www.airhistory.org.uk]

Marco

[centurion]

According to "Hermann Goring Fighter Ace", Goring force-landed behind the trenches and nosed over. His Albatros DIII (2049/16) was scrapped.

Marco

[R Gannon]

Lt Carter & 2/AM F Farmer, 4 Sqn, Albatros Scout broke up by Farmer - while taking photographs, Lt Carter & 2/AM Farmer, 4 Squadron, were attacked by two Albatros scouts. 2/AM Farmer fired at both in succession and his first opponent was seen by a heavy battery to fall out of control and then break to pieces in the air

Flt Sub-Lt H W Taylor, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout broke up Polygon Wood at 18:00/19:00 - Flight Sub- Lt H Taylor, 10 Squadron RNAS, lost his formation and joined six French machines. When over Polygon Wood they engaged four EA and one, fired on by Flight Sub-Lt Taylor, broke to pieces in the air

I'm wondering if there is some cross pollination here? Both accounts speak of an EA falling OOC and breaking to pieces.

It is a pity we do not have a time & loc for 4 Sqn claim - 4 Sqn were Ypres sector in support of II Corps immediately south of Ypres.

Communiques runs pretty close to what is recorded in FSL Taylor's CR - my copy faint but additional data; combat at 13,000ft(?) says 4 EA scouts and that Taylor fired a burst of 20rds(?) at a 'yellow & green' single seater which fell OOC and '..broke to pieces in the air.' Location actually given as North of Polygon Wood.

I'm wondering as to whether Taylor's CR has also been coloured by later word from the ground (same heavy battery perhaps?) of an EA seen to break up?

Either way it appears an EA was seen to break up. One might jump to conclude Js 6 Vfw Krebs kia, however JG I KTB preserves the time this loss as 1945GT (1845BT), which is 45 minutes later than Taylor claim.

This leads me to raise the issue of the Schusta 26 loss of Uffz K Beck & Uffz G Hess both listed as killed at Westroosebeke. This was not an airfield, but a location that figures in many claims & losses. I don't know any further detail, but there is the curious anomaly that this very same crew was credited with a balloon near Elverdinghe on the following day - 17 July. A claim not reflected by a balloon loss. Something is not right. I don't know whether the Schlata book clarifies the anomaly of loss & claim. But I wonder as to whether it was their machine which was seen to break up?

Westroosebeke is 6km NNE of Polygon Wood

I'd be interested in input on this one.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Capt W C Campbell, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout destroyed Poelcapelle at 19:20/20:20 - Ltn Hermann Göring, Ja27, OK [?]
Sgt G P Olley, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed south of Poelcapelle at 19:30/20:30
Lt L F Jenkin, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Ten-Brielen at 19:35/20:35
Capt W C Campbell, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Zonnebeke at 19:40/20:40
Capt W C Campbell, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Zonnebeke at 19:42/20:42

In the evening, an Offensive Patrol of 1 Squadron led by Captain W C Campbell encountered eight Albatros scouts which they attacked over Becelaere. Captain Campbell picked out the leader into which he fired a drum and the EA was destroyed. Shortly afterwards he dived at the leader of a formation of 14 EA which the Nieuports attacked, and followed it down until he saw it crash in a field. Sgt G P Olley picked out a scout painted bright green which he shot down and saw crash, and Lt L F Jenkin picked out an EA painted slate-grey and last saw it falling over and over completely out of control

The actual train of events was that A/1Sqn led by Campbell attacked 8 Albatros scouts at 15,000ft over Becelaere at 1920 - fired Drum EA fell rolling over & over and crashed near Poelcapelle. It appears the flight got separated and Sgt Olley attacked 3 Albatros 1930, firing half a Drum which went down and crashed south of Poelcapelle at Sh28 D2 (confirmed Capt Campbell). Further south Jenkin attacked 2 EA scouts 1935, one of which went down OOC (cfm by Lt Birkbeck). Finally Campbell attacked 14 EA at 13,000ft over Zonnebeke at 1940 followed leader down firing, which crashed in a field Sh28 D12.

Again whilst Js 6 Vfw Krebbs kia might be considered, his loss however was an hour later.

My own suspicion is that some of the claimed crashes were auto-suggestion. As was always the case, British pilots did not follow EA down (for good reasons). This fighting was between 15,000 & 13,000ft and late in the evening, where the ground was almost certainly in shadow - EA falling into that shadow, when seen from height, likely gave the illusion of a crash. I believe this was a common misconception in the big evening dog fights over the Ypres Salient during the second half of 1917.

Russ

[R Gannon]

Capt G H Bowman, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Polygon Wood at 18:15/19:15
Lt R G Jardine, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Polygon Wood at 18:15/19:15
Lt R A Maybery, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Ypres at 18:15/19:15

An Offensive Patrol of 56 Squadron, when escorting Martinsydes of 27 Squadron, was attacked by four Albatros scouts but these were driven off. Shortly afterwards Capt G H Bowman noticed 15 EA above him, so turned to take his patrol nearer the lines as there was a strong west wind blowing. A number of other machines joined the EA formation and then dived at our SES who were underneath at 14,000 feet. Our machines were out-numbered and driven down to 4,000 feet. Eventually, Captain Bowman secured a favourable position on the tail of one EA which, like all the rest, simply dived past and fired. This machine after being fired at dived straight into the ground, completely crashed. In this fight Lt R G Jardine destroyed one EA, and Lt R A Maybery sent one down completely out of control

2nd Lt R G Jardine (Ok), 56 Sqn, SE5 A8931- took off 17:45/18:45 then damaged in forced landing Dranoutre after engine shot through on offensive patrol 18:15/19:15 - Ltn Hermann Göring, Ja27, 9th victory [east of Ypres at 19:10/20:10] or Vzfw Max Krauss, Ja27, 2nd victory [north-east of Ypres at 19:10/20:10] ?

This was initially a 6 strong C/56 Sqn OP which had escorted 27 Sqn Elephants on a bombing raid. Their rear inexperienced rear man (Lt White) was attacked by 4 Albatros scouts and although driven off by Bowman & Maybery, White along with Hoidge returned leaving 4 SE5's on patrol. These attracted a higher flying formation of 15 EA scouts soon reinforced by 7 more. Some of these began a series of dive & zoom attacks on the SE5's driving them down from 14,000 to 4,000ft - but as Bowman noted, they, '..avoided close fighting'. None the less both Bowman and Maybery were able to get on the tails EA engaging at very close range - Bowman sent one down in a nose dive with engine full on, which, '..made no attempt to flatten out near the ground, and flew into it at the East end of the race course in Polygon Wood, and crashed absolutely' Maybery believed he hit the pilot of one which went, '...down in a vertical nose dive out of control.' My gut feeling is that Bowman & Maybery had engaged the same EA and that it was the machine of Vfw Krebbs kia of Js 6 time 1945GT which is in the time frame of the 56 Sqn claims. As always no specific times, but between 1815 & 1915BT (1915 & 2015GT)

As is the popular resolution, it looks as if Lt Jardine chased the Albatros of Js 27's Ltn Goering down after a head on encounter, witnessing it crash from 1500ft. Goering claimed to have sent down a Sopwith (supposedly crashed) at low level, prior to turning to engage a second Sopwith and his mishap with his engine (bullet induced I bet). My suspicion is that he actually claimed the SE5 of Lt Wilkinson, which was shot about, but none the less returned. Goering's notion of a crashed Sopwith NE of Ypres can only be auto-suggestion. Js 27 KTB gives Alb DIII 2049/17 as Goering's machine and that their patrol was 11 strong.

In addition to the Goering claim, Vfw Krauss of Js 27 AND Ltn Adam of Js 6 also claimed, and indeed were credited, with Sopwiths at 2005GT NE Ypren. All however listed as jenseits.

Jardine came down at Dranoutre, with is just south of Kemmel and some 10km SSW of Ypres!!!!

Maybery was chased back to the lines by 3 EA scouts - but of course no further.

Another good example of the cracks appearing in the German claiming system.
Three paid claims, but only one crash landed SE5.

Russ

[R Gannon]

It is probably worth noting that in relation to above post about C/56 Sqn's combats; that prior to their fight with the 15 EA, Bowman noted 6 higher flying Spads and some Sopwith Scouts (Pups). He fired a red light in the hope of attracting them. One of the Sopwith Scouts was being flown by Capt JTB McCudden who had come out with 66 Sqn. He was on a 6 strong OP which scrapped with Albatros scouts east of Ypres around 1830BT at 13,000ft. JTB drove down one Albatros which had got onto the tail of another Pup.

Russ