British Military Aviation in 1916 - Part 3

Part 2

2 August
In Belgium aircraft of No.4 and No.5 Wings, Royal Naval Air Service, experiment with new bombing technique. Guided by signal flares from a Sopwith 1½ Strutter, 11 bombers in line astern attack a target near Ghent.

3 August
The interim report of the Committee of Inquiry chaired by Mr Justice Bailhache into the administration of the Air Services (the Bailhache Committee) is released. The Committee recommended that there should be one Department charged with the equipment of both flying services.

5 August
Fighter pilot Major L.W.B. Rees of the Royal Flying Corps, wins the Victoria Cross. While flying an Airco DH2 he spotted a formation of eight enemy aircraft and decided to attack. Despite the odds, and injuries, Major Rees managed to force two aircraft down out of control before his ammunition ran out.

27 August
Italy declares war on Germany and Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary.

28 August
Germany declares war on Romania.

30 August
Turkey declares war on Romania.

September
The Royal Flying Corps School of Aerial Gunnery is formed from the Machine-Gun School.

1 September
Bulgaria declares war on Romania.

2-3 September
The first German airship is destroyed over Britain. On this night, 16 airships of the German Army and Navy were despatched to attack London, the largest airship raid of the First World War. One airship was forced to return early. Of the remaining 15, German Army Schutte-Lanz SL11 (Hauptmann W Schramm) was shot down in flames by Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson in a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c of No.39 (Home Defence Squadron). The airship fell at Cuffley in Hertfordshire. Hauptmann Schramm and his crew of 15 were killed.

The raid was a failure. The raiders were scattered by adverse winds, heavy rain and high-altitude icing, and only one airship came within seven miles of Charing Cross. Approximately 16-17 tons of bombs were dropped between the Humber and Gravesend. 4 Britons were killed and a further 12 injured.

15 September
During the Battle of Fleurs-Courcelette, No.7 and No.34 Squadrons, Royal Flying Corps, support the British Army's first tank attack.

23-24 September
Twelve Zeppelins of the German Navy were despatched to attack London and the Midlands. Of these, two 'super Zeppelins', the L32 and the L33, were shot down by the defences. L33 was seriously damaged by anti-aircraft fire over London and subsequently received further damage from a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c of No.39 Squadron.

The airship eventually grounded near Little Wigborough in Essex. L32 was shot down by a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c, flown by Second Lieutenant Frederick Sowrey of No.39 Squadron, near Billericay in Essex.

12 October
Raymond Collishaw is credited with first aerial victory. He goes on to become the Royal Naval Air Service's leading ace, with a total of 60 kills.

13 November
One flight of No.14 Squadron, together with a Company of the Bedfordshire Regiment to act as aerodrome guard, are sent to the Red Sea port of Rabigh to assist Arab forces under the control of the Sherif of Mecca and Colonel T.E. Lawrence ('Lawrence of Arabia').

16 November
General Sir Douglas Haig, commander of the British Expeditionary Force, requests that 20 additional air squadrons be deployed in France by the spring of 1917.

23 November
Major Lanoe G. Hawker VC is killed in a dogfight with Baron Manfred von Richthofen (the 'Red Baron'). Following a prolonged period of manoeuvring, during which neither pilot was able to gain the advantage, fuel shortage forced Major Hawker to attempt to break off and run for the British lines. He then lost his life when his de Havilland DH2 pusher scout was shot down. Major Hawker was von Richthofen's eleventh victim.

12 December
The Army Council approves the expansion of the Royal Flying Corps to 106 frontline squadrons.

22 December
It is decided to widen the role of the Air Board, under the presidency of Lord Cowdray, giving it limited executive powers. A section of the New Ministries and Secretaries Act, 1916, which brought the Board into being, laid down that "for the purpose of this Act the President of the Air Board shall be deemed to be a Minister appointed under this Act".

Part 2