Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Share Posted 26 November , 2005 Houthulst Forest was a wood 4 kms in diameter, and divided in 2 by the Houthulst-Poelcapelle road. The Germans took the wood without a fight on 20 October 1914, when the French cavalry of General de Mitry abandoned it without a fight, owing to a musunderstanding between the British and the French. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 The Germans built the Houthulst Forest into a fortress. They concentrated a lot of artillery in it, together with ammo dumps, command centers, concret dug-outs. The mass of artillery hidden in Houthulst Forst attracted British recce and artillery-spotting aircraft, and air combats ensued FE2d of 20 Sqn was shot down near Houthulst Forest near 5/5/1917. 2lt Bacon was wounded, 2 AM Worthing was killed (victory W. Göttsch - Ja 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 After the war, several plane wrecks remained in the wood. Caption says that this plane is a German one, but is a Sopwith Camel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 Caption says that this plane is French, most probably another Sopwith Camel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 German plane, named 'Allenstein' The bomb in the forground could suggest it was a bomber plane. Regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 Zillebeke - Railway Cuting (Larch Wood) Lt. J.P. West (Bristol F2b - 88 Sqn) kia Houthulst Forest on 28/6/1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 Lyssenthoek Mil Cem 2lt. Denys Edward GREENHOW ( 45 Sqn - Sopwith Strutter) kia 6/3/1917 after been attacked Houthulst Forest, and forced to land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 This French plane was spotted near Houthulst Forrest, when it showed interest in a German Fessel Balloon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 TYNE COT MIL CEM 2Lt. Charles Angelo MOODY, (1 Sqn - Nieuport 23) kia 21/8/1917 near Houthulst Forest bij Lt. Fritz LOERZER ( JA 26) Buried before at Hooglede German Mil Cem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 26 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2005 Same plane Post nr. 2 FE2d - 20 Sqn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 27 November , 2005 Share Posted 27 November , 2005 Cnock Thank you very much for posting these very interesting photographs. I'm wondering about the 'French' aeroplane in the eighth photograph. To me, it looks like a British Sopwith Camel, with the bottom of the fuselage coloured with the PC10 dope used on the aircraft's uppersurfaces. The roundels appear to have light coloured outer rings, which is consistent with them being British blue, rather than French red, as the orthochromatic film commonly used in the 1914-1919 period showed red as a very dark shade. The Camel below might show what I mean. Is the image any clearer in the original? Best wishes Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 27 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 27 November , 2005 Hello Dolphin, I thought the same as You, but I wanted to reproduce the text on the back as it is, of this original never published pic. My efforts failed to enlarge the pic. Regards, Cnock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Benoit Douville Posted 1 December , 2005 Share Posted 1 December , 2005 Cnock, That was really an interesting and fascinating thread about the Houthulst Forest. It is really appreciated. Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 1 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 December , 2005 Benoit, Thank You. Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 5 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 5 December , 2005 Hello Gareth, When You look at the pic of the Sopwith Camel, You can see that more engine dirt has attached itself to the airplane's left side. Seems to be typical for rotary engines, to blow crud to the left. What do You think about this. Regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 5 December , 2005 Share Posted 5 December , 2005 Cnock The black deposit on the lower wing undersurface is burnt castor oil. All rotary engines threw out the stuff, and as the engine spun, more eas thrown out to the left than elsewhere. If you see any footage of a Camel taking off, the machine appears to be in a cloud of oil spray. The pilots naturally ingested a fair quantity of castor oil during a flight, which had an effect on their digestive system until they became used to it. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 5 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 5 December , 2005 Gareth, Thank You for the additional info! Regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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