Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

crashed aircraft 20th Feb 1918 1 Sqn AFC Lt Garson


stevenbecker

Recommended Posts

Mates,

I am trying to find details on the loss of an aircraft from 1 Sqn AFC on the 20 Feb 1918.

Bull reports that seven planes fron 1 Sqn AFC plus two Bristol fighters as escort sent off on a mission but low cloud scattered the group and an BE 12 piloted by Lt Leslie Garson crashed.

Garson's record records him suffering a minor injury in the crash but no mention of what aircraft he was in?

My records of 1 Sqn AFC planes records no losses that day, so I take it the BE 12 was recovered, but no details again?

Can you fill in any of the details about this mission and the crash of this plane?

GARSON Leslie Bilsbury Lt 4 Sqn AFC C flight (pilot) to 71 Sqn AFC UK 4-17 att 14 Res Sqn RFC 4-17 to 69 Sqn AFC 5-17 to 67 Sqn (1 Sqn) AFC 12-17 WIA 20-2-18 minor accident reported a BE 12 crashed on a 9 plane mission due to low clouds to recording officer 7-18 to AAdjt

Cheers

S.B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mates,

Found the war dairy and it fails to mention Lt Garson but does show this.

A 40th Wing report mentions this;

A bombing raid was carried out on the 20 Feb 1918 of 7 machines in bad weather, two landed with engine trouble and one crashed.

Four machines reached its target and dropped 36 bombs getting 8 hits on the Turkish camp at Shunet Nimrim.

Lt HM Sheppard 111 Sqn RFC was wounded in an accident 20 Feb 1918 and

Lt Garson is also shown wounded in an accident but crossed out. (possibly the same raid)

This posses some questions, was Lt Garson one of the seven planes and were they from 111 Sqn RFC or a mixed group from both Sqn's?

S.B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mates,

The 1 Sqn AFC war diary records this

Bombing raid on troops and camp at Shumet Nimrim 1415 to 1700 hrs

Pilots;

Lt Lukis, Blake, Paul, Dowling escorted by Capt Addison obsver Lt Fysh

A further report gives the four AFC pilots dropping bombs on their targets with the resaults of the raid.

nowhere is the loss of the three aircraft or pilots mentioned?

I am left to draw that the raid had a mixed group from 111 Sqn RFC and 1 Sqn AFC but what was the compasition of the raid?

as four AFC pilots are mention then four of the seven planes bombing were from 1 Sqn AFC and possibly the other three were from 111 Sqn RFC, and of the two escorting Bristol Fighters, one aapears to be from 1 Sqn AFC and possibly the other from 111 Sqn RFC?

The problem is where was Lt Garson, as this AFC pilot is not mention in 1 Sqn AFC Records as being with them on the raid?

Did he pilot one of the 111 Sqn planes but records don't show his attachment to the RFC at that time?

And that the three planes that fail to arrive on target were 111 Sqn machines and all three crashed?

I surpose we need to check 111 Sqn RFC records to confirm there work that day, but I am unable to do that?

The mystory continues

S.B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Steve,

As you probably know, February (6th) 1918 is the month that 67 squadron was redesignated as 1 Sqn. AFC.

Looks like Lt. Garson was part of a 7 machine raid on the Shunet Nimrin Camp on the 20th of February 1918. He was missed on the initial transcription of the work log for the

20th, but a supplemental entry on the 25th lists him for the date of the 20th. He appears to have been on the monthly casualty list along with 2 others but was sticken off that list pretty quickly. He also appears to have been flying one of the squadronS 4 remaining Martinsydes serial A3946. He took this machine out on test 2 days prior on the 18th.

hope this helps some.

post-99513-0-91855400-1399181915_thumb.j

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mte,

Thank you for finding his name, I didn't check further in the lists.

I surposs we are left now possibly 5 planes from 1 Sqn AFC and 1 escort, the other aircraft possibly again from 111 Sqn RFC?

Looks like Bull got the aircraft wrong more details on Martinsyde A3946

IT was TOC 1 Jan 1918 and went to X AP 1 March 1918 possibly due to the crash damage?

Cheers

S.B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

looked through the work logs again. entries for the 20th were made on the 20th, 21st and 25th. this was the 7 bomber flight and 2 escorts.

Lukis, Paul, Blake and Dowling made it to target with Garson crashing and Walker & Morgan landing

it does not appear that anyone from No.111 was involved in this raid. The bombing report has some details about what was hit.

Although the flight took off at the same time, 1415hrs Garson had the shortest flight time of 1hr 43m and Walker landed for 20 minutes.

Martinsyde A3945 Lt Walker

BE12A A6328 Lt Dowling

Martinsyde 3946 Lt Garson

Brisfit B1147 Lt Headlum and Lt Challinor escort

BE12A A6329 Lt Morgan

Martinsyde A3955 Lt Paul

BE12A A6323 Lt Blake

Martinsyde 1600 Lt Lukis

Brisfit A7200 Capt. Addison and Lt Fysh escort

btw a photo exists of Walkers A3945 still looking through a few files to see if I can locate A3946

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mate,

great thanks.

I am glad you found the two missing bomber pilots and the missing escort crew.

The BE 12a mentioned by Bull must be the one flown by Morgan. Interesting this plane was sent to 142 Sqn RFC on the 24 Feb 1918

Lt Dowling's BE 12a (A6328) and Lt Blakes BE 12a (6323) were sent to 142 Sqn RFC on the 21 Feb 1918.

Thats fills in the gap nicely many thanks again.

I surposs the mention of Lt Sheppard 111 Sqn RFC in the 40th Wing report, must relate to another raid by that Sqn.

Cheers

S.B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 years later...

My grandfather who was a 2nd Class Air Mechanic on No 1 captioned this photo as

Caption reads 'my bus that came down on the Nablus Road with a bag of bombs owing to engine trouble during the Jerusalem operations. This was taken whilst I was coming up with tools.'

 My research suggests that the pilot was Garson and it was the last flight for A 3946.

1505714272_PalestineMartinsydeG102A3946mybuscrasheddueenginetroublenearNablusRdTOC010118XAP010318.jpg.1de75920869d5a364bd5eac91a485229.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...