“Englandgeschwader” London Raids 1917-1918

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

After an extended absence from the aerodrome I thought I would contribute some historical backgrounds for scenarios involving the Gothas and R-planes of the “Englandgeschwader” involved in the London Raids of 1917-1918.

The following missions are those that actually reached London - there were others targeting English coastal targets I will cover later. The information is sourced from "The First Blitz: Bombing London in the First World War" by Ian Castle (Osprey Publishing, 2015) and "First Blitz" by Neil Hanson (Transworld 2008).

Each mission will have the date and type of raid (daylight or night), the German and Allied units involved, an historical After Action Report and a list of Wings of Glory aircraft currently available to re-fight the action or 'what-if' scenarios.

Cheers,

Carl.


21 Gothas of the "Englandgeschwader" that reached London on 7 July 1917 as they flew over Essex on their return flight.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

13 JUNE 1917 (Daylight Raid)

Kampfgeschwader 3 der Oberste Heeresleitung (Kagohl 3) - 20 Gothas (2 returned early)

Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) – 33 aircraft
Dover: 3 x Sopwith Pup, 1 x Sopwith Baby
Eastchurch: 2 x Bristol Scout, 1 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
Felixstowe: 2 x Sopwith Schneider, 5 x Sopwith Baby
Grain: 2 x Sopwith Pup, 2 x Sopwith Baby
Manston: 4 x Bristol Scout, 1 x Sopwith Pup, 2 x Sopwith Triplane
Westgate: 4 x Sopwith Baby
Walmer: 4 x Sopwith Pup
Royal Flying Corps (RFC) – 55 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 1 x BE2e, 1 x BE12, 1 x BE12a, 1 x RE7, 5 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
No. 39 Squadron: 1 x BE2c, 2 x BE2e, 3 x BE12, 3 x BE12a, 1 x FK8
No. 50 Squadron: 1 x BE2c, 1 x BE12, 2 x BE12a, 5 x FK8, 1 x RE8, 1 x Vickers ES1
No. 65 Squadron: 2 x DH5
No. 78 Squadron: 1 x BE12a
No. 98 Depot Squadron (DS): 1 x BE2d, 1 x BE2e, 1 x BE12a
No. 35 Training Squadron (TS): 2 x Bristol Fighter
No. 40 TS: 2 x Sopwith Pup
No. 62 TS: 1 x Sopwith Pup
No. 63 TS: 1 x Sopwith Pup
No. 2 Aircraft Acceptance Park (AAP): 2 x DH4, 1 x DH5
No. 8 AAP: 1 x DH4, 1 x DH5, 1 x FE8, 1 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter, 1 x Bristol Fighter, 1 x RE8
Orfordness Experimental Station: 2 x Sopwith Triplane, 2 x DH4

AAR – One Gotha left the formation and turned southwards towards the Kent coastal town of Margate on which it dropped five bombs. Three Gothas left the formation, two peeling off towards Shoeburyness, where they dropped six bombs. The remaining Gothas dropped their bombs on London.

Although some 94 individual defensive sorties were flown by the RFC and RNAS, the time it took to gain the Gotha’s operating height, and the short time the enemy formation was over the city meant that only 11 got close enough to the departing raiders to open fire – all without serious effect. One of these, a Bristol Fighter from No. 35 (Training) squadron, finally caught up with three straggling Gothas over Ilford, Essex. Flown by Capt C.W.E. Cole-Hamilton, with Capt C.H. Keevil as observer, it closed to attack, but in the exchange that followed a bullet pierced Keevil’s neck and killed him. Defenseless, Cole-Hamilton turned sharply away and headed for home.

Eleven of the London AA guns opened fire on the raiders but scored no success. All the Gothas returned safely to their bases, having caused £125,953 worth of material damage in London, killing 162 and injuring 426 – this raid inflicting the highest single casualty total of the campaign on the city – and leaving the Home Defence organization exposed and largely powerless in its wake.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (3)
- Bristol Fighter (1)

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Airco DH.4
- RAF RE8
- Sopwith Triplane
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

[Carl_Brisgamer]

7 JULY 1917 (Daylight Raid)

Kagohl 3 – 24 Gothas (2 returned early)

RNAS – 22 aircraft
Dover: 1 x Sopwith Pup, 2 x Sopwith Baby
Eastchurch: 2 x Sopwith Camel
Grain: 1 x Sopwith Pup
Manston: 1 x Sopwith Pup, 3 x Sopwith Camel, 4 x Sopwith Triplane, 3 x Bristol Scout
Walmer: 5 x Sopwith Pup
RFC – 81 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 2 x BE12, 3 x BE12a, 1 x BE2e, 1 x RE7, 6 x Sopwith Pup, 6 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
No. 39 Squadron: 3 x BE12, 3 x BE12a, 2 x SE5, 1 x FK8
No. 50 Squadron: 2 x BE12a, 6 x Sopwith Pup, 1 x FK8, 1 x Vickers ES1, 3 x unrecorded aircraft
No. 78 Squadron: 5 x BE12a
No. 35 TS: 2 x Bristol Fighter
No. 40 TS: 1 x Sopwith Pup, 2 x unrecorded aircraft
No. 56 TS: 1 x SPAD S.VII
No. 62 TS: 1 x Sopwith Pup
No. 63 TS: 2 x Sopwith Pup
No. 198 DS: 1 x Vickers FB12c
No. 2 AAP: 5 x DH4, 1 x DH5
No. 7 AAP: 1 x FE8
No. 8 AAP: 3 x Bristol Fighter, 1 x FE2d, 2 x FE8, 1 x DH5, 1 x FK8
Orfordness Experimental Station: 1 x Bristol Fighter, 1 x Sopwith Triplane, 1 x DH2,
1 x FE2b, 1 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter, 1 x FK8, 1 x RE8
Martlesham Heath Testing Squadron: 2 x Sopwith Camel, 1 x DH4

AAR – 22 Gothas were observed by a Kentish lightship providing early warning of the raid. One Gotha wheeled away with engine problems, making a brief bombing run over Margate before heading home. The main body crossed the coastline near the mouth of the river Crouch, flying in close formation at about 12,000ft heading west. No. 37 Squadron, directly in the Gotha’s flight path, had at least 11 aircraft in the air, but realistically only its Sopwith Pups could hope to engage the German bombers. Three of them attacked the formation: one pilot gave up his attack when his guns jammed, another suffered engine problems and a third abandoned his attack because of a combination of both.

Despite this increased attention and the fire of AA guns along their route, the Gothas continued on their course without significant distraction and bombed London. One who did get into close combat, Capt J. Palethorpe, piloting a DH4 from a Testing Squadron, with Air Mechanic F. James as observer, engaged a leading Gotha as it headed across Essex towards the coast. Palethorpe’s Vickers gun jammed but he kept up with the formation, allowing James to engage three enemy aircraft with his Lewis gun. James fired off seven drums of ammunition in all and closing in to within 30 or 40 yards of one, he fired into it until it began to emit smoke. But before they could see the outcome a bullet struck Palethorpe ‘in the flesh of the hip’ and, with blood running down to his boots, he turned sharply away and landed safely at Rochford.

Another crew, flying a No. 50 Squadron Armstrong Whitworth FK8, one of those waiting to intercept the returning Gothas, closed to engage over the North Sea. Flying at 14,000ft, the pilot, 2nd Lt F.A.D. Grace with observer, 2nd Lt G. Murray, attacked one Gotha without effect, then attacked a group of three, but turned away because of the intensity of the return fire. Spotting a straggler flying below his FK8, Grace then pounced on this new target, as he later recalled: ‘We dived at it, firing our front gun, range 800 yards, as we got closer on a zig-zag course, and when between 600 and 400 yards, we got on its star- board side and above. The observer opened fire on it, with good results, as we saw black smoke coming from the centre section, and the H.A. [hostile aircraft] dived into the sea.’ The Gotha remained on the surface for a while, and although Grace and Murray circled, attempting to alert surface craft, with fuel running low, they reluctantly turned away. Neither the crew nor aircraft were recovered.

The remaining Gothas took a wider return course in an attempt to avoid the Dunkirk squadrons however RNAS pilots from Manston pursued the formation most of the way back to Belgium. Damage from incessant attacks forced one Gotha down on the beach at Ostend and three others were wrecked on their airfields through a combination of enemy action, strong winds, lack of fuel and the Gotha’s inherent instability when landing empty. British aircrew suffered too with two aircraft shot down.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (3 or more)
- Airco DH4 (1)
- Sopwith Camel (3)
- Sopwith Triplane (4)

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Bristol Fighter
- Airco DH2
- RAF RE8
- SPAD S.VII
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

[Carl_Brisgamer]

4-5 SEPTEMBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 - 11 Gothas (2 returned early)

RFC – 18 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 1 x BE2d, 3 x BE2e, 1 x BE12a
No. 39 Squadron: 3 x BE2e, 3 x BE12
No. 44 Squadron: 4 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 2 x BE12, 1 x FK8

AAR – As nine Gothas crossed the coast eighteen RFC aircraft took off, however none effectively engaged the incoming bombers that night. The AA gun at Borstal near Rochester proved more effective. Held for some minutes by a searchlight, the gun targeted a Gotha at a height estimated at 13,000ft and opened fire at 11.27pm. The gun commander, 2nd Lt C. Kendrew, RGA, reported that the Gotha ‘was apparently disabled by our gun fire. A direct hit was then scored and it was observed to fall almost perpendicularly for a short distance turning over and over’. Of the remaining eight Gothas that came inland reports show that five dropped their bombloads on London.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (1)
- AA gun (1) with searchlight

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Sopwith Camel

[Carl_Brisgamer]

24 SEPTEMBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 - 16 Gothas (3 returned early)

RFC – 30 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 4 x BE2e, 2 x BE12
No. 39 Squadron: 4 x BE2e (inc. one W/T tracker aircraft), 1 x BE12, 1 x BE12a
No. 44 Squadron: 3 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 5 x BE12 (three W/T tracker aircraft), 1 x BE2e, 2 x FK8
No. 78 Squadron: 2 x FE2d, 2 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
Orfordness Experimental Station: 3 x unrecorded aircraft.

AAR – 13 Gothas crossed the English coastline between Orfordness and Dover. The wide-ranging courses of these attacks meant the 30 RFC aircraft that took off to intercept the raid – including the first use of Biggin Hill airfield by the RFC – saw nothing, and similarly the searchlights struggled to pick out the raiders. Only three bombers penetrated inland to London, with six bombarding Dover while the remaining four dropped their bombs on coastal targets in south Essex and north Kent. Those that did battle through to London found the new AA barrage fire system in operation. The first to approach did so over the eastern suburbs and dropped its first bomb, an incendiary, on Lodore Street, just off East India Dock Road, around 8.05pm, followed quickly by a couple more on Poplar, just north of the West India Docks. Then it crossed the Thames and dropped four bombs on Rotherhithe and Deptford before turning away and heading east.

The effectiveness of the new barrage impressed those watching on the ground: ‘Everyone agreed that the intensity of the bombardment from the anti-aircraft guns was the greatest yet experienced … A searchlight succeeded in finding one of the raiders … Shrapnel was bursting all around, and more than once it looked as if the aeroplane would be brought crashing to earth … after a shell had burst in front of him he banked steeply and made off in the opposite direction, followed by a violent bombardment, until he disappeared from view.’ Reports showed that one Gotha crashed on landing in Belgium, possibly having suffered damage from AA guns on the homeward journey.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (1 or more)
- AA guns (3) with searchlights

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Sopwith Camel
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

[Carl_Brisgamer]

25 SEPTEMBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 - 15 Gothas (1 returned early)

RNAS – 2 aircraft
Manston: 2 x BE2c
RFC – 18 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 1 x BE2d, 2 x BE2e, 1 x BE12
No. 39 Squadron: 4 x BE2e (one W/T tracker aircraft), 1 x BE2c, 1 x BE12a
No. 44 Squadron: 3 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 1 x BE2e
No. 78 Squadron: 1 x FE2d, 3 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter

AAR – Fifteen Gothas set out to attack London, with only one dropping out with technical problems. Crossing the coast between Foulness and Dover from about 7.00 to 7.45pm, most settled on targets on the north-east Kent coast, such as Margate and Folkestone, with only three penetrating to the south-eastern corner of London. One of these arrived later than the first two, dropping three bombs over Blackheath, all of which failed to explode, and one on Charlton Park before turning away in the face of the barrage.

Of the thirty defence aircraft that took off only one Sopwith 1½ Strutter of No. 78 squadron with Capt D. J. Bell and 2nd Lt G.G. Williams on board engaged the raiders on their return flight. The Sopwith took up the chase and for 15 minutes kept a Gotha in sight, firing frequent bursts before the target disappeared from view. The following day the press carried a story about a substantial amount of petrol falling in Essex, suggesting damage to one of the Gotha’s fuel tanks. Certainly one Gotha failed to return, lost over the sea, possibly having run out of fuel.

The raids were having an effect on the Allied war effort. On the night of 24 September the production of .303 rifle ammunition at Woolwich Arsenal fell by 84 percent and the following night by 77 percent.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (1)
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Sopwith Camel

[Carl_Brisgamer]

29 SEPTEMBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 - 7 Gothas (3 returned early)

Riesenflugzeugabteilung 501 (Rfa 501) - 3 Giants (0 returned early)

RNAS – 3 aircraft
Manston: 3 x BE2c
RFC – 28 aircraft
No. 39 Squadron: 2 x BE2c, 6 x BE2e, 2 x BE12 (both W/T tracker aircraft), 1 x BE12a
No. 44 Squadron: 4 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 4 x BE12, 3 x BE2e, 1 x FK8
No. 78 Squadron: 1 x FE2d, 3 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
Orfordness Experimental Station: 1 x Martinsyde F 1

AAR - Over England the force encountered cloud, while a low ground mist hampered the Home Defence squadrons. Many observers, searchlight and gun crews were confused by the sheer noise generated by the massive four-engine ‘Giants’, whose existence was not yet general knowledge, submitting reports mistaking single aircraft as groups of incoming Gothas. The RNAS sent three aircraft up from the airfield at Manston while the RFC put almost 30 aircraft in the air, but there were only three brief sightings of hostile aircraft. German sources report that just two Gothas and one of the R.VI ‘Giants’ – R.39 – reached the capital to deliver their bombs.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (2)
- Zeppelin Staaken R.VI (1)
- AA guns (3 or more) with searchlights

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Sopwith Camel
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

[Carl_Brisgamer]

30 SEPTEMBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 - 11 Gothas (1 returned early)

RNAS – 2 aircraft
Manston: 2 x BE2c
RFC – 31 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 4 x BE2e (one W/T tracker)
No. 39 Squadron: 4 x BE2e (two W/T trackers), 2 x BE12, 1 x BE12a
No. 44 Squadron: 8 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 1 x BE2e, 2 x BE12 (one W/T tracker), 2 x FK8
No. 78 Squadron: 1 x FE2d, 5 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
Orfordness Experimental Station: 1 x Martinsyde F 1

AAR – Assisted by a full moon, 10 Gothas crossed the coast between 6.45 and 8.15pm. The RFC flew 35 defensive sorties in response with the RNAS putting up two aircraft from Manston. According to an RFC report, ‘Three pilots thought that they saw Hostile machines and two of these pilots opened fire’, but without result. Once again the over-worked gun barrage prepared to deflect the attack. Out in the western sub-command of the London guns, Lt Col Alfred Rawlinson bleakly summed up his command: owing to cuts in personnel he had ‘… the very smallest number of men which would suffice to work the guns … these men were necessarily of indifferent physique, such as did not permit their employment at the Front … they were hurriedly and recently trained … there were no reserves, and it was therefore necessary to keep every man, however exhausted, at his post at all costs.’

The barrage fire was intense and threatening to the attacking crews. Reports indicate that only six aircraft reached London that night and their stay over the capital was brief and generally ineffective; the police and fire service recorded only 22 explosive and 14 incendiary bombs. In spite of the intensity of the aerial barrage – just over 14,000 shells fired over London and south-east England at the ten raiding aircraft – and the claims of a Dover gun crew to have brought down a homeward-bound Gotha, all raiding aircraft returned safely.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (3 or more)
- AA guns (3 or more) with searchlights

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Sopwith Camel
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

[Carl_Brisgamer]

1 OCTOBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 - 18 Gothas (6 returned early)

RFC – 18 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 1 x BE2e, 1 x BE12
No. 39 Squadron: 2 x BE2e, 2 x BE12a
No. 44 Squadron: 7 x Sopwith Camel
No. 78 Squadron: 1 x FE2d, 4 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter

AAR – The leading Gotha crossed the coast at 6.50pm, the last not until two hours later. Ground mist over London hindered German navigation and prevented some British Home Defense squadrons getting airborne. The RFC managed to get 18 aircraft in the air but only one pilot caught a brief glimpse of a raider. The AA guns experienced problems too. The constant firing over the last few days meant many were running short of ammunition and others – with a lifespan estimated at 1,500 rounds – were coming to the end of their usefulness. To preserve them as long as possible an order restricted each burst of barrage fire that night to last no longer than one minute. A combination of the barrage fire and ground mist meant that perhaps only six Gothas arrived over London, dropping bombs between 8.00 and 10.00pm.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (3 or more)
- AA guns (3 or more) with searchlights

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Sopwith Camel
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

[Carl_Brisgamer]

31 OCTOBER/1 NOVEMBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 - 22 Gothas (0 returned early)

RNAS – 5 aircraft
Eastchurch: 2 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
Manston: 2 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter, 1 x DH4
RFC – 45 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 6 x BE2e (one W/T tracker)
No. 39 Squadron: 5 x BE2e, 3 x BE12 (one W/T tracker)
No. 44 Squadron: 13 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 3 x BE12 (two W/T trackers), 1 x BE12a, 4 x FK8, 1 x BE2e
No. 78 Squadron: 6 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter, 3 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS (single- seater conversion)

AAR - With an improvement in the weather, the Englandgeschwader attacked again on the night of 31 October, the day after the full moon. 22 Gothas with a staggered take-off pattern would ensure a constant flow of raiders over London for a three-hour period, and with half the bombs loaded this time being incendiaries. The first aircraft crossed the Kent coast at about 10.45pm, the rest came inland, singly or in pairs, over the next two-and-a-half hours. Many were pushed north by crosswinds, abandoning London as a target and attacking towns in Kent instead. German reports claim ten continued to the capital but only three main areas were bombed. Although no Gothas were lost to enemy action five aircraft crashed during landing in fog obscuring their base.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (3 or more)
- AA guns (3 or more) with searchlights

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Airco DH4
- Sopwith Camel
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

[Carl_Brisgamer]

6 DECEMBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 - 19 Gothas (3 returned early)
Rfa 501 - 2 Giants (0 returned early)

RFC – 32 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 1 x BE2d, 6 x BE2e, 1 x BE12
No. 39 Squadron: 2 x BE2e, 2 x Bristol Fighter, 3 x BE12
No. 44 Squadron: 6 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 3 x BE12 (all W/T trackers), 4 x FK8
No. 78 Squadron: 4 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS

AAR - 16 Gothas and two ‘Giants’ started crossing the Kent coastline at about 1.30am on 6 December. Many of the raiding force including one of the ‘Giants’ targeting Kent with their bombs. Later the other ‘Giant’ came inland but it too shied away from London. Although taken by surprise with the raid developing in the early hours of a dark morning, the RFC still put up 34 aircraft, including No. 39 Squadron’s two new high-performance Bristol Fighters, but no pilots located any enemy aircraft.

The first of the six Gothas to penetrate the London defences approached the outer barrage at about 4.30am. For the first time it appears one of the London guns inflicted critical damage to a Gotha over the city. The Times reported that ‘… a series of shell-bursts culminated in one which apparently struck a raider. Loud cheers were raised, and cries of “Got him!” The enemy machine was seen to wobble and descend slowly to the north.’ Shrapnel peppered the Gotha, crewed by Lt S.R. Schulte, Lt P.W. Barnard and Vfw B. Senf, damaging the port radiator. This gradually caused the engine to overheat and, once it caught fire, the crew knew they would have to try to land. They then came under fire from a mobile AA gun at Herne Bay and also a Lewis gun based at Bekesbourne airfield, which may have scored hits, but by then the damage was already done; the Gotha crash-landed in a field near Canterbury. The crew set fire to the wreckage of their aircraft and surrendered to a local special constable.

Another aircraft, a Gotha G.V, that failed to reach London, had a propeller shot away by AA gunfire while over Canvey Island, Essex. Looking for somewhere to land the pilot, Gemeiner J. Rzechtalski, steered towards the lights of Rochford airfield but they clipped a tree on their approach and crashed on a nearby golf course. The pilot and his fellow crew members, Lt R. Wessells and Vizefeldwebel O. Jakobs, crawled from the wreckage into the arms of their surprised captors. Later, when a group of officers was inspecting the wreck they lost a valuable prize when a signal pistol picked up by one went off accidentally and set the petrol-soaked wreck ablaze. Another Gotha failed to return, presumed forced down and lost at sea, while two more limped back and crash-landed in Belgium; a final aircraft crashed as it landed at its home airfield.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (2)
- AA guns (3 or more) with searchlights

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Zeppelin Staaken R.VI
- Bristol Fighter
- Sopwith Camel
- Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS

[Carl_Brisgamer]

18 DECEMBER 1917 (Night Raid)

Kagohl 3 now redesignated Bombengeschwader 3 der OHL (Bogohl 3) - 15 Gothas (2 returned early)
Rfa 501 - 1 Giant (0 returned early)

RFC – 46 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 3 x BE2e, 1 x BE12, 2 x BE12b
No. 39 Squadron: 2 x BE2e, 4 x Bristol Fighter
No. 44 Squadron: 8 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 3 x BE12, 6 x FK8
No. 61 Squadron: 4 x SE5a
No. 78 Squadron: 9 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS, 1 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter, 1 x BE2e (W/T tracker), 2 x BE12

AAR – Fifteen Gothas and a single Staaken R.IV type set out on the raid, with two Gothas dropping out before reaching England. Six Gothas evaded the barrages and made it through to London, where bombing runs took place between 7.15 and 8.30pm. The Giant reached the capital later, just after 9.00pm. With the unanticipated appearance of enemy aircraft on a dark night the warning system was caught off guard.

Aircraft from five Home Defense squadrons were dispatched to intercept the raiders. Flying a Sopwith Camel Capt G.W. Murlis-Green, commanding officer of No. 44 Squadron RFC closed in to attack one Gotha over Essex, attracted by searchlights and the Gotha’s two exhaust flares. His first attack failed when the muzzle flash from his guns temporarily blinded him. As the Gotha released its bombs over Bermondsey Capt. Murlis-Green made two more attempts to get into a position to attack. Although he reported his tracers entering the Gotha’s fuselage, both times his muzzle-flash forced him away. Every time he attacked, caught in searchlights, he was targeted by the Gotha’s front machine gun, but he commented that his adversary’s ‘tracers were always very wide of the mark’. He then closed in for a fourth attack, and this time there was no searchlight. The RFC pilot emptied the rest of his ammunition drum into the Gotha at which point it dived steeply in front of him, and as he turned to get out of the way, he was caught in the slipstream, which sent his Camel into a spin. By the time he regained control the Gotha had disappeared. The Gotha’s starboard engine burst into flames halfway back to the coast and the aircraft ditched in the sea off the coast at Folkestone.

With one Gotha confirmed shot down it was clear that the British defences were beginning to come to terms with the night-bomber raids. Back in Belgium the mournful toll continued with two Gothas lost on landing and five others sustaining damage.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (1)
- Sopwith Camel (1)

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
- Bristol Fighter
- SE5a
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
- Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS

[Carl_Brisgamer]

28/29 JANUARY 1918 (Night Raid)

Bogohl 3 - 13 Gothas (6 returned early)
Rfa 501 - 2 Giants (1 returned early)

RNAS – 6 aircraft
Dover: 4 x Sopwith Camel, 1 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
Eastchurch: 1 x Sopwith Camel
RFC – Detailed returns not available
No. 37 Squadron: 15 sorties flown
No. 39 Squadron: 10 sorties flown
No. 44 Squadron: 25 sorties flown
No. 50 Squadron: 11 sorties flown
No. 61 Squadron: 9 sorties flown
No. 75 Squadron: 5 sorties flown
No. 78 Squadron: 22 sorties flown

AAR – Seven Gothas crossed the coastline between 7.55 and 8.25pm, with just three attacking London and the other four attacking coastal towns in north-east Kent. With a clear sky and a definite improvement in the coordination of London’s defences, searchlights picked up a returning Gotha. As it approached Romford, two No. 44 Squadron Sopwith Camels, piloted by Capt George Hackwill and 2nd Lt Charles Banks, observed its progress and turned to engage. A tremendous running battle developed between the three aircraft as the Camels swooped in to attack and then withdrew, recovered their positions before attacking again – the whole drama watched closely from below. Then, as Banks turned away with mechanical problems, Hackwill made a fresh attack and this time he met with success – the Gotha went down in flames, crashing at Frund’s Farm at Wickford in Essex. For their involvement in bringing down the first Gotha on British soil, both Hackwill and Banks received the Military Cross.

‘R.12’ The single R.IV-type Staaken ‘Giant’, crossed the coastline about 10.25pm and headed towards London. Near Harlow a Bristol Fighter from No. 39 Squadron, flown by Lt J.G. Goodyear and 1st AM W.T.Merchant, attacked the Giant. After a few ineffectual exchanges, bullets from one of R.12’s six or seven machine guns splattered along the Brisfit wounding Merchant in the arm and smashing the main petrol tank. With his engine stopped Goodyear turned away and expertly glided down to North Weald airfield to make a perfect landing

R.12 continued on its way delivering a devastating attack, with one 300kg bomb striking an air-raid shelter. The casualty list of 38 killed and 85 injured was the single worse toll by a single bomb throughout the entire war. Back in Belgium Boghol 3 lost another four aircraft in landing accidents.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (1)
- Sopwith Camel (2)

- Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI (1)
- Bristol Fighter (1)

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

[Carl_Brisgamer]

29/30 JANUARY 1918 (Night Raid)

Rfa 501 - 4 Giants (1 returned early)

RNAS – 7 aircraft
Dover: 4 x Sopwith Camel, 1 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter
Walmer: 2 x Sopwith Camel
RFC – 69 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 3 x BE2e, 3 x BE12, 3 x BE12b
No. 39 Squadron: 8 x Bristol Fighter (one W/T tracker), 1 x BE2e (W/T tracker)
No. 44 Squadron: 15 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 3 x BE12 (inc. one W/T tracker), 4 x BE12b (one W/T tracker), 5 x FK8
No. 61 Squadron: 7 x SE5a
No. 75 Squadron: 1 x BE2e, 1 x BE12, 1 x BE12b
No. 78 Squadron: 6 x Sopwith Camel, 3 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS, 3 x BE12, 1 x BE12a, 1 x BE12b

AAR - Without support from Bogohl 3, Rfa 501 launched four of its ‘Giants’ against London alone. Only three R.VI-type reached England: R.25, R.26 and R.39. The last to cross the coast-line was R.26, but having developed engine problems over Essex it returned to also returned base. The first of the two remaining aircraft, R.39, came inland at about 10.05pm and encountered Capt Arthur Dennis, No. 37 Squadron, flying a BE12b. Dennis, flying at 12,000ft attacked from ‘fairly close range’ but after a furious exchange of fire, his aircraft became caught up in the Staaken’s powerful slipstream and he lost sight of his adversary. After completing its bomb run over London R.39 crossed the Thames and took a homeward course south of the river. Three RFC pilots attempted to engage the returning ‘Giant’ but it shrugged off all their attacks.

The other ‘Giant’ to reach London, R.25, came inland at about 10.50pm. The crew brushed off an attack from a No. 37 Squadron BE2e and then, 20 minutes later, a Sopwith Camel of No. 44 Squadron observed R.25 near North Benfleet and attacked. The pilot, 2nd Lt R.N. Hall, tried to close in but every time he did his guns jammed. Another pilot from the squadron, 2nd Lt H.A. Edwardes, joined the attack and fired three bursts before his guns jammed; selflessly he then switched on his fuselage light and flew above the ‘Giant’ to attract other pilots.

R.25 ‘kept turning sharply to the left and right losing height’ as it continued towards London. Two more No. 44 Squadron pilots attacked: 2nd Lt T.M. O’Neill and squadron commander Major Gilbert Murlis-Green. O’Neill experienced frustrating problems with his guns as he attacked before losing R.25 in the dark, while Murlis-Green, thwarted at first by the ‘short and accurate bursts’ of machine-gun fire aimed at him, eventually got below the ‘Giant’s’ tail and opened fire at what he believed was 50 yards’ range. However, confusion caused by the Neame gunsight meant that he later discovered the range was far greater. Pilots knew that a Gotha filled the gunsight ring at 100 yards, but little was yet known about the ‘Giants’; at almost twice the size of a Gotha, a ‘Giant’ was much further away when it filled the ring. Murlis-Green reported later that ‘all my R.T.S. [ammunition] looked as if it was detonating on the fuselage of the hostile machine. I kept my triggers pressed and fired one complete double drum of R.T.S. and three quarters of a drum from my second gun. At any moment I expected the hostile machine to burst into flames.’ When Murlis-Green later discussed the incident with his pilots they informed him that his bullets were bursting prematurely at a range of 100 yards, still short of the target.

R.25 continued on its course and avoiding a ‘balloon apron’ landed safely back in Belgium. Back on the ground the fortunate crew of the ‘Giant’ discovered 88 bullet holes in their aircraft.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI (1)
- Sopwith Camel (4)

Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Bristol Fighter
- SE5a
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
- Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS

[Carl_Brisgamer]

16 FEBRUARY 1918 (Night Raid)

Rfa 501 - 5 Giants (1 returned early)

RFC – 56 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 1 x BE2d, 5 x BE2e, 3 x BE12, 1 x BE12a
No. 39 Squadron: 7 x Bristol Fighter
No. 44 Squadron: 12 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 3 x BE12 (one W/T tracker), 3 x BE12b (one W/T tracker)
No. 61 Squadron: 7 x SE5a
No. 78 Squadron: 7 x Sopwith Camel, 1 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS
No. 141 Squadron: 4 x BE12 (one W/T tracker)
No. 143 Squadron: 2 x FK8

AAR – With Bogohl 3 grounded due to recent losses in aircraft and crew, particularly due to landing accidents Rfa 501 launched this raid unsupported. Encountering strong winds, three switched to the secondary target of Dover, leaving R.12 and R.39 to continue towards London. On board R.39 hung a single 1,000kg bomb, the heaviest type dropped from the air during the war. The two crossed the coast around 9.40pm with R.12 flying a few minutes ahead.

At about 10.15pm the starboard wing of R.12 made contact with the steel cables of a balloon apron, throwing the aircraft dramatically to the right before it fell out of control to the left. With immense coolness the pilot throttled down all engines then opened up the two port engines which allowed him, after plummeting 1,000ft, to regain control and steer away to the south-west. During those anxious moments one of the mechanics saved himself from being thrown out of his engine nacelle only by holding on to the forward exhaust manifold, severely burning his hands. The violent maneuvers shook two bombs free and caused the crew to offload the rest and head for home.

R.39 dropped its single 1,000kg bomb on the north-east wing of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. The bomb killed five, injured three, destroyed three buildings within the hospital grounds, severely damaged another and caused slight damage to another 200 buildings in the vicinity. Despite the Home Defense squadrons flying 56 sorties the dark night covered the progress of the raiding aircraft and all the Staaken bombers made it back to base.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI (1)
- AA gun (1) with searchlight
- Barrage balloon apron (1)

Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Bristol Fighter
- SE5a
- Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS

[Carl_Brisgamer]

17 FEBRUARY 1918 (Night Raid)

Rfa 501 - 1 Giant (0 returned early)

RFC – 66 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 5 x BE2e, 3 x BE12 (one W/T tracker), 4 x BE12b
No. 39 Squadron: 7 x Bristol Fighter
No. 44 Squadron: 12 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 2 x BE2e, 4 x BE12 (two W/T trackers), 1 x BE12a, 1 x BE12b
No. 61 Squadron: 8 x SE5a
No. 78 Squadron: 9 x Sopwith Camel, 1 x Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS
No. 141 Squadron: 4 x BE12, 1 x BE12b
No. 143 Squadron: 4 x FK8

AAR – R.25 conducted a lone raid coming inland at about 9.45pm and managing to avoid the attention of the RFC. The aircraft encountered a stiff barrage fire from the AA guns near Gravesend, Kent. Taking evasive action, R.25 circled around before releasing an incendiary bomb over Slade Green, then dropping its 19 explosive bombs, leaving an evenly spaced trail of destruction right across London. A British analysis of the raid was generous in its praise, describing it as ‘by far the most accurate and concentrated fire ever yet brought to bear on any target in London, either by day or night and was a fine piece of shooting by the man responsible for it.’

The RFC had 69 aircraft searching the sky, but the great noise generated by the R.25’s engines caused wildly conflicting accounts of numbers of enemy aircraft and their position. More than one of the aircraft on patrol found themselves subject to ‘friendly fire’. Captain Cecil Lewis of No. 61 Squadron, took it in his stride. In his report he wrote ‘Several times I was caught in searchlight beams and over Benfleet was fired at. Shooting very good. Burst exactly at my height (11,000 feet) and put several holes in my machine.’ Later another RFC pilot attacked Lewis. Unfazed, he added, ‘Judging the machine had made a mistake I put my machine into a spin and cleared’.

The extremely cool commander of R.25 was quick to realize the costly effect his solo raid had on the British defences. The London guns alone fired off about 3,800 shells; in his report he wrote ‘An attack by a single [Giant] is sufficient to alert the entire British defence system and to cause the expenditure of vast quantities of ammunition. It is seemingly from nervousness that not only anti-aircraft guns in the vicinity of the aircraft but also some 30km distant were being fired blindly into the air.’

Such was the nervous state of the British defences that a full-scale false alarm took place on the following night – 18 February – with 55 defensive sorties flown by the RFC and thousands of shells blasted aimlessly into the sky. In fact, the raiders were not to return for almost three weeks.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI (1)
- AA guns (3) with searchlights

Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Sopwith Camel
- Bristol Fighter
- SE5a
- Sopwith 1½ Strutter SS

[Carl_Brisgamer]

7/8 MARCH 1918 (Night Raid)

Rfa 501 - 6 Giants (1 returned early)

RFC – 41 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 2 x BE2e, 2 x BE12, 3 x BE12b
No. 39 Squadron: 8 x Bristol Fighter
No. 44 Squadron: 4 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 3 x BE12 (two W/T trackers), 3 x BE12b
No. 61 Squadron: 6 x SE5a
No. 78 Squadron: 3 x Sopwith Camel
No. 112 Squadron: 1 x Sopwith Camel
No. 141 Squadron: 3 x BE12
No. 143 Squadron: 3 x FK8

AAR – Flying out of a new airfield at Scheldewindeke south of Ghent, five aircraft reached England but only three attacked London: R.13 – the single R.V type – and two R.VI types, R.27 and R.39. Again, R.39 carried a single 1,000kg bomb. The crews found navigation difficult that night. Hauptmann Arthur Schoeller, commanding R.27, left a fascinating report of the raid: ‘We approach the coast; the night is so dark that the coastline below us is but a mere suggestion. Under us is a black abyss, no waves are seen, no lights of surface vessels flicker as we head for the Thames estuary at Margate. On our right, in the distant north, is our only light, the weak pulsating glow of the aurora borealis. Ahead of us a black nothingness.’ As the aircraft progressed clouds developed and thickened and it was only when searchlights illuminated the clouds below that the raiders realized they were over England.

All three ‘Giants’ dropped their bombs on the British capital. Although the RFC flew 42 defensive sorties, fewer than previous raids due to mist over some of the more eastern airfields, there were no sightings of Rfa 501’s raiding aircraft. The evening ended tragically for the RFC when Capt Alex Kynoch, of No. 37 Squadron flying a BE12, and the SE5a of Capt Clifford Stroud, No. 61 Squadron collided over Rayleigh, Essex, resulting in the deaths of both pilots.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI (3)
- AA guns (3 or more) with searchlights

Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Bristol Fighter
- SE5a
- Sopwith Camel

[Carl_Brisgamer]

19/20 MAY 1918 (Night Raid)

Bogohl 3 - 38 Gothas (10 returned early)
Rfa 501 - 3 Giants (0 returned early)

RAF – 86 aircraft
No. 37 Squadron: 5 x BE12, 2 x BE12a, 2 x BE12b, 1 x SE5a
No. 39 Squadron: 8 x Bristol Fighter (one W/T tracker)
No. 44 Squadron: 11 x Sopwith Camel
No. 50 Squadron: 1 x BE12 (W/T tracker), 1 x BE12b (W/T tracker), 7 x SE5a
No. 61 Squadron: 9 x SE5a
No. 78 Squadron: 10 x Sopwith Camel
No. 112 Squadron: 12 x Sopwith Camel
No. 141 Squadron: 7 x Bristol Fighter
No. 143 Squadron: 10 x SE5a

AAR – Taking advantage of favourable weather over England the largest London air raid of the war was launched. 38 Gothas and three ‘Giants’ were dispatched with a two-seater Rumpler aircraft leading the way to check the weather ahead. The first of the Gothas came inland over the north Kent coast just after 10.30pm, the last appeared around midnight. As with previous raids a number of aircraft were forced to turn back and it appears that 28 Gothas and the three ‘Giants’ made it inland. Reports from observer posts all over the south-east swamped LADA (London Air Defence Area) HQ, stretching the telephone system to the limit.

For the first time aircraft of the recently amalgamated Royal Air Force took off to oppose the raiders; they flew 88 sorties and soon the skies over Kent and Essex buzzed like a hornets’ nest. Captain Quintin Brand, No. 112 Squadron, took off at 11.15pm in a Sopwith Camel and attracted by searchlight activity, quickly spotted the exhaust flares of a westbound Gotha over Faversham. The Gotha opened up with its machine guns as Brand closed to 50 yards and fired two 20-round bursts from his own guns in return, hitting and stopping the Gotha’s starboard engine. The Gotha turned sharply to the north-east and attempted to evade the attack while losing height. Capt. Brand ‘followed E.A [enemy aircraft] down and closed to 25 yards and fired three bursts of about 25 rounds each. E.A. burst into flames and fell to pieces’. Although the flames from the burning Gotha enveloped his Camel and scorched his face and moustache, Brand followed the burning wreck down to 3,000ft until he saw it crash on the Isle of Sheppey at 11.26pm. Brand had only been in the air for 11 minutes.

The AA guns along the Thames Estuary were pounding the skies too and it appears only 18 aircraft battled their way through the barrage, the rest repulsed by the onslaught. The Metropolitan Police recorded 72 explosive bombs over a wide area. During the night the LADA guns fired over 30,000 rounds skywards.

A No. 39 Squadron Bristol Fighter caught a Gotha flying at 10,000ft north of Hainault, at about 12.05am. Following a running fight the Gotha smashed into the ground on open land on the outskirts of East Ham. Elsewhere Major F. Sowrey, No. 143 Squadron, who had previously shot down a Zeppelin in September 1916, engaged a Gotha V at about 12.25am returning from bombing Peckham and Rotherhithe. Closing on the raider in his SE5a, Sowrey fired off two drums of Lewis gun ammunition and, despite the Gotha’s evasive tactics, closed again to open with his Vickers. But an engine stall caused a spin and by the time he recovered control Sowrey had lost sight of the Gotha.

With a wounded pilot and little chance of reaching Belgium the Gotha crew was searching for somewhere to land when a Bristol Fighter of No. 141 Squadron, crewed by Lieutenants Edward Turner and Henry Barwise, pounced on the struggling Gotha. The first burst fired by the observer Barwise hit the Gotha’s port engine as it was attempting to reach the illuminated landing ground at Frinsted, Kent. Attacked again, the Gotha dived, defending itself by firing its rear gun in short bursts at the Brisfit. Then Barwise’s gun jammed and, encountering engine problems, Turner pulled away and gave up the attack. By now however the Gotha was in a bad way and crashed between Frinsted and Harrietsham about 12.45am.

Another Gotha met with disaster near Clacton after the pilot came down low to clear cloud cover in an attempt to establish its position. An engine problem meant he was unable to check the descent and, having unloaded the bombs made an emergency landing. Anti-aircraft guns also shot down two Gothas off the coast but claims for a third went unconfirmed; one more crashed on landing as it returned to Belgium. Quiet now returned to the skies over London. The city’s population, now reassured by the very visible aerial response to this latest attack, steeled themselves for the next alarm and the defenders confidently waited for their next test. A week passed, then a month, two months then three, but the raiders did not return - in fact they never came again.

Wings of Glory aircraft directly involved in historical action:
- Gotha G.IV/V (1)
- Sopwith Camel (1)

- Gotha G.IV/V (1)
- Bristol Fighter (1)

- Gotha G.IV/V (1)
- SE5a (1)
- Bristol Fighter (1)

- Gotha G.IV/V (3)
- AA guns (3) with searchlights

Other Wings of Glory aircraft deployed:
- Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
- Rumpler C.IV

[flash]

That's a mighty contribution Carl
Maybe you should get it shifted into the Campaign sub-forum as it will make a mother of a bomber campaign.

[Franco Lucchini]

Thanks for all the wonderful info Carl!

Intersting that there was no fighter escorts for the bombers. Too long of a journey for them, or hadn't those tactics developed yet?

Need to add this book to the reading list. Intersting that Castle is coverring topics outside his colonial expertise.

[zenlizard]

I'll echo what Flash said.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks Dave, good to be back contributing to the forum.

Yes it would make a good campaign. I am going to research the R-planes service on the Eastern Front as well prior to their transfer to Belgium in mid 1917, and of course there were other raids during the 'Blitz' and after targeting Allied cities in France and Belgium.

Cheers,

Carl.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks for all the wonderful info Carl!

Interesting that there was no fighter escorts for the bombers. Too long of a journey for them, or hadn't those tactics developed yet?

Need to add this book to the reading list. Interesting that Castle is coverring topics outside his colonial expertise.

Thanks Allen. If you want to read Castle's book it is available on www.scribd.com, but you have to be a subscriber ($10 a month for all the WW1 and WW2 history and aviation books you can digest!).

Regarding single seaters, you are right, their endurance was only 60-90 minutes so they could not make England. It was also considered these bombers had sufficient firepower to repel enemy scouts, which after reading the reports regarding the Zeppelin-Staaken engagements I don't think was that much under-estimated.

[Franco Lucchini]

Thanks Carl. Having enough trouble digesting the pile that grows on my night stand. Will look to add this to the horde. Always enjoyed Ian's writing style.

Thanks for the endurance fact. More ideas for the four CA.3s waiting for action in one of my boxes.

[Jager]

Good to have you back, Carl. Hope life is doing well for you.
Lot's of hard data there; thanks much for it.

Allen: scout escorts for bombers was not a common thing in WW1, less so for the Germans. Range, speed differences and the need to form up (usually from different airfields) with short ranges discouraged the practice. The Germans did frequently escort 2 seaters with other 2 seaters, often of the same make. An early example was using Rolands with forward guns to escort those without, but carrying cameras or bombs. But the Germans didn't bomb in daylight often on the Western front, though they did do close air support. The CL class was made with escorting in mind, as well as other tasks.
The French used the Caudron R.11 to both bomb with, and escort the formation.

Karl

[Franco Lucchini]

Thanks Karl! Very helpful on getting my bombers on the table.

[csadn]

Wow, look at all those opportunities to use the Sopwith Triplane mini....

>:)

[grumpybear]

Any of those would be fun to play. Thanks Carl for all that info.

[gully_raker]

G'day Carl!
Well you sure returned with a "Big Bang"!
Great info supplied in all those posts. Bet you had a really late night after all that Typing.

Can we hope this is a sign your work load is slackening? as it would be great to have you active again in some of our campaigns.

[milcoll73]

very interesting! welcome back!!!

[Stumptonian]

That's a great resource, Carl.
Maybe we can get it pinned (?) by the admins.

Thanks very much for taking the time to post these.

[matt56]

Lovely details here to mount some missions, Carl. As a gamer with multiple Gothas, it's nice to see the OB lists to fly things a bit more 'historically'...thanks for posting these!

All the best,
Matt

[Teaticket]

Lots of great scenario info here, thanks Carl! I have a few books on the German raids on Britain and was thinking of doing something like this but never got to it. Great REP worthy work.

[Malibumax]

Excellent thread - many thanks to Carl for his hard work in collating all the details.