100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

May 12, 1917

Air War:
0700 Belgian pilot Edmond Thieffry, flying a Nieuport 11, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 3.

0715 Canadian RNAS pilot Harold Mott, in Sopwith Pup N6193, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

0720 English RNAS pilot Albert Enstone, in Sopwith Pup N6187, shoots down a Siemens-Schuckert D.I for victory number 2.

0720 English RNAS pilot Geoffrey William Hemming, in Sopwith Pup N6177, shoots down a Siemens-Schuckert D.I for victory number 1.

0730 Canadian RNAS pilot Alexander Shook, in Sopwith Pup 6200, shoots down a German seaplane for victory number 3.

0730 Canadian RNAS pilot Langley Smith, flying Sopwith Pup N6168, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

0750 Canadian RNAS ace Raymond Collishaw, in Sopwith Triplane N5490, shoots down a German seaplane for victory number 8.

0800 English RNAS ace Charles Booker, in sopwith Triplane N5482, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 9.

0810 English RFC team of Frederick Thayre and Francis Cubbon, in FE.2D A6430, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 10 for Thayre, number 11 for Cubbon.

0845 Three RFC SE.5 pilots pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.III:
Edric William Broadberry, England, A8903, number 1.
Gerald Maxwell, Scotland, A8902, number 4.
Lt A.E. Lloyd, unknown.

1030 Scottish RFC observer Thomas Harries, riding in Sopwith 1½ Strutter A963 with pilot 2nd Lt J. Johnstone, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1050 German ace Adolf von Tutschek, in Albatros D.III 2274/16, shoots down Sopwith Pup A664 for victory number 8. Lt John Rose is killed.

1430 English RFC ace team of John Letts and Lawrence Allen, in Bristol F.2b A7106, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 6 for Letts, number 8 for Allen.

1525 German ace Max von Müller, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down RE.8 A3243 for victory number 10. 2nd Lts Frederick Adams and Oscar Raphael Kelly are both killed.

1840 German ace Julius Buckler, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 24 bis 3674 for victory number 17. Adj-Chef Joussaud is listed as Missing.

1840 English RFC pilot Arthur Keen, flying Nieuport 17 B1633, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 3.

1900 Italian ace Fulco di Calabria, in a SPAD VII, shoots down a "Scout" for victory number 7.

1930 French ace Jean Chaput, in a SPAD VII, shoots down a German "Scout" for victory number 11.

2020 German pilot Paul Billik, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SPAD VII B1560 for victory number 2. Cpt W.G.B. Williams is killed.

Galicia-born Austro-Hungarian ace Godwin Brumowski, in Hansa-Brandenburg D.I 28.10, shoots down a Nieuoport scout for victory number 7.

French pilot Hector Eugene Joseph Garaud, flying a SPAD VII, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1.

German pilot Bertram Heinrich, in an Albatros D.III with Marine Feld Jasta 1, shoots down a Sopwith Pup for victory number 2.

Hungarian pilot Karl Kaszala, in a Hansa-Brandenburg D.I, shoots down a Farman for victory number 4.

French ace Charles Nungesser, in a Nieuport 25, shoots down two "Enemy Aircraft" for victories number 26 and 27.

German pilot Theo Osterkamp, in an Albatros D.III for MFJ1, shoots down a Sopwith Pup for victory number 2.

German pilot Gotthard Sachsenberg is the third member of MFJ1 to down a No 3 Squadron RNAS Pup today. Victory number 3.



North Atlantic Ocean, west of Ireland:
Karl Edeling, commanding U-48, begins his U-boat career with the sinking of British tanker SS San Onofre, 9,717 tons, bound from Querto Mexico for Queenstown with a load of fuel oil.



Northwest of Ireland:
Carl-Siegried von Georg, in U-57, sinks British freighter SS Refugio, 2,642 tons, en route from Ardrossan to Huelva with a load of coal. His score is now 36 ships and 34,196 tons.



English Channel:
British freighter SS Waterville, 1,968 tons, hauling a load of coke from Dunston to Le Havre, hits a mine laid by Werner von Zerboni di Sposetti in UC-6 off the Elbow buoy. The damaged ship is beached and refloated.

British passenger ship SS Galicia, 5,922 tons, taking mail and general cargo from Liverpool to Valparaiso, hits a mine off Teignmouth, Cornwall by Ralph Wenninger in UC-17. Galicia survived a previous mine laid by Egon von Werner in UC-1 on July 31, 1915.
Meanwhile, Wenninger scuttles British fishing smack G.L.C., 24 tons.
His score is now 72 vessels and 92,749 tons.



North Sea:
Johannes Spieß, in U-19, torpedoes British freighter SS Wirral, 4,207 tons, carrying a load of munitions from London to Archangelsk; off Utvaer Island, Norway. His score is now 18 ships and 21,306 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Johannes Klasing, in U-34, sinks British freighter SS Zanoni, 3,851 tons, headed from Tyne to Genoa with a load of coal. His score is now 17 ships and 19,061 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Kurt Hartwig, in U-32, sinks British freighter SS Locksley Hall, 3,635 tons, en route from Madras to London with a general cargo; south-southeast of Malta. His score is now 42 ships and 53,650 tons.

Third leading u-boat ace Max Valentiner, in U-38, returns to the fray, sinking British freighter SS Egyptian Prince, 3,117 tons, carrying a general cargo from Alexandria to Manchester; south-southeast of Malta. His score is now 127 ships and 178,427 tons.

[Jimbuna]

13th May 1917

Western Front

British establish themselves in Roeux, and progress on "Greenland Hill".

French repulse heavy German attacks north of Reims and in Maisons de Champagne.

Eastern Front

General Kornilov, Commandant of Petrograd, and M. Guchkov, Minister of Marine and War, resign.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Mesopotamia: Russian detachments compelled to retire across Diala river towards Kifri.

Political, etc.

British Ministry of Munitions threatens to use force if striking munition workers do not return to work by Monday.

Homes in London are fined £25-£50 for using too lavish of material and labour for decoration.

Socialist Conference opens at Stockholm.

Marshal Joffre reviews garrison troops at Montreal; much enthusiasm.

Ship Losses:

Anna (Denmark) The three-masted barque was sunk in the English Channel 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east of the Île de Batz, Finistère, France (49°12′N 4°26′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hudson (Norway) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north north west of Ouessant, Finistère (48°48′N 7°56′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jessmore (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 180 nautical miles (330 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
L'Independiente F (Italy) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea south of the Cabo de Gata, Spain (36°31′N 2°02′W) by SM U-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Rio Amazonas (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 150 nautical miles (280 km) south west of Crete, Greece (33°40′N 20°46′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 13, 1917

Air War:
0735 English RFC pilot Thomas Doran, flying SPAD VII A262, is credited with two Albatros D.IIIs for victories 2 and 3.

1015 Italian ace Francesco Baracca, in a SPAD VII, shoots down Hansa-Brandenburg C.I 129.20 for victory number 11. Hungarian 5-victory ace Julius Busa is killed. There seems to be no information on Busa's observer at this time.

1040 Irish RFC observer John Cowell, riding in FE.2d A6412 with pilot 2nd Lt M.P. Scott, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

1045 Ace English RFC team Frederich Thayre and Francis Cubbon, in FE.2d A6430, shoot down two Albatros D.IIIs. Victories 11 and 12 for Thayre, 12 and 13 for Cubbon.

1135 German ace Lothar von Richthofen, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2e 7130 for victory number 24. 2nd Lt Frank Thompson and Lt Arthur Charles Champion Rawlins crash unharmed on their own side of the lines. Von Richthofen becomes disoriented in low clouds. He finds himself over enemy gun batteries and is hit in the leg before he can get away. He manages to land on his own side before passing out and waking up in a hospital. Lothar von Richthofen will spend five months recovering, his sole consolation being awarded the Pour le Merite - The Blue Max. With his brother Manfred still on leave command of Jasta 11 will be assumed by Karl Allmenröder.

1145 German ace Karl Allmenröder, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down RE.8 4245 for victory number 12. 2nd Lts V.F. Stewart and J.G. Troup are both killed.

1155 German ace Kurt Wolff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SPAD VII 1377 for victory number 30. Sgt Fernamd Albert Garrigou is listed as Missing.

1440 Polish-born German pilot Hans-Georg von der Marwitz, in a Halberstadt D.III, destroys a Belgian observation balloon for victory number 2.

1745 Irish RFC pilot Victorh Huston, in Bristol F.2b 4998 with Lt E.A. Ford as observer, shoots down a Halberstadt D.II for victory number 5.

1830 French pilot René Fonck, in a SPAD VII, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 5.

1900 Two RFC SPAD VII pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.III:
Douglas Urquhart McGregor, Canada, B1524, number 1.
Conn O'Grady, Ireland, ??, number 2.

2115 Karl Allmenröder scores his second kill of the day, shooting down Nieuport 23 B1567 for number 13. 2nd Lt A.M. Sutherland is taken prisoner.

2120 German pilot Hans Hintsch, in Albatros D.III 2016/16, shoots down Nieuport 17 A6665 for victory number 2. Sgt W.H. Dunn is taken prisoner.

English RFC ace John Andrews, in Sopwith Pup B1703, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 10.

Italian ace Fulco di Calabria, in a Nieuport, shoots down an Albatros for victory number 8.

German pilot Paul Strähle, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A6445 for victory number 5. 2nd Lt G.C. Heseltine is wounded; observer unknown.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Karl Edeling, in U-48, sinks British freighter SS Jessmore, 3,911 tons, bound from Baltimore for Manchester with a general cargo. His score is now 2 ships and 13,628 tons.



English Channel:
Ralph Wenninger, in UC-17, sinks two ships off Ile de Batz:
Danish sailing vessel Anna, 610 tons, en route from Montego Bay to Le Havre with a load of logwood.
Norwegian barque Hudson, 817 tons, sailing from Gonalves, Haiti to Le Havre with a load of wood.
Wenninger's score is now 74 vessels and 94,176 tons.



Alboran Sea:
Heinrich Metzger, in U-47, scuttles Italian sailing vessel L'Idipendente F, 181 tons, raising his score to 8 vessels and 14,616 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Max Valentiner, in U-38, sinks Italian freighter SS Rio Amazonas, 2,970 tons, carrying a load of rice from Port Said to Italy. His score is now 128 ships and 184,187 tons.

[August]

May 14th 1917.

The 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, having arrived at the Eastern front on April 26th, went into the line today near Lipsk. After the losses during the Battle of Aras the previous month the regiment is mostly made up of replacements with few old hands like my Great Grandfather left to show them the ropes of WW1 combat.

[Jimbuna]

14th May 1917

Western Front

British line advanced north of Gavrelle.

British troops make further gains at the Arras Battle, taking all of the commune of Roeux and advance north of Gavrelle.

Strong hostile reconnaisances north-east of Vauxaillon (Soissons), west of Craonne, Berry au Bac and in Champagne fail.

Southern Front

Strong Italian attack north and south of Gorizia and in northern sector of Carno, east of Faiti Hrib.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Sir John Jellicoe to be Chief of Naval Staff, Sir E. Geddes Controller.

German submarine SM U-59 accidentally hits a German mine and sinks. 33 crew members are killed with 4 survivors.

Political, etc.

King George tours industrial centres in the North.

Germans are banned from boarding any American ship heading to any Russian port.

Commander of the Petrograd (St. Petersburg) garrison & the Minister of War & Marine resign due to divisions in the Russian government.

Ship Losses:

Bel Lily (United Kingdom) The trawler struck a mine laid by
UC 49 (Alfred Arnold) and sank in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) east north east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire with the loss of ten of her crew.
Cairnmoney (United Kingdom) The barque was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Elizabeth Hampton (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) south by west of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Farley (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (48°56′N 7°22′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Francesco Raiola (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sicily (37°41′N 15°29′E) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Gravelinoise (France) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) east of Valencia, Spain (39°27′N 0°05′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tamon Maru No.11 (Japan) The cargo ship sank at Aburatsu, Hyūga, Miyazaki.
Tejo (Portugal) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea (38°58′N 0°18′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-59 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type U 57 submarine struck a mine and sank in the North Sea (55°33′N 7°15′E) with the loss of 33 of her 37 crew.
Volga (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Mediterranean Sea east of Sicily by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was later refloated.

[Sailor Steve]

May 14, 1917

Air War:
0730 Hungarian pilot Stefan Fejes and Galician observer Alexander Tahy, flying a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I, shoot down a Nieuport. Victory number 2 for Fejes, number 3 for Tahy.

1030 English DH.2 pilot Saint Cyprian Churchill Taylor, in DH.2 4800, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1115 Scottish RFC pilot William Charles Campbell, in Nieuport 17 B1635, shoots down a two-seater for victory number 1.

1130 German ace Karl Allmenröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2e 2555 for victory number 14. Lts J.W. Brown and E.J. McCormick are both killed.

1325 German pilot Heinz Lorenz, in an unknown fighter (Jasta 33's first listed aircraft is the Fokker D.VII, in 1919), shoots down Sopwith Pup N6158 for victory number 3. Lt W.R. Waller fate unknown).

French pilot Jean Derode, flying a Nieuport, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 4. According to French Air Service War Chronology this is probably Vfw Reinhold Nietzsch and Ltn Ulrich Eggerst of FAA 270, both killed.

German ace Franz Walz, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down DH.2 A2622 for victory number 7. English 6-victory ace William Curphey is killed. This is Walz's last victory. He will survive the war without scoring again, serve in the Luftwaffe during World War 2 and die in a Russian prison camp in December 1945.



North Atlantic Ocean, far southwest of Ireland:
Richard Hartmann, commanding U-49, scuttles British barque Carnmoney, 1,299 tons, bound from Buenos Aires to the United Kingdom with a load of maize. His score is now 28 ships and 62,844 tons.



Ireland:
Carl-Siegried von Georg, in U-57, torpedoes British freighter SS Arlington Court, 4,346 tons, carrying a load of timber from St. John, New Brunswick to Cherbourg; off the southwest coast of Ireland. The damaged ship manages to make safe port.



Celtic Sea:
Ralph Wenninger, in UC-17, sinks British freighter SS Farley, 3,692 tons, travelling in ballast from Cardiff to New York; 70 miles off Bishop rock. His score is now 75 ships and 97,868 tons.



English Channel:
Claus Lafrenz, in UB-18, scuttles British schooner Elizabeth Hampton, 108 tons, travelling from Cardiff to Carentan with a load of coal; off St. Catherine's lighthouse, Isle of Wight. His score is now 46 ships and 48,629 tons.



North Sea:
British trawler Bel Lily, 168 tons, hits a mine laid off Peterhead, Scotland by Alfred Arnold in UC-49, bringing his score to 4 vessels and 1,832 tons.

U-59 (Freiherr Wilhelm von Fircks, hits a German (friendly) mine off Denmark. 34 lost, 4 survivors.



Balearic Sea:
Johannes Klasing, in U-34, scuttles two ships off Valencia, Spain:
1400 French schooner Gravelinois, 129 tons, carrying a load of wine and apple juice from Alicante to Marseilles.
2300 Portuguese schooner Tejo, 201 tons. bound from Cabo Verde for Valencia with a load of coprah (dried coconut).
Klasing's score is now 19 vessels and 19,391 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Otto Schultze, in U-63, scuttles Italian brigantine Francesco Raiola, 181 tons, off the southern entrance to the Strait of Messina.
U-63 also torpedoes British freighter SS Volga, 4,404 tons, but the stranded ship is later refloated and returned to service.
Schultze's score is now 34 ships and 90,677 tons.

[Jimbuna]

15th May 1917

Western Front

Heavy fighting round Bullecourt.

Severe fighting also on Chemin des Dames.

French raids in the Woevre and Lorraine.

General Petain appointed to command north and north-east French Armies, General Foch succeeding him as C.G.S., with wide powers.

Southern Front

Italians hold M. Kuk and Vodice, and reach slopes of M. Santo (Gorizia).

Doiran front, British advance south-west of Krastali; French, Serbs and Greeks also successful.

Naval and Overseas Operations

U.S.A. destroyer-flotilla arrives in British waters.

Austrian light cruiser sinks 14 British drifters in Adriatic. Is hunted back to Cattaro by Allied vessels, but H.M.S. "Dartmouth" torpedoed, not sunk.

Political, etc.

German Socialists are refused passports for Stockholm.

2000 French women clothing workers go on strike in Paris, calling for increased pay and a 5-day workweek. Strike spreads to other industries.

U.S. Senate approves the Espionage Bill, which prohibits interference of the military and aiding the enemy, by a vote of 80 to 8.

Ship Losses:

HMT Admirable (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
HMT Avondale (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
Borea (Regia Marina) The Nembo-class destroyer was shelled and sunk in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Albania by Balaton and Csepl (both Austro-Hungarian Navy).
Boreas (Netherlands) The auxiliary sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of IJmuiden, North Holland by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Boutefeu (French Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The Bouclier-class destroyer struck a mine laid by UC 25 (Johannes Feldkirchner) and sank in the Strait of Otranto off Brindisi, Apulia, Italy.
HMT Coral Haven (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
HMT Craignoon (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
Cuba (United Kingdom) The barquentine was scuttled in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) west of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Felicitas (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
Ferrara (Italy) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Strait of Messina by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beache but was later refloated.
HMT Girl Gracie (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
HMT Girl Rose (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
Grosholm (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west of Ireland (55°53′N 12°15′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Helenora (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
Meuse (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Fastnet Rock (50°49′N 15°27′W) by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Pancras (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and damaged in the Mediterranean Sea off Punta Sabinal, Spain by SM U-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) and was beached. She was later refloated.
Panaghi Lykiardopoulo (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel west of the Roches-Douvres Lighthouse (49°00′N 3°32′W) by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Polymnia (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) west of The Lizard, Cornwall by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her crew.
HMT Quarry Knowe (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
Rosina (United Kingdom) The brigantine ran aground at Ribeirinha Point, Faial, Azores, Portugal and was a total loss. Her crew were rescued.
Scorpione (Regia Marina) The Sirio-class torpedo boat collided with Surveillante ( French Navy) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Pantellaria.
HMT Selby (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
HMT Serene (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
St. Frances (United States) The cargo ship ran aground at Unimak Pass, Alaska and was a total loss.
HMT Taits (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
HMT Transit (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.
Tung Shan (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km) north of Cape San Antonio, Spain (39°02′N 0°19′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. Three crew were taken as prisoners of war.
HMT Young Linnet (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The naval trawler was sunk in the Adriatic Sea by an Austro-Hungarian navy warship.

[Sophia]

Originally Posted by Otto Fuhrmann

I think that's the coolest thing I have ever seen....

I couldn't agree more..very very cool
Yaaas!!

[Sailor Steve]

May 15, 1917

Air War:
0645 German pilot Friedrich Christian Christiansen and observer Ltn z.S. Hillger, flying Friedrichshaven FF.33 938 with FF.33s 936 and 937, come across a pair of FBA flying boats escorted by a Sopwith Pup. Christiansen and Hillger shoot down the Pup for victory number 1. The two British patrol planes were forced to land. as was FF.33 937. 938 rescues Ltn z.S. Röver and Flugmt Elässer and sinks the crippled FF.33 with their machine gun. FF.33 936 finds a German destroyer and reports the downed British boats. The destroyer takes the crews prisoner and sinks the aircraft.

0830 German pilot Joachim von Bertrab, in an Altabros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A6446 for victory number 5. 2nd Lt E.J. Grout and AM2 A. Tyrrel are taken prisoner.

Austrian ace Adolf Heyrowski in Hansa-Brandenburg C.I 19.64 with Ladislaus Hauser as observer, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 9.

Italian Pilot Orazio Pierozzi, in a Nieuport, shoots down a Lohner K flying boat for victory number 1.



North Atlantic Ocean, far northwest of Ireland:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Grosholm, 1,847 tons, travelling in ballast from Liverpool to Norfolk. His score is now 24 ships and 46,709 tons.



Far west of Ireland:
Karl Edeling, in U-48, sinks French freighter SS Meuse, 4,075 tons, bound from New York for Le Havre with a general cargo. His score is now 3 ships and 17,703 tons.



English Channel:
Claus Lafrenz, in UB-18, sinks Greek freighter Panaghi Lykiardopoulo, 3,193 tons, en route from Tyne to Genoa with a load of coal; off Roches Douvres lighthouse. His score is now 47 ships and 51,822 tons.

Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, scuttles British barquentine Cuba, 271 tons, off the Owers lightship, bringing his score to 27 vessels and 23,102 tons.

Johannes Lohs, in UC-75, torpedoes British freighter SS Polymnia, 2,426 tons, en route from Lisbon to the United Kingdom with a load of iron ore and fruit. His score is now 17 ships and 7,419 tons.



North Sea:
Hugo Thielmann, in UC-71, scuttles Dutch auxiliary motor sailing vessel Boras, 192 tons, carrying a load of zinc ore fro Gothenburg to Rotterdam; off Ymuiden. His total is now 5 vessels and 8,975 tons.



Skagerrak:
Erich Haecker, in UC-79, takes Danish freighter SS Ellen, 786 tons, as a prize. It is later released by the Prize Court.



Alboran Sea:
Heinrich Metzger, in U-47, attacks British freighter SS Pancras, 4,436 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardiff to Almeria, off Punta Entinas-Sabinar with his deck gun. The damaged ship is beached, refloated and returned to service.



Balearic Sea:
1700 Johannes Klasing, in U-34, scuttles British freighter SS Tung Shan, 3,999 tons, on its way from Tyne to Genoa with a load of coal; off Cabo San Antonio. His score is now 20 ships and 23,390 tons.



Adriatic Sea:
French destroyer Boutefeu, 703 tons, hits a mine laid off Brindisi, Italy by Johannes Feldkirchner in UC-25. His tally is now 7 ships and 2,519 tons.



Strait of Messina:
Otto Schultze, in U-63, torpedoes Italian freighter SS Ferrara, 5,660 tons. The ship is beached and later refloated.

[Jimbuna]

16th May 1917

Western Front

Enemy attacks on Gavrelle, north of River Scarpe, fail with heavy losses.

British hold on "Siegfried" line, north-east of Bullecourt, extended.

French make appreciable advance east of Craonne.

End of Battle of Arras.

Southern Front

Italians take 4,021 prisoners in last two days' advance in Carso and on Vodice.

Austrians claim 2,000 prisoners in the Carso.

Naval and Overseas Operations

American destroyer squadron arrives in Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland and begins anti-submarine operations with the British.

General Van Deventer succeeds General Hoskins in East Africa.

Political, etc.

Russian Coalition Cabinet, M. Kerenski, War and Marine; M. Tereshchenko Foreign Minister vice M. Miliukov.

Mr. Lloyd George proposes Home Rule at once and suggests Convention.

Philip Snowden, Socialist Member of Parliament, declares if peace does not come soon, Allied countries will be threatened by revolution.

German Chancellor indicates lines of peace with Russia.

Ernest Poole publishes the novel “His Family” (the book will win the first Pulitzer Prize for the Novel).

Ship Losses:

HMS Dartmouth (Royal Navy) Battle of the Strait of Otranto: The Town-class cruiser was torpedoed and totally disabled in the Strait of Otranto off Brindisi, Apulia, Italy by SM UC-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her 433 crew. She was later repaired and returned to service.
Dorothy Duff (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 14 nautical miles (26 km) off Cape Cullera, Spain (39°16′N 0°08′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Friso (Netherlands) The schooner was sunk in the English Channel south east of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom by SM UB-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Hendrika Johana (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea north of the Maas Lightship ( Netherlands) (52°31′N 4°20′E) by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Highland Corrie (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) (50°28′N 0°38′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
Hilonian (United States) The cargo ship was sunk in the Gulf of Genoa 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off the mouth of the Albegna by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Middlesex (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) north west of Tory Island, County Donegal (56°03′N 12°30′W) by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pagenturm (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 16 nautical miles (30 km) west of Beachy Head, East Sussex (50°40′N 0°10′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
SMS S20 (Kaiserliche Marine) The V1-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 25 of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

May 16, 1917

North Atlantic Ocean, 150 miles northwest of Tory Island:
Franz Grünert, commanding U-30, sinks British freighter SS Middlesex, 7,265 tons, bound from Manchester for Australia with a general cargo. His score is now 16 ships and 21,947 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Ralph Wenninger, in UC-17, attacks French freighter l'Hermite, 2,189 tons, with his deck gun. The damaged ship manages to escape.



English Channel:
Hermann Glimpf, in UB-20, scuttles Dutch schooner Friso, 171 tons, carrying a load of pipe clay from Fowey to Amsterdam; off Start Point. His total is now 4 vessels and 1,795 tons.



North Sea:
Hugo Thielmann, in UC-71, uses his deck gun to sink Dutch sailing vessel Hendrika Johana, 134 tons, travelling from Gothenburg to Rotterdam with a load of pig iron; off the Maas lightship. His score is now 6 vessels and 9,109 tons.

Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, sinks two British freighters off the Owers lightship:
SS Highland Corrie, 7,583 tons, en route from La Plata to London with a load of frozen meat. In August 1915 Highland Corrie survived hitting a mine laid by Egon von Werner in UC-1.
SS Pagenturm, 5,000 tons, headed from London to Barry with a load of military stores.
Howaldt's score is now 29 ships and 35,685 tons.



Skagerrak:
Erich Haecker, in UC-79, captures Norwegian freighter SS Thorunn, 990 tons, underway from Bergen to the United Kingdom with a load of hay, as a prize. The ship is later released by the Prize Court.



Balearic Sea:
Johannes Klasing, in U-34, scuttles British schooner Dorothy Duff, off Cabo Cullera, near Valencia. His tally is now 21 vessels and 23,576 tons.
Klasing also hits Spanish freighter Patricio, underway from Newport, Wales to Barcelona with a load of coal, with one shell. The ship survived the attack, but whether it escaped or stopped and then allowed to proceed is unknown.



Gulf of Genoa:
Ernst von Voigt, in UC-35, sinks American freighter SS Hilonian, 2,921 tons, carrying a general cargo from New York to Genoa; off Albenga. His score is now 18 ships and 37,732 tons.



Adriatic Sea:
Johannes Feldkirchner, in UC-25, torpedoes British light cruiser HMS Dartmouth, 5,250 tons, off Brindisi, Italy. The damaged ships is towed to port and repaired.

[Jimbuna]

17th May 1917

Western Front

The Battle of Arras ends with British gains. British troops suffered 158,000 casualties, while Germans suffered 120,000-130,000.

British complete capture of Bullecourt.

King of Belgians visits the Somme, Ancre and Arras battlefields.

Eastern Front

Intense enemy fire on Russian trenches near Kukhary (Kovel).

Southern Front

Italians, supported by British heavy artillery, stick to M. Kuk, Vodice, and M. Santo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Kurds attack Russian rear near Khanikan.

Political, etc.

Honduras severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

U.S.A. Minister in Belgium issues damning report on German deportations.

Ship Losses:

Alfonso (Italy) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) off Denia, Spain (39°00′N 0°10′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Cito (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east of the Noord Hinder Lightship ( Netherlands) by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat with the loss of eleven of her crew.
Eirini (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south south west of Cadiz, Spain (36°55′N 6°31′W) by SM U-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Florence Louisa (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) off The Needles, Isle of Wight by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
George Pyman (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) west of Tearaght Island, County Kerry by SM U-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jakoba (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea off Den Helder, North Holland by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kilmaho (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) west north west of The Lizard, Cornwall (49°58′N 5°19′W) by SM UB-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 21 of her crew.
Lewisham (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 24 crew. Three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Margareta (Russia) The four-masted barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (51°00′N 12°18′W).
Mercurius (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 17 nautical miles (31 km) north west of Noordwijk, North Holland by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Setter (Royal Navy) The R-class destroyer collided with HMS Sylph ( Royal Navy) and sank in the North Sea off Harwich, Essex.
Vesterland (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east of Lerwick, Shetland Isles, United Kingdom by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Three casualties.
Viken (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk with the loss of eight crew in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east of the Orkney Islands, United Kingdom[233] by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

May 17, 1917

Air War:
The first two production Sopwith Camels, N6330 and N6331, arrive at the Dunkerque Depot in France. One of the prototypes, N517, has been there since February 28 undergoing testing.

Russian pilots Pavel Argeyev and Aleksandr Kosakov, both in Nieuport 17s, share a victory over an LVG two-seater. Number 4 for Argeyev, number 8 for Kosakov.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, sinks British freighter SS Lewisham, 2,810 tons, bound from Halifax for Le Havre with a load of wheat. His score is now 25 ships and 49,519 tons.

Richard Hartmann, in U-49, sinks British freighter SS George Pyman, 3,859 tons, travelling from Cienfuegos to Queenstown with a load of sugar. His score is now 29 ships and 66,703 tons.



Ireland:
Karl Edeling, in U-48, uses his deck gun to sink Russian barque Margareta, 1,873 tons, en route from Beaumont, Texas to Liverpool with a load of timber. His tally is now 4 ships and 19,576 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Hermann Glimpf, in UB-20, torpedoes British freighter SS Kilmaho, 2,155 tons, headed from Cardiff to Dunkerque with a load of railway material. His score is now 5 ships and 3,950 tons.



English Channel:
Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, scuttles British schooner Florence Louisa, 115 tons, en route from Rouen to Briton Ferry with a load of scrap steel; off the Needles, Isle of Wight. His total is now 30 vessels and 35,800 tons.



North Sea:
Johannes Spieß, in U-19, torpedoes Swedish freighter SS Vesterland, 3,832 tons, carrying a load of oikcake from Savannah to Göteborg; in convoy east of Lerwick; off Queenstown. His score is now 18 ships and 25,138 tons.

Otto von Schrader, in UC-31, torpedoes two Swedish ships east of the Orkney Islands:
SS Viken, 1,825 tons, transporting a load of sulphur from Freeport, Texas to Göteborg; sunk with 8 casualties.
SS Aspen, 3,103 tons, hauling a load of wheat from Philadelphia to Stockholm; damaged and towed to Kirkwall.
Von Schrader's score is now 32 ships and 30,016 tons.

Hugo Thielmann, in UC-71, scuttles two Dutch fishing vessels off Den Helder:
Jakoba, 107 tons.
Mercurius, 80 tons.
Thielmann now has 8 vessels and 9,266 tons.



Skagerrak:
Erich Haeker, in UC-79, takes Danish freighter SS Alexander Shukoff, 1,652 tons, as a prize. It is later released by the Prize Court.



Just west of Gibraltar:
Heinrich Metzger, in U-47, sinks Greek freighter SS Eirini, 2,662 tons, travelling from Tyne to Livorno with a load of coal. His score is now 9 ships and 17,278 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Johannes Klasing, in U-34, scuttles Italian sailing vessel Alfonso, 230 tons, en route from Oran to Livorno; off Dekia, Spain. His score is now 22 vessels and 23,806 tons.

[Jimbuna]

18th May 1917

Western Front

Artillery activity near Fresnoy.

Germans concentrate on California Plateau, Chemin des Dames; slight attacks repulsed.

Southern Front

Austro-Hungarian prisoners captured by Italy in the Isonzo Battle climb to 6,532, as their counterattacks on Italian lines are beaten.

Political, etc.

British Director of Food Economy defends the continued brewing of beer in the country, stating it counts as food and is necessary.

Several labour leaders in Sheffield, England are arrested under the Defense of Realm Act for organizing a strike in defiance of their unions.

The Duma urges loyalty to Allies on Provisional Government.

U.S.A. Congress passes Army Bill: 500,000 to be mustered in September.

Units of U.S.A. Medical Corps reach England.

Ship Losses:

Adventure (United Kingdom) The drifter was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM UB-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Annetta (Netherlands) The coaster was scuttled in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) off IJmuiden, North Holland by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Camberwell (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) south east by south of Dunnose Head, Isle of Wight (50°35′N 1°03′W) with the loss of seven of her crew.
C.E.C.G. (United Kingdom) The ketch was scuttled in the English Channel 30 nautical miles (56 km) south south east of Start Point, Devon (50°48′N 4°48′W) by SM UC-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dromore (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) south of St. Martin's Point, Guernsey, Channel Islands by SM UC-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Elford (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 36 (Gustav Buch) and sank in the English Channel 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south of the Nab Lightship ( United Kingdom) (50°38′N 0°58′W). Her crew survived.
Frances M. (United States) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar (35°29′N 8°18′W) by SM U-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but a crew member of U-47 was lost during the scuttling operation.
Llandrindod (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 165 nautical miles (306 km) north west by west of the Fastnet Rock (51°45′N 13°58′W) by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
HMT Lucknow (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 36 (Gustav Buch) and sank in the English Channel 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) west of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) with the loss of nine of her crew.
Mary Baird (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 47 (Paul Hundius) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) west of Pendeen Cove, Cornwall (50°10′N 5°44′W)with the loss of seven of her crew.
Millicent Knight (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 130 nautical miles (240 km) east by south of Malta (35°37′N 17°13′E) by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Penhale (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 72 nautical miles (133 km) north west by north of Tearaght Island, County Kerry by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Primrose (United Kingdom) The drifter was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 22 nautical miles (41 km) west by south of the Bishop Rock by SM UB-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

May 18, 1917

Air War:
0720 French pilot René Montrion and Brig Conan, both flying Nieuports, share a victory over an Albatros fighter. Number 2 for Montrion.

1100 Australian RNAS ace Robert Little, in Sopwith Triplane N5493, shoots down a DFW. C.V for victory number 17.

1115 Bob Little scores his second kill of the day, shooting down an Albatros D.III for number 18.

1220 Italian pilot Luigi Olivari, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5.

2050 German ace Karl Allmenröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2e 7074 for victory number 15. Lts B. Strachan and A.G. MacKay are both killed.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Leo Hillebrand, commanding U-46, sinks two British freighters:
SS Llandrindod, 3,841 tons, bound from Port Natal for Glasgow with a load of Corn.
SS Penhale, 3,712 tons, en route from Jucaro via Halifax to Queenstown with a load of sugar; torpedoed.
Hillebrand's score is now 27 ships and 57,072 tons.

Cornwall:
British freighter SS Mary Baird, 1,830 tons, travelling in ballast from Rouen to Newport, Wales, hits a mine laid by Paul Hundius in UC-47, bringing his total to 43 ships and 45,827 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Hermann Glimpf, in UB-20, uses his deck gun on two British drifters off Bishop Rock:
Adventure, 50 tons.
Primrose, 62 tons.
Glimpf's score is now 7 vessels and 4,062 tons.



English Channel:
Three British ships are sunk by mines laid by Gustav Buch, in UC-36 off the Isle of Wight:
SS Camberwell, 4,078 tons, en route from Tees and London to Calcutta with a general cargo; off Dunnose head.
SS Elford, 1,739 tons, headed from Chatham to Cherbourg with a load of government supplies; off the Nab lightship.
His Majesty's Trawler Lucknow, 171 tons, on minesweeping duty off the Owers lightship.
Buch's score is now 19 vessels and 28,771 tons.

Werner Fürbringer, in UC-70, scuttles two vessels off Start Point:
British ketch C.E.C.G., 47 tons.
British coaster SS Dromore, 268 tons, travelling in ballast from Saint Malo to Swansea.
Fürbringer's score is now 79 ships and 62,604 tons.

Hugo Thielmann, in UC-71, scuttles Dutch motor vessel MV Annetta, 177 tons, heading from Yjmuiden to Le Havre with a general cargo, raising his score to 9 vessels and 9,443 tons.



Skagerrak:
Erich Haecker, in UC-79, takes Danish freighter SS Magnus, 1,297 tons, as a prize. It is later released by the Prize Court.



West of Gibraltar:
Heinrich Metzger, in U-47, scuttles American sailing vessel Frances M., 1,228 tons carrying a load of oil from New York to Oran. The first attempt to scuttle fails. While rigging charges for a second try part of the cargo explodes, killing one U-boat crew member. Metzger's score is now 10 ships and 18,506 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Hans Adalbert von der Lühe, in UC-20, sinks British freighter SS Millicent Knight, 3,563 tons, travelling from Cardiff to Port Said with a load of coal and government supplies. This is his first sinking.