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

Remembered Today:

Airplanes shot down over Vimy Ridge


Margo Day

Recommended Posts

My uncle was shot down over Vimy Ridge on Easter Sunday but survived the crash. I am trying to see if there is anywhere I can find records as to exactly where he was shot down. He was first taken to Karlshrue then two other camps. I am trying also to find out about karlshrue. Any help would be appreciated. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Margo Day said:

My uncle was shot down over Vimy Ridge on Easter Sunday but survived the crash. I am trying to see if there is anywhere I can find records as to exactly where he was shot down. He was first taken to Karlshrue then two other camps. I am trying also to find out about karlshrue. Any help would be appreciated. 

 

Welcome to the Forum Margo.  If you could give us some details about this incident - your uncle's name, rank, and of course date of the action - plus any other information you may have - I'm sure someone on the Forum will be able to help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

His name was Frederick Reginald Henry although he was also reffered to as Reginald “Reg” Henry. He was a Lieutenant with the 49th Battalion and then the 55 Squadron. His pilot was R.A. Logan. Apparently on Easter Monday there were I think four or five planes that fought a battle over Vimy Ridge. I have several newspaper accounts of the battle. The German pilots (one was supposed to be the Red Baron) shot my uncles plane and three other down. When they crashed the pilot had hit his head on the butt of his gun but was taken prisoner immediately. My uncle was badly wounded and taken first to a hospital then Karlshrue. I would really like to know if I can pinpoint where he went down, perhaps if there are pictures of his plane, what his injuries were and what karlshrue was like and if any pictures of the camp are available. My uncles plane was unique. On one side Logan wrote the name Musquedobet,, Nova Scotia on one side and my uncle wrote in Cree Language the word Beaver Hill House which was the original name for Edmonton. 

Oh yes the date was Easter Monday which I believe was April 9, 1917.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Margot.

 

Do you have his service record and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) documents? If not, both are freely available online.

 

According to the ICRC documents, he was captured near Douai and initially treated at Kriegs-Lazarett 10, Le Cateau and then at Festungs-Lazarett Ehrenbreitenstein, before doing the rounds of numerous PoW camps. The date given for his capture is April 8th 1917.

 

Phil

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Margo,

the specialists in the Aerodrome-Forum might be able to help , too. There is one guy who lists all shot down planes and the accounts thereof on a day to day basis with a hundred years inbetween. (search for the phrase "100 years ago today" plus date.

So he will have covered the 5th April 1917 on 5th April 2017 or a few days later, as he lags behind at times.

GreyC

   

 

Edited by GreyC
Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, Margo Day said:

My uncle was shot down over Vimy Ridge on Easter Sunday but survived the crash. I am trying to see if there is anywhere I can find records as to exactly where he was shot down. He was first taken to Karlshrue then two other camps. I am trying also to find out about karlshrue. Any help would be appreciated. 

Hi

 

Trevor Henshaw's 'TSTB II' page 78, has the following information on this incident on the 8th April 1917.  Flying in DH.4 A2140 returning from a long range bombing mission, on the headquarters of Crown Prince Rupprecht near Mons, Chateau Hardenpont.  Attacked by 4 enemy aircraft and tail plane shot off and crashed near EPINOY, claimed by Ltn K Schafer of Jasta 11 at 2.20 pm. (the DH.4 had taken off at 1.07 pm).  The aircraft was 'wrecked' and captured both crew wounded, Henry, the observer, wounded in the knee and thigh.  Two other DH.4s of No. 55 Sqn. were also lost one from fighters the other anti-aircraft fire.  These were the first losses for the unit and the first suffered in combat for the DH.4 type. 

 

I hope that helps.

 

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

54 minutes ago, Margo Day said:

His name was Frederick Reginald Henry although he was also reffered to as Reginald “Reg” Henry. He was a Lieutenant with the 49th Battalion and then the 55 Squadron. His pilot was R.A. Logan. Apparently on Easter Monday there were I think four or five planes that fought a battle over Vimy Ridge. I have several newspaper accounts of the battle. The German pilots (one was supposed to be the Red Baron) shot my uncles plane and three other down. When they crashed the pilot had hit his head on the butt of his gun but was taken prisoner immediately. My uncle was badly wounded and taken first to a hospital then Karlshrue. I would really like to know if I can pinpoint where he went down, perhaps if there are pictures of his plane, what his injuries were and what karlshrue was like and if any pictures of the camp are available. My uncles plane was unique. On one side Logan wrote the name Musquedobet,, Nova Scotia on one side and my uncle wrote in Cree Language the word Beaver Hill House which was the original name for Edmonton. 

Oh yes the date was Easter Monday which I believe was April 9, 1917.  

 

The aircraft that Logan and Henry were in was an Airco DH4, serial A2140, of 55 Squadron.  They were on a bombing mission to Chateau Hardenpoint when set upon by enemy aircraft.  It would seem that this particular aircraft was claimed by Ltn K Shaefer of Ja11, somewhere in the region of Epinoy.  8th April 1917.  The aircraft was apparently captured by the Germans so I'm sure photos of it will have survived.

 

Details from The Sky Their Battlefield, by Trevor Henshaw.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You beat me to it Mike!   And I'm still using 'TSTB 1' I'm ashamed to say.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Margo,

Russ Gannon, on The Aerodrome Forum, states that 55 Squadron flew 80 km behind the German lines to bomb Crown Prince Rupprecht's Headquarters.

The 4 DH4s had been flying for one and a half hours when they were attacked just north of Cambrai by 4 or 5 aircraft from Jasta 11.  Attacked by

Leutnant Karl Schaefer, Lt. Frederick Reginald Henry & 2/Lt. Robert Archibald Logan were forced to land on Epinoy aerodrome and were captured.

Josquin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

51 minutes ago, pete-c said:

You beat me to it Mike!   And I'm still using 'TSTB 1' I'm ashamed to say.

 

You will have to contact Trevor before the 'shame' becomes too great!

 

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi

 

The D.H.4 / D.H.9 File by Sturtivant and Page have a photograph on page 20 of DH4 A2140 being repainted with German Markings after it's capture on the 8th April 1917.

 

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks to everyone. I am so grateful for this information. Old Sweats I don’t understand how to access the file by Sturtivant and Page. Could you explain. Thank you. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Margo Day said:

Thanks to everyone. I am so grateful for this information. Old Sweats I don’t understand how to access the file by Sturtivant and Page. Could you explain. Thank you. 

Steve. How do I get a copy of that book. 

6 hours ago, hmsk212 said:

Hi

 

The D.H.4 / D.H.9 File by Sturtivant and Page have a photograph on page 20 of DH4 A2140 being repainted with German Markings after it's capture on the 8th April 1917.

 

Steve

 

 Found the book on line at abe.com but would like to know if you could scan the picture and send it to me

 

Margo

Edited by Margo Day
Changed message
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As the guy posting the '100 years ago today' threads, my brief notes for the day's activities include:

 

2nd-Lieut R A Logan (Pow) & Lieut F R Henry (Pow), 55 Sqn, DH4 A2140 – took off 13:07 and last seen diving steeply after fight during bomb raid Château Hardenpont; Ltn Karl Schaeffer, Jasta 11, 13th victory [Épinoy at 14:40]

 

Graeme

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, fetubi said:

Naughty!!

 

 

Looks like I'll have to dip into my pocket at Hendon!

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...