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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

2nd Lt Arthur Noel Eyre, 57 Squadron


matteyre

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Can anyone give any more info on my ancestor, K.I A. 26/9/1918, on the Arras flying services memorial, seconded from the Sherwood Foresters (6th Battalion) ? thanks, Matt

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2Lt A N Eyre was the observer in DH 4 D8419 of No 57 Sqn RAF, flown by Lt Percy Walter Johnson Timson, when both airmen were killed in action on 26 September 1918. They were on a bombing mission over Cambrai when they were engaged in combat with enemy aircraft and shot down out of control from 1000 feet. There doesn't appear to be a German fighter pilot claim that matches the loss of D8419.

I hope that this helps.

Gareth

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Matt

One source suggests that Jasta 5 attacked 57 Squadron's DH4s at 1805 on 26th September 1918, claiming two shot down. Leutnant Fritz Rumey and Unteroffizier Karl Treiber are recorded as making claims after that action in "Bloody April... Black September". But the same authors in "Above the Lines" show both making claims for DH4s on 26/9/1917 but seemingly at different times of day from the action in which Second Lieutenant Eyre was killed. "The DH4/DH9 File" records that his aircraft did indeed come down after combat with enemy aircraft but it might not be possible to confirm just who the German airman was.

I've probably merely listed what Gareth has already looked at but decided that the conclusion was "we don't know" but I just wanted to show the 'working out'.

Cheers,

Jim

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Matt

Just looked at another book, "The Jasta War Chronology" by Norman Franks, Frank Bailey and Rick Duiven. In this book, it repeats the Rumey & Treiber claims but gives both of them as 1805 on 26th September 1918. It also makes an explicit link to the two 57 Squadron losses, including Second Lieutenant Eyre.

"The DH4/DH9 File" states that Second Lieutenant Eyre's 'plane was last seen near Cambrai at 1820. Rumey claimed his DH4 over Cambrai. Still not exactly 100%.

Jim

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His RAF service record should be in AIR 76 at Kew, these are on microfilm in alphabetical order.

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