British Military Aviation in 1917 - Part 2

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April
During the first week of April, the Royal Flying Corps loses 75 aircraft in combat over the Western Front. The aircraft and tactics of the German Jagdstaffeln (Fighter Squadrons) are shown to be greatly superior to those of the Royal Flying Corps and its French and Belgian allies. By the end of the month the British air services lose 150 aircraft and 316 aircrew in what would become known as 'Bloody April'. The French and Belgian air services lose an additional 200 aircraft.

5-6 April
No.100 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, launches its first raid, the target is Douai airfield.

6 April
The United States of America declares war on Germany.

7 April
Cuba declares war on Germany.

13 April
In an effort to counter German submarines in transit to and from their hunting ground in the shipping channels surrounding the United Kingdom, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) institutes the 'Spider Web' patrol system centred upon the North Hinder Light Vessel.

25 April - 6 May
The Victoria Cross is awarded posthumously to Captain Albert Ball of No.56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, in recognition of his "most conspicuous and consistent bravery" in the skies over France in a Royal Aircraft Factory SE5 (A4850).

3 May
Five Sopwith 1½ Strutters of No.43 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, carry out machine-gun attacks on German troops massing at Oppy for a counter-attack on the morning of the first day of the Third Battle of the Scarpe, the Arras Offensive. Although the Royal Flying Corps had carried out low flying attacks during the assaults around Vimy, this is regarded as the first true occasion on which the Royal Flying Corps fly close air support sorties.

7 May
Captain Albert Ball is posted missing in action. Although the circumstances surrounding his death remained unknown for many years, it is now believed that Captain Ball was not shot down, rather, he span out of cloud inverted and crashed after shooting down Leutnant Lothar von Richthofen, the younger brother of Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the 'Red Baron', of Jasta 11. Captain Ball fell on the enemy side of the lines and was buried with full military honours by the Germans.

7 May
Edward 'Mick' Mannock of the Royal Flying Corps, shoots down a balloon to claim his first aerial victory.

20 May
A flying boat of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) destroys the first hostile submarine to be sunk by an aircraft without any form of assistance. A 'Large America' flying boat flown by Flight Sub-Lieutenant C.R. Morrish, Royal Naval Air Service, on a 'Spider Web' patrol from Felixstowe sighted and attacked the German submarine UC36 on the surface near the North Hinder Light Ship. Destruction of the submarine was confirmed in January 1919.

25 May
The German Air Corps mounts its first large-scale daylight raid on Britain. 23 Gotha bombers of Kagohl 3 are despatched to attack London, but two are forced to turn back over the North Sea due to mechanical difficulties. Poor weather forced the attacking force to turn away from the capital and seek targets further south.

The main attack is carried out against the Channel port of Folkestone and the nearby Army camp at Shorncliffe. 95 deaths and 195 other casualties result from the raid, mostly in the Folkestone area. While returning from the raid, the Gothas are engaged near the Belgian coast by nine Sopwith Pups of No.4 and No.9 Squadrons, Royal Naval Air Service, based at Dunkirk and one Gotha bomber is shot down.

29 May
The first British air sea rescue occurs when two seaplane crew are rescued from North Sea by Flight Commander L. Gordon and Flight Lieutenant G. Hodgson in flying boat.

June
Four German Jagdstaffeln are combined to form Jagdgeschwader 1 under the command of Baron Manfred von Richthofen. Von Richthofen's 'circus' brought together many of Germany's finest fighter pilots and forced the Allies to concentrate their best squadrons opposite whichever sector the Jagdgeschwader occupied.

2 June
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Captain W.A. 'Billy' Bishop of No.60 Squadron, a Canadian serving in the Royal Flying Corps, for his one-man raid on Estourmel airfield near Cambrai in France in a Nieuport (B1566).

13 June
The first heavy daylight raid on London takes place when eighteen Gotha bombers of the German Army Air Corps attack the capital, causing 588 casualties, including 162 deaths. Although a number of interceptions were made, no enemy aircraft were shot down by defending fighters.

11 July
In light of the German air raids on Britain, a Cabinet Committee is set up to consider air organisation and air defence. Although nominally under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, in practice the Committee consisted solely of Lieutenant General Jan C. Smuts.

19 July
The Smuts Committee releases an interim report examining the air defence of the United Kingdom. Amongst the Committee's recommendations are the establishment of a London Air Defence Area to encompass all of the United Kingdom within Gotha bomber range and the acceleration of plans to form additional day-fighter squadrons for home defence.

2 August
A Sopwith Pup piloted by Squadron Leader E.H. Dunning, becomes the first aircraft to land on a ship at sea. The aircraft successfully lands on the aircraft carrier HMS Furious, but Dunning is killed two days later while attempting a similar landing.

5 August
The London Air Defence Area (LADA) is created with Major General E.B. Ashmore in command. Three Royal Flying Corps (RFC) squadrons equipped with Sopwith Camels and Sopwith Pups are formed specifically for operations against daylight raids by Gotha bombers.

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