WWI in the Air (16-22 May 1915)

Lionel Kearns (Lionel_kearns@sfu.ca)
Fri, 19 May 1995 14:13:14 -0700

>Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 09:44:44 -0500
>Reply-To: wwi-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
>Originator: wwi-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
>Sender: wwi-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
>Precedence: bulk
>From: Paul Silbermann <NASGRB17@sivm.si.edu>
>To: lionel_kearns@sfu.ca
>Subject: WWI in the Air (16-22 May 1915)
>X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0a -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
>X-Comment: Military History of the First World War
>
>5/16-17/1915 (night)
>Zeppelin LZ38 attacks Ramsgate and Dover (2 dead, 1 injured).
> Vickers F.B.5 (962) and Sopwith 860 seaplane (859) scrambled from RNAS
> Dover; 3 Avro 504Bs (1011, 1013, 1018) scrambled from RNAS Westgate.
> First illumination of a Zeppelin over Great Brita in, first
> interception of a Zeppelin (by Flt.Sub-Lt. R.H. Mulock in Avro 504B
> 1013), but aircraft unable to gain attack position. Zeppelin later
> reported by _Aerial_Age_ as destroyed by French torpedo boats.
> Cole & Cheesman, _The_Air_Defence_of_Britain_1914-1918_ (London:
> Putnam, 1984), p.53-54.
> Otto Dieckerhoff, _Deutsche_Luftschiffe:_1914-1918_ (Rheingau:
> Druckerei Weiss, 1973), p.88.
> _Aerial_Age_, 24 May 1915, p.234.
> _Aerial_Age_, 31 May 1915, p.258.
>
>(night) Zeppelin LZ39 attacks Calais. Intercepted on return flight by
> aircraft from RNAS No.1 Sqd (Dunkirk) which had been scrambled to
> intercept LZ38 returning from British coast. Damage to LZ39: 1 crew
> killed, several injured, 5 gas cells ruptured, rear stbd propeller
> lost. First successful interception of a Zeppelin by British aircraft
> (piloted by Sq.Cdr. Bigsworth).
> Cole & Cheesman, _The_Air_Defence_of_Britain_1914-1918_ (London:
> Putnam, 1984), p.54.
> Otto Dieckerhoff, _Deutsche_Luftschiffe:_1914-1918_ (Rheingau:
> Druckerei Weiss, 1973), p.87.
> _Aeronautics_ (London), 12 Jan 1916, p.36.
> _Aerial_Age_, 24 May 1915, p.234.
> _Aerial_Age_, 31 May 1915, p.258.
>
>5/17/1915
>2 Zeppelins and 2 Taubes attack Calais (1 Zeppelin brought down by
> ground fire Fort Mardick, near Dunkirk - 8 ofr., 40 o.r. captured)
> _Aerial_Age_, 31 May 1915, p.258.
>
>British Losses:
>KIA: Braithwaite, Lt. M.L. (RFA att.RFC)
> _Aeronautics_ (London), 5 Jan 1916, p.23.
>
>5/18/1915
>German Losses (incomplete listing)
>KIA/DOW: Balfanz, Hptm.d.R. Friedrich <Culm>
> _Unsere_Luftstreitkrafte_1914-18_ (Berlin: Vaterlandischer Verlag
> C.A. Weller, 1930)
>
>Week Preceding 5/20/1915 <5/13/15-5/19/15>
>"It is reported from Dunkirk that French airmen have destroyed the
> railway bridge over the Scarpe at Douai."
> _Aeronautics_ (London), 26 May 1915, p.351.
>
>5/20/1915
>British Losses:
>KIA: Barrington-Kennett, Maj. B.H. (Grenadier Guards) *not on fld svc*
>KIA: Johnstone, Lt. J.A. (RFA & RFC)
> _Aeronautics_ (London), 5 Jan 1916, p.23.
>
>5/21/1915
>German airship breaks loose from mooring at Konigsburg. (given up as
> lost on 30 May).
> _Aeronautics_ (London), 2 Jun 1915, p.369.
>
>5/22/1915
>British Losses:
>KIA: MacDonnell, Capt. H. C. (R. Irish Rgt att. RFC)
> _Aeronautics_ (London), 5 Jan 1916, p.23.
>
>**************** WWI in the Air (16-22 May 1915) **************
>