100 years ago today - 5 April 1918 [Archive] - The Aerodrome Forum

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Graeme
5 April 2018, 10:11 AM
FRIDAY, 5 APRIL 1918

General Headquarters, April 5th.

“About midday on the 5th inst. our aeroplanes dropped 22 heavy bombs on the railway station at Luxemburg. Many of the bombs were seen to burst on the railway and a very large fire was caused. The anti-aircraft fire encountered was considerable, but all our machines returned."

General Headquarters, April 6th.

“On the 5th inst., with the exception of a few nights on the battle front, no flying took place owing to the weather. One hostile aeroplane was shot down by our infantry."

RAF Communiqué number 1:

The weather was very bad, low clouds, mist, and rain prevailing all day. In spite of this, machines of the 3rd and 5th Brigades carried out a number of offensive patrols and 14 contact patrols.

Bombs were dropped by 5th Brigade as follows: 15th Wing, 71 25-lb bombs. 22nd Wing, 87 25-lb bombs.

8th Brigade: Eleven machines of No 55 Squadron bombed the railway station and sidings at Luxembourg. Twenty-two 112-lb bombs were dropped from 13,000 feet and several bursts were observed on the railway, where a large fire was started. Twelve photographs were taken. One machine, which was seen on our side of the lines, is missing.

Enemy aircraft:

Enemy activity was very slight. One enemy machine was brought down by infantry of the Third Army.

Casualties:

2nd-Lieut P O'Lieff (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut S R Wells (Pow), 55 Sqn RAF, DH4 A7553 - missing from bombing Luxembourg

Graeme

MASTIFF
5 April 2018, 10:22 AM
Jasta claims this date:

Vfw Gerhard Fieseler, Js25, Nieuport, Caniste, 0815hrs, 3rd victory. 4047, Esc N.508.

Uffz Rudolf Kassner, Js65, DH4, Mars-la-Tour, 1300hrs, unconfirmed.

Uffz Wilhelm Zorn, Js60, Caudron, no time or location, 3rd victory.


Jasta losses:

Vfw Konrad Brendle, Js45, injured in accident, no other info.


Tony

James A. Pratt III
6 April 2018, 02:05 PM
FASWC
casaulties
S/lt georges Poreaux Spa 31 (P) WIA (French 1 or 3 Armees Picardie)
Adj Alfred Guyot Spa 81 (P) WIA (French VI Armee ground strafing?)
Sgt Giraud Sop 231 (G) WIA ( 17CA Verdun area possible j65 Kassner claim)
Brig David Sop 141 (P) WIA (Esuennoy E of Montdider S of Ameins area)
Sol Georges Raignault Sal 39 (G) WIA (38 CA Rosnay W of Reims area)
Mdl Robert Mazurel (P) & Lt Burle (O) & Cpl Guyetant (G) all WIA Sal 8 Letord
S/Lt Bastien Br 107 (O) WIA (French 3 Armee)

J60 Zorn German 7 Armee caudron claim could be either the Sal 8 or sal 39 machines

James A. Pratt III
6 April 2018, 03:05 PM
NB
Allies bomb Luxembourg rail road 2 Luxembourg civilians killed and 2 wounded
claim 6 aircraft 4 air combat 1 flak and 1 FTL
loss 2 aircraft MIA 3 WIA air combat
with flak 4 officers WIA 5 enlisted KIA 7 WIA

CGAS
Uffz Emil Pruefert (P) & Ltn Chirstoph von Winterfeld (O) FAA 203 both killed Arvillers (N of Montdider
Uffz laxa (P) POW & LtndR Karl Hohne (O) KIA FA 33 over Frankreich
Vfw Adam Hermann Muller (G) SS 26 WIA (SF! British ground fire German 2 Armee)

claims
1 British 3 army ground fire
FASWC MdL Gasser & MdL Discours N 87 Hannover C FTL Lay (French VIII Armee)
the N87 claim might be the FA 33 loss

James A. Pratt III
6 April 2018, 03:21 PM
CGAS and OTF 30-2
Ltn Hermann Lydorf (O) FAA 235 WIA (ground fire)