Graeme
6 November 2018, 05:26 AM
WEDNESDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 1918
General Headquarters, November 7th.
"On November 6th low clouds and continuous rain greatly restricted flying, but some of our machines succeeded in harassing the enemy's troops and transport with bombs and machine-gun fire, dropping over half a ton of bombs and causing casualties and damage. There was no hostile aircraft activity. Two of our machines are missing. No night operations were possible on account of weather conditions."
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, November 6th.
"During the past 24 hours, mist and low clouds have been prevalent, and on the night of the 5th-6th there were also heavy showers of rain. In spite of these conditions, on the afternoon of the 5th our machines attacked a hostile aerodrome at Morhange, obtaining direct hits on the railway and the aerodrome. In the course of fighting one enemy aeroplane was driven down out of control. All our machines returned. On the night of the 5th-6th, our machines attacked the hostile aerodromes at Morhange, Frescaty, Dieuze and Lellingen. Good shooting was obtained. A hangar was set on fire at
Morhange. All our machines returned. On the 6th inst. Buhl aerodrome was heavily and successfully attacked. Large numbers of enemy aeroplanes attacked our formations, and in the course of severe fighting three enemy machines were destroyed. Three of our machines are at present unlocated."
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, November 7th.
"In addition to the attacks already reported, our machines on the afternoon of November 6th bombed the factories at Saarbrücken. One direct hit was obtained on the factory and one on the railway sidings, but other results could not be observed. In the course of fighting, two enemy aircraft were destroyed and two more enemy machines were driven down out of control. One of our machines is missing. Also, in addition to the enemy aircraft reported accounted for yesterday, a further two machines were destroyed and one was driven down out of control."
RAF Communiqué No 32:
Weather: Low cloud and continuous rain.
Seventeen reconnaissances, 30 contact and counter-attack patrols.
Two hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, two neutralized, 33 zone calls sent.
No night-bombing was carried out; half a ton of bombs dropped by day.
No 210 Squadron carried out a very successful attack on ground targets in the morning. In a column of gun limbers which was attacked three teams were brought a standstill, several horses in each team being killed and many casualties caused to personnel. The remainder of the convoy stampeded. Rifle pits and machine gun posts near Bavai were attacked, and 30 infantry who retired from rifle pits had casualties inflicted upon them.
Enemy Aircraft:
Activity nil [clearly not taking account of claims by squadrons of the Independent Force].
Lieut W C Jeffries & Sgt E V G Chambers, 99 IF, Pfalz Scout out of control smoking Buhl -
2nd Lieut W A Warwick & Lieut L H Burrows, 99 IF, Pfalz Scout crashed south of Arzchviller at 14:00/ 15:00 -
Lieut F Crosbie-Choppin & 2nd Lieut A T Bower, 99 IF, Pfalz Scout crashed south-west of Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut H F King & Lieut T Llewellyn, 99 IF, Pfalz Scout out of control smoking Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut P Hopkins & Lieut C C Blizard, 104 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Buhl airfield at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut J Wrighton & Sgt W H Bell, 104 IF, Fokker DVII in flames Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut B H Stretton & 2nd Lieut H Grieve, 104 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Lorquin at 14:10/ 15:10 -
Capt J B Fox & Lieut J Parke, 55 IF, Fokker DVII broke up Saarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Capt J B Fox & Lieut J Parke, 55 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Saarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Lieut R F H Norman & Capt J F D Tanqueray, 55 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Saarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Casualties:
Lieut T S Horry (Ok), 92 Sqn, SE5a F858 - badly shot about
2nd-Lieut C E W Thresher (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut W Glew (Wia; dow 07-Nov-18), 99 Sqn IF, DH9 D3040 - missing on bomb raid
2nd-Lieut H L Wren (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut W H Tresham (Pow), 104 Sqn IF, DH9 D1050 - missing on bomb raid
2nd-Lieut A Hemmingway (Kia) & Sergt G A Smith (Kia), 104 Sqn IF, DH9 D3101 - missing on bomb raid
Two ‘DH’ victories were credited:
Vzfw Hans Nulle, Ja39, 10th victory [Ibingen at 14:00/15:00]
Vzfw Hans Nulle, Ja39, 11th victory [Ibingen at 14:00/15:00]
Lieut K R Unger (Ok), 210 Sqn, Camel F3930 - longeron and gravity tank shot through by A.A. fire on special mission south of Bavai
Lieut R A Spencer (Ok) & Lieut W F Wilson (Ok), 59 Sqn, RE8 C2529 - force landed ‘U.4.a’ 06:45/07:45 after petrol tank and controls shot while flying east of Sambre on counter attack patrol
Capt L H Jones (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut V Lockey (Ok), P Flt, Bristol F.2B C1013 - front petrol tank ripped open by machine-gun fire force landed at Sh37.U.1.a central [north-east of Froidmont] 10:30/11:30 and burst into flames
Graeme
General Headquarters, November 7th.
"On November 6th low clouds and continuous rain greatly restricted flying, but some of our machines succeeded in harassing the enemy's troops and transport with bombs and machine-gun fire, dropping over half a ton of bombs and causing casualties and damage. There was no hostile aircraft activity. Two of our machines are missing. No night operations were possible on account of weather conditions."
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, November 6th.
"During the past 24 hours, mist and low clouds have been prevalent, and on the night of the 5th-6th there were also heavy showers of rain. In spite of these conditions, on the afternoon of the 5th our machines attacked a hostile aerodrome at Morhange, obtaining direct hits on the railway and the aerodrome. In the course of fighting one enemy aeroplane was driven down out of control. All our machines returned. On the night of the 5th-6th, our machines attacked the hostile aerodromes at Morhange, Frescaty, Dieuze and Lellingen. Good shooting was obtained. A hangar was set on fire at
Morhange. All our machines returned. On the 6th inst. Buhl aerodrome was heavily and successfully attacked. Large numbers of enemy aeroplanes attacked our formations, and in the course of severe fighting three enemy machines were destroyed. Three of our machines are at present unlocated."
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, November 7th.
"In addition to the attacks already reported, our machines on the afternoon of November 6th bombed the factories at Saarbrücken. One direct hit was obtained on the factory and one on the railway sidings, but other results could not be observed. In the course of fighting, two enemy aircraft were destroyed and two more enemy machines were driven down out of control. One of our machines is missing. Also, in addition to the enemy aircraft reported accounted for yesterday, a further two machines were destroyed and one was driven down out of control."
RAF Communiqué No 32:
Weather: Low cloud and continuous rain.
Seventeen reconnaissances, 30 contact and counter-attack patrols.
Two hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, two neutralized, 33 zone calls sent.
No night-bombing was carried out; half a ton of bombs dropped by day.
No 210 Squadron carried out a very successful attack on ground targets in the morning. In a column of gun limbers which was attacked three teams were brought a standstill, several horses in each team being killed and many casualties caused to personnel. The remainder of the convoy stampeded. Rifle pits and machine gun posts near Bavai were attacked, and 30 infantry who retired from rifle pits had casualties inflicted upon them.
Enemy Aircraft:
Activity nil [clearly not taking account of claims by squadrons of the Independent Force].
Lieut W C Jeffries & Sgt E V G Chambers, 99 IF, Pfalz Scout out of control smoking Buhl -
2nd Lieut W A Warwick & Lieut L H Burrows, 99 IF, Pfalz Scout crashed south of Arzchviller at 14:00/ 15:00 -
Lieut F Crosbie-Choppin & 2nd Lieut A T Bower, 99 IF, Pfalz Scout crashed south-west of Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut H F King & Lieut T Llewellyn, 99 IF, Pfalz Scout out of control smoking Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut P Hopkins & Lieut C C Blizard, 104 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Buhl airfield at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut J Wrighton & Sgt W H Bell, 104 IF, Fokker DVII in flames Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut B H Stretton & 2nd Lieut H Grieve, 104 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Lorquin at 14:10/ 15:10 -
Capt J B Fox & Lieut J Parke, 55 IF, Fokker DVII broke up Saarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Capt J B Fox & Lieut J Parke, 55 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Saarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Lieut R F H Norman & Capt J F D Tanqueray, 55 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Saarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Casualties:
Lieut T S Horry (Ok), 92 Sqn, SE5a F858 - badly shot about
2nd-Lieut C E W Thresher (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut W Glew (Wia; dow 07-Nov-18), 99 Sqn IF, DH9 D3040 - missing on bomb raid
2nd-Lieut H L Wren (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut W H Tresham (Pow), 104 Sqn IF, DH9 D1050 - missing on bomb raid
2nd-Lieut A Hemmingway (Kia) & Sergt G A Smith (Kia), 104 Sqn IF, DH9 D3101 - missing on bomb raid
Two ‘DH’ victories were credited:
Vzfw Hans Nulle, Ja39, 10th victory [Ibingen at 14:00/15:00]
Vzfw Hans Nulle, Ja39, 11th victory [Ibingen at 14:00/15:00]
Lieut K R Unger (Ok), 210 Sqn, Camel F3930 - longeron and gravity tank shot through by A.A. fire on special mission south of Bavai
Lieut R A Spencer (Ok) & Lieut W F Wilson (Ok), 59 Sqn, RE8 C2529 - force landed ‘U.4.a’ 06:45/07:45 after petrol tank and controls shot while flying east of Sambre on counter attack patrol
Capt L H Jones (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut V Lockey (Ok), P Flt, Bristol F.2B C1013 - front petrol tank ripped open by machine-gun fire force landed at Sh37.U.1.a central [north-east of Froidmont] 10:30/11:30 and burst into flames
Graeme