Attack on 'Yavuz/Goeben' 20-26 Jan '18

[michaeldr]

[from Auf den Spuren der Goeben by Matti E. Mäkelä]

 

“The air was stiff with German fighters. They were attacking our bombers and several got shot down. It was one long confused mêlée dogfight. The one thing which mattered was the Goeben. All the RNAS 'planes in the Aegean were attacking her; quite a lot of RFC 'planes from Palestine – fully 70 aircraft.”

 

As it's about 740 miles or 1190kms as the crow flies, from Lod (in 1918 Palestine) to Canakkale (in Turkey) I was surprised therefore to read the above quote from Captain Graham Donald (given by Brad King in his RNAS 1912-1918)

 

Can anyone give further details on the (EEF's) RFC contribution to this attack?

 

Thanks

Michael

 

 

 

PS: The Yavuz/Goeben was eventually assisted off by the 'Turgut Reis'

[diagram also from Auf den Spuren der Goeben by Matti E. Mäkelä]

 

 

[MikeMeech]

3 hours ago, michaeldr said:

[from Auf den Spuren der Goeben by Matti E. Mäkelä]

 

“The air was stiff with German fighters. They were attacking our bombers and several got shot down. It was one long confused mêlée dogfight. The one thing which mattered was the Goeben. All the RNAS 'planes in the Aegean were attacking her; quite a lot of RFC 'planes from Palestine – fully 70 aircraft.”

 

As it's about 740 miles or 1190kms as the crow flies, from Lod (in 1918 Palestine) to Canakkale (in Turkey) I was surprised therefore to read the above quote from Captain Graham Donald (given by Brad King in his RNAS 1912-1918)

 

Can anyone give further details on the (EEF's) RFC contribution to this attack?

 

Thanks

Michael

 

 

 

PS: The Yavuz/Goeben was eventually assisted off by the 'Turgut Reis'

[diagram also from Auf den Spuren der Goeben by Matti E. Mäkelä]

 

 

Hi

 

It appears that the small number of RFC machines involved came from Salonika not the EEF.  Jones in 'Over the Balkans and South Russia 1917-1919', pages 102-103, mentions three BE.12's from No. 17 Sqn. and another three from No. 47 Sqn.  Later three more BE.12s and an AW were sent but they arrived too late to take part.  The 'whole' story can be found in RNAS 'Report on Operations No. 51' 'Eastern Mediterranean Station', these have been published by the N & P Press 'RNAS Operations Reports - October 1917 to March 1918, Parts 44-53'.

 

Mike

[Guest]

Mate,

 

A number of claims by German pilots around that date, but not confirmed?

 

The Germans had their Naval Seaplane Sqn (group) around there, and the Ottoman Companies for the defence of Istanbul (1st 6th and 9th Companies) 

 

Schubert Wilhelm possibly German Seaplane Sqn (Wasserfliegerabteilung) claimed shot down seaplane near Islands 17-1-18 no idea what plane he may have shot down?

 

Meinecke Emil    ObLt  possibly 6th Ottoman Air Company claimed 1x shot down 24-1-18 again not confirmed

 

Croneiss Theodor Jakob ObLt (Capt) possibly German Seaplane Sqn (Wasserfliegerabteilung) or 1st Ottoman Air Company shown shot down a Sopwith near Gulf of Saros 24-1-18 no details on this plane

 

Thats all I have around that time and place.

 

S.B

[MerchantOldSalt]

"Can anyone give further details on the (EEF's) RFC contribution to this attack?"

 

The 17 Sqdn RFC Work Summaries show an initial flight of 6 BE12s departing Amberkoj for Mudros via Salonica on 21 Jan 1918 "Proceeded on Special Duty".  Further planes were sent to Mudros over the following 8 days all returning to Amberkoj on the 29 Jan 1918.  The Summaries list pilots and Plane numbers and times of flights undertaken from Mudros and that they were Bombing and whether the bombing was successful or unsuccessful but no other details.  I can let you have this information if it is what you require.

 

A report S52 dated 27 Jan 1918 from Wing Commander RNAS HQ British Aegean squadron to Rear Admiral Commanding BAS has the following sections on the RFC involvement which don't seem to appear in RoOps No. 51 so may be of interest.

Tony

 

Actually these bits are mentioned in Ops Report No.51but never mind!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 22 September , 2019 by MerchantOldSalt

[michaeldr]

Thank you all for the detailed replies and clarification

Douglas appear to have been mistaken when he referred to the participation of RFC elements from the EEF

 

regards

Michael