Graeme
14 April 2018, 12:15 AM
SUNDAY, 14 APRIL 1918
General Headquarters, April 15th.
“On the 14th inst. our aeroplanes reconnoitred the enemy's lines on the Lys battle front, and were again obliged by clouds and mist to carry out their work at a very low height. Bombs were dropped and machine-gun fire was opened from the air on the enemy's troops in this area. All our machines returned."
RAF Communiqué number 2:
Lows clouds and mist prevailed on the whole front and very little flying was done except by the 1st Brigade, who, in spite of the weather, had machines out all day reconnoitring their Army front, bombing and machine-gunning the enemy’s troops.
Fourteen reconnaissances were carried out, six by the 1st Brigade and eight by the 2nd Brigade.
One hostile battery was neutralized and 16 zone calls were sent down.
A total of four and a half tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-
1st Brigade: No 2 Squadron, 120 25-lb and 8 40-lb phosphorous bombs. No 4 Squadron, 57 25-lb bombs. No 18 Squadron, 10 112-lb and 20 25-lb bombs. No 40 Squadron, 24 25-lb bombs. No 203 Squadron, 36 25-lb bombs. No 210 Squadron, 44 25-lb bombs.
3rd Brigade: 12th Wing, 6 25-lb bombs.
5th Brigade: No 35 Squadron, 12 25-lb bombs. No 48 Squadron, 36 25-lb bombs.
Enemy Aircraft:
Enemy aircraft activity was nil and no combats took place.
Casualties:
2nd-Lieut H S Montgomerie (Wia) & ? (Ok), 2 Sqn, AW FK8 - hit by ground fire on artillery observation
2nd-Lieut T Rawsthorne (Ok) & Lieut A H McLachlan (Wia), 2 Sqn, AW FK8 C3530 - hit by heavy machine-gun fire from ground near Locon during artillery patrol
Maj R S Dallas DSO DSC (Wia), 40 Sqn, SE5a B4879 - hit by machine-gun fire from ground while firing on lorry convoy on reconnaissance
Not combat-related but indicative of the urgency to get crews into the air:
2nd-Lieut E A Doughty (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut J A R Andrews (Ok), 4 Sqn, RE8 B5893 – took off 15:35/15:35 then caught by wind and overturned on take-off for contact patrol
2nd-Lieut E A Doughty (Killed) & 2nd-Lieut J A R Andrews (Killed), 4 Sqn, RE8 C4561 – took off 15:57/15:57 then spinning nosedive and caught fire on take-off for contact patrol
Graeme
General Headquarters, April 15th.
“On the 14th inst. our aeroplanes reconnoitred the enemy's lines on the Lys battle front, and were again obliged by clouds and mist to carry out their work at a very low height. Bombs were dropped and machine-gun fire was opened from the air on the enemy's troops in this area. All our machines returned."
RAF Communiqué number 2:
Lows clouds and mist prevailed on the whole front and very little flying was done except by the 1st Brigade, who, in spite of the weather, had machines out all day reconnoitring their Army front, bombing and machine-gunning the enemy’s troops.
Fourteen reconnaissances were carried out, six by the 1st Brigade and eight by the 2nd Brigade.
One hostile battery was neutralized and 16 zone calls were sent down.
A total of four and a half tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-
1st Brigade: No 2 Squadron, 120 25-lb and 8 40-lb phosphorous bombs. No 4 Squadron, 57 25-lb bombs. No 18 Squadron, 10 112-lb and 20 25-lb bombs. No 40 Squadron, 24 25-lb bombs. No 203 Squadron, 36 25-lb bombs. No 210 Squadron, 44 25-lb bombs.
3rd Brigade: 12th Wing, 6 25-lb bombs.
5th Brigade: No 35 Squadron, 12 25-lb bombs. No 48 Squadron, 36 25-lb bombs.
Enemy Aircraft:
Enemy aircraft activity was nil and no combats took place.
Casualties:
2nd-Lieut H S Montgomerie (Wia) & ? (Ok), 2 Sqn, AW FK8 - hit by ground fire on artillery observation
2nd-Lieut T Rawsthorne (Ok) & Lieut A H McLachlan (Wia), 2 Sqn, AW FK8 C3530 - hit by heavy machine-gun fire from ground near Locon during artillery patrol
Maj R S Dallas DSO DSC (Wia), 40 Sqn, SE5a B4879 - hit by machine-gun fire from ground while firing on lorry convoy on reconnaissance
Not combat-related but indicative of the urgency to get crews into the air:
2nd-Lieut E A Doughty (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut J A R Andrews (Ok), 4 Sqn, RE8 B5893 – took off 15:35/15:35 then caught by wind and overturned on take-off for contact patrol
2nd-Lieut E A Doughty (Killed) & 2nd-Lieut J A R Andrews (Killed), 4 Sqn, RE8 C4561 – took off 15:57/15:57 then spinning nosedive and caught fire on take-off for contact patrol
Graeme