April 1917 and aerial bombardment

[judyruzylo]

I have an interest in an RFC observer by the name of Lt Dudley Elwood Holmes who flew with 25 Sqn in the period from March to May 1917. On the opening day of Battle of Arras, squadron records indicate he [and his pilot] is dropping bombs from an FE2b. Would anyone know how many and what sort of bombs this might be?

Also, any additional information about 25 Sqn would be greatly appreciated. I know they were based out of Auchel but any other details or direction to printed sources would be gratefully received.

[Dolphin]

Clem

The FE 2b could carry between two and eight 20lb bombs when operating in the daytime fighter-reconnaissance role.

No 25 Sqn went to France in February 1916 equipped with the FE 2b; the unit also used the more powerful FE 2d. At the start of the Battle of Arras, No 25 Sqn was in the 10th (Army) Wing and part of the RFC's 1st Brigade. In June-July 1917 it re-equipped with the DH 4, and operated them until the Armistice.

Although it doesn't say very much about No 25 Sqn, Peter Hart's Bloody April [iSBN 0 3043 6639 0] is a very good account of the RFC's operations in April 1917. The Official History of the air services over the Battle of Arras is in Volume III of H A Jones' The War in the Air.

I hope that this is useful.

Gareth