Who Shot Down My Airman?

[Willywombat]

One of the men on the memorial I'm researching is Lt Frederick John Brotheridge, a 19 year-old pilot with 3 Squadron.

He was shot down on 19/05/18 and I've managed to ascertain quite a bit about the circumstances of his death, his aircraft etc. Basically he was flying Camel D6433 with Captain John Aldred who was in C1655 and together they shot down a 2-seater. In the ensuing dogfight, Brotheridge was shot down.

Brotheridge scored one other victory, it appears, on 12th March 1918 (which he again shared with Aldred) when they shot down an Albatross at Menin-Wervicq. The website "The Aerodrome" gives Aldred's unit as 70 Squadron at this time.

My questions:

1. Can anyone point me in the right direction to discover which German aviator claimed shooting down Brotheridge, their unit etc.?

2. I assumed Brotheridge only served with 3 Squadron, yet according to "The Aerodrome" Aldridge was with 70 Sqn on the 12th March 1918 when they shared the Albatross. Does this mean Brotheridge was also with 70 Sqn before joining 3 Sqn or was this just coincidence?

3. Is there any way of discovering who the pilot of the Albatross was, and what became of him?

(Give me a WW1 soldier and I'm fine doing the research. The RFC/RAF side of things for WW1 is a bit of a mystery, however, so any help much appreciated!)

Bob.

Edited to add another question - What was "wireless interception" duty (which he was on at the time). Is that artillery spotting?

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

"The Sky is their Battlefield" gives:~

"D6433 Sopwith Camel 3 Sqn;**WTInt combat with several HAs MESNIL then seen going down in flames ooc{Out of Control}[Lt F Brotheridge KIA]left 6.30 am[?"Sopwith" claim combat CHUIGNOLLES Fw R.Heibert Ja46 {Jasta 46}

"**" indicates information from PRO/NA Casualty report

WTInt is given as "Wireless Interruption Patrol"~presumably destroying enemy Wireless Communications.

German WW1 Aces

Goldenes-Militar-Verdienst-Kreuz{Preussen}

Fw Robert Heibert EK1,EK2,MVK

Heibert had 13 confirmed & 7 unconfirmed "Kills",He held the Iron Cross 1st & 2nd Class & the Cross of Military Merit in Gold.He committed suicide in 1933.

[Dolphin]

Bob

Capt J W Aldred was serving in No 70 Sqn on 12 March 1918, where he flew Camel B7471 and was credited with an Albatros D.V. He had moved to No 3 Sqn by 15 May, when he was credited with his next victory.

In the standard reference on the type, The Camel File by Ray Sturtivant and Gordon Page, Lt F J Brotheridge is mentioned only in relation to D6433, which was delivered to No 3 Sqn on 31 March 1918 and didn't serve with any other unit before it was lost on 19 May.

I hope that this helps

Gareth

[Willywombat]

Blimey! I'm impressed (and very grateful!). This makes things so much easier.

It ain't what you know - it's knowing where to look!

Bob.

(I've also resolved the problem about the first aircraft i throught he'd shot down with Aldred - I had misread Aldred's list of kills and thought a footnote labelled "3" referred to his kill number three).

[david eastman]

One of the men on the memorial I'm researching is Lt Frederick John Brotheridge, a 19 year-old pilot with 3 Squadron.

He was shot down on 19/05/18 and I've managed to ascertain quite a bit about the circumstances of his death, his aircraft etc. Basically he was flying Camel D6433 with Captain John Aldred who was in C1655 and together they shot down a 2-seater. In the ensuing dogfight, Brotheridge was shot down.

Brotheridge scored one other victory, it appears, on 12th March 1918 (which he again shared with Aldred) when they shot down an Albatross at Menin-Wervicq. The website "The Aerodrome" gives Aldred's unit as 70 Squadron at this time.

My questions:

1. Can anyone point me in the right direction to discover which German aviator claimed shooting down Brotheridge, their unit etc.?

2. I assumed Brotheridge only served with 3 Squadron, yet according to "The Aerodrome" Aldridge was with 70 Sqn on the 12th March 1918 when they shared the Albatross. Does this mean Brotheridge was also with 70 Sqn before joining 3 Sqn or was this just coincidence?

3. Is there any way of discovering who the pilot of the Albatross was, and what became of him?

(Give me a WW1 soldier and I'm fine doing the research. The RFC/RAF side of things for WW1 is a bit of a mystery, however, so any help much appreciated!)

Bob.

Edited to add another question - What was "wireless interception" duty (which he was on at the time). Is that artillery spotting?

hi, was working at a house today and got talking about ww1 ( i am a medal collector ) and the chap mentioned an uncle who was shot down during ww1. his name was frederick brotheridge. he was killed in action and i have looked up his details on the war graves web site. i am from cheltenham so the frame would fit...........regards...........dave eastman

[sadsac]

Willy, here's one Award (among many) for 3 Sqdn. pilot. MAY help ;

ELLWOOD Aubry B N/E Flt.Lt. RNAS 85T290 & 291 & 292

No. 3 Squadron att. R.F.C. 1st Brigade 10 (Army) Wing C-in-C France

26.04.18 Gazetted R.N.A.S. Officers - Flanders 1918 DSC

This officer has always shown himself to be a brilliant fighting pilot, and when on patrol has engaged enemy aircraft with determination and skill.

On the 30th January, 1918, when on Offensive Patrol near Gheluvelt, he attacked two Albatross V-Struttersboth of which he shot down out of control. On the 8th March, 1918, when on Line Patrol, a two-seater Albatross was observed. He attacked with his patrol and opened fire at 100 yards range. The enemy aircraft dived steeply emitting yellow smoke. He followed the enemy aircraft down to 2,000 feet near Fortequerne, when it was seen on the ground on fire. On the 10th March, 1918, when on Offensive Patrol, near Lens, he attacked three Albatross Scouts.After driving two of the enemy aircraft down, he dived on the third, and fired a long burst. The enemy aircraft pulled up, fell on its side, and fell straight down out of control, until lost to sight. On the 16th March, 1918, when on Offensive Patrol, he attacked one of three enemy aircraft (two seater) near Gavelle. He continued firing until within 10 yards ; the enemy aircraft went down on fire. This was confirmed by the remainder of the patrol to go down in flames. On the 28th March, 1918, when on Offensive Patrol, on the 3rd Army Front, a general engagement took place, with ten enemy aircraft. Flt. Lt. Ellwood singled out an Albatross Scout into which he fired about 150 rounds. This enemy aircraftfell completely out of control, until it disappeared from sight under his wing. Later in the day he attacked a Pfaltz Scout near Noreuil. He fired a good burst at 50 yards range, and the enemy aircraft dived steeply and crashed near Noreiul.

`Enjoy' - Sadsac

[sadsac]

Hello Willy, me again !! Re `Wireless Patrol' find here one Award for such ;

PRICE Guy W DSC Flt.Cdr. RNAS 85T264 & 265

Naval Squadron No. 8 att. R.F.C 1 Brig. 10 (Army) Wing

C-in-C France 16.03.18 Gazetted R.N.A.S. Officers - France 1918 DSC - bar to

For consistency and determination in attacking enemy aircraft often in far superior numbers.

On the 19th January, 1918, when on a special mission, at 12,000 feet he observed three Albatross scouts near Vitry. He attacked and fired 300 rounds into one which fell over sideways, and after side slipping for a while, dived vertically quite out of control.

On the 22nd January, 1918, when on Offensive Patrol, he observed 7 Albatross scouts in the vicinity of Vitry. He dived and fired about 300 rounds into one of the enemy aircraft which stalled, side slipped, and eventually fell over on its back, and disappeared through a thick bank of clouds. (Confirmed by another patrol of 4 Camels, who were acting as high escort, to fall completely out of control.)

On the 24th January, 1918, when on Wireless Patrol in the vicinity of La Bassee, he dived on and fired over 300 rounds at an Albatross Scout. The enemy aircraft dived vertically followed by Lt. Cdr. Price down to 7000 feet, and was confirmed by A. Battery A.A., to have crashed.

On the 28th January, 1918, when on Wireless Patrol in the neibourhood of La Transloy, he observed two enemy aircraft. One at 6000 and one at 7000 feet. He dived and attacked the latter, after firing 200 rounds at short range, the enemy aircraft was observed to go down, burst into flames and crash.

Gives `flavour' of W.P. Ops !!

Sadsac

[Willywombat]

Thanks to both of you for your time and trouble! I'm slowly putting everything together.

Bob.