100 Years Ago Today

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

6th March 1918

Western Front

Failure of German night attack on Belgians near Ramscapelle and Stuyvenskerke.

Unusual aerial activity on British front.

Naval

The SS Faith, the first concrete ship in the U.S., being constructed in California. Concrete ships were proposed to deal with lack of steel-making plants on the West Coast.

Everyday heading north from Cat Cay on patrol we passed a concrete ship built during world war I. Seen here SS Sapona just south of Bimini Bahamas.

[Jimbuna]

7th March 1918

Eastern Front

Peace signed between Germany and Finland.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British advance in Palestine, pressed continuously for some days, reaches maximum of three miles on front of 18.

Aviation

Aeroplane raid on Kent, Essex, Herts, Bedforshire and London; 23 killed, 39 injured; one Gotha downed.

German Albatros D.V (serial number D2359/17), which was forced to land at Feuchy, being examined by British servicemen, 7 March 1918.


Political, etc.

Entente Note to Holland demanding unconditional use of Dutch shipping in ports of Allies.

Ship Losses:

Begona No.4 (Spain) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) north west of Marettimo, Italy by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Braatt II (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) south west by south of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom (50°29′N 1°21′W) by SM UB-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Brise (France) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) north of Trevose Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°36′N 5°03′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Luigi (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Rio de Oro (25°35′N 14°38′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Martha (Belgium) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) west by south of Portland Bill, Dorset, United Kingdom (50°30′N 2°36′W) by SM UB-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Saint Georges (France) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) north of Trevose Head (50°35′N 5°03′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Saint Joseph (France) The three-masted barquentine was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north west of Trevose Head (50°36′N 5°08′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Tarbetness (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) south west of the Caernarvon Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM U-110 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
RFA Vitol (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) The tanker was sunk in the Irish Sea (52°38′N 5°04′W) by SM U-110 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four crew.

[Sailor Steve]

March 7, 1918

Air War:

1015 English RFC pilot Alan Jerrard, flying Sopwith Camel B5648 on the Italian Front, destroys an observation balloon for victory number 2.

1015 English RFC pilot Francis Stanley Symondson, in Sopwith Camel B2445 over the Italian Front, destroys an observation balloon for victory number 1.

American pilot Frank Baylies, in a SPAD with the French Air Service, shoots down a German "Scout" for victory number 2.

Ltn Niebecker (no first name given), with Jasta 43 (3 victories), is severely injured in a landing accident. There are no further records after that.

[Jimbuna]

8th March 1918

Western Front

Failure of heavy local attacks on British near Ypres.

Eastern Front

At Bakhmach (Ukraine), Czechoslovak Legion clash with German forces who are preventing their evacuation towards Siberia.

Aviation

Big aeroplane raid by night on Paris; 13 killed, 50 injured.

Political, etc.

British House of Commons votes on a new war credit of £600 million, bringing the total spent since the start of the war to about £6.842 billion.

Patriotic speech by M. Clemenceau: Vote of confidence in Government.

Ship Losses:

Ayr (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 31 nautical miles (57 km) north of Linosa, Italy (36°23′N 13°45′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Corsham (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 6 nautical miles (11 km) east south east of the mouth of the River Tees by SM UC-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine of her crew.
Erica (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west of Bardsey Island, Pembrokeshire by SM U-110 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Intent (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east by north of Seaham, County Durham by SM UC-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Madeline (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 14 nautical miles (26 km) east north east of the Pendeen Lighthouse, Cornwall (50°02′N 5°25′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three crew.
Uganda (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 32 nautical miles (59 km) north east by north of Linosa, Italy (36°18′N 13°15′E) by U-28 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of a crew member.

[Sailor Steve]

March 8, 1918

In an overnight raid covering March 7-8, five giant German R-Bombers attack England. A 1,000 kg bomb dropped on Warrington Crescent, near Paddington Station, kills 48-year-old lyricist Lena Ford and her 30-year-old son Walter. Lena Ford was famous for her song 'Keep The Home Fires Burning, written with composer Ivor Novello. Lena and Walter Ford are the first American citizens to die in an air raid on London.



Air War:

0600 English RFC pilpt Charles Napier and observer Joseph Moore, flying a Bristol F.2b, shoot down a DFW C.V. Vicrory number 2 for both.

0800 Australian RFC ace Andrew Cowper, in SE.5a B664, shoots down a Rumpler two-seater for victory number 10.

1040 Canadian RFC pilot Norman Millman and English observer Arthur Cooper, in Bristol F.2b B1190, shoot down an Albatros D.V. Victory number 5 for both.

1050 Scottish RFC pilot Herbert Hartley and observer John Robertson, in Bristol F.2b A7114, claim two Albatros D.Vs. Victories 4 and 5 for Hartley, victories 2 and 3 for Robertson.

1100 Canadian RFC pilot John Elmer Drummond, in Bristol F.2b B1265 with 2nd Lt N. Sillars as observr, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1100 Two Australian AFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over a German two-seater:
Richard Howard, D212, victory number 3.
Lt A.L. Paxton, C9496, victory number unknown.

1110 German ace Josef Mai, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 8.

1140 German pilot Wolf Baron von Manteuffel-Szöge, with Jasta 35, shoots down SE.5a B8264 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt R.H. Topliss is wounded and taken prisoner.

1200 Thre RNAS Sopwith Camel pilots share a victory over a German two-seater:
Sub-Lt C.S. Deveraux, B7230, nationality and victory number unknown.
Aubrey Ellwood, England, B7229, victory number 4.
Sub-Lt K.D. Mackleod, B7232, nationality and victory number unknown.

1208 German ace Willi Kampe, with Jasta 27, shoots down DH.4 B2094 for victory number 8. 2nd Lt J.F.R.I. Perkins and Lt R.G. Foley are both killed. Kampe is also killed.

1215 German pilot Otto Fitzner, with Jasta 17, shoots down a Bréguet 14 for victory number 3.

1215 German pilot Julius Keller, flying with Jasta 21, shoots down Morane 'N' 1512 for victory number 1. American pilot Cpl Wallace Winter, flying for the French Air Service, is killed.

1220 German pilot Alois Heldmann, with Jasta 10, shoots down a Bréguet 14 for victory number 1.

1230 English RFC pilot Thomas Rose, in an SE.5a, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1315 Brazil-born English RFC pilot Gordon Fox Rule and English observer Philip Teerence Holligan, in DH.4 A7705, shoot down a Rumpler two-seater. Victory number 1 for both.

1430 Saxony-born German ace Hans von Haebler, in Fokker Dr.I 509/17, shoots down Sopwith Camel B3905 for victory number 7. Sub-Lt H.R. Casgrain is taken prisoner.

1555 Norman Millman and Arthur Cooper score their second kill of the day, shooting down another Albatros D.V. Victory number 6 for both. This is Millman's last aerial victory. He will finish the war as a flight instructor in Britain and live until 1981.

1600 Herbert Hartley and John Roberston claim their third kill for the day, shooting down another Albatros D.V. Victory number 6 for Hartley, number 4 for Robertson.

1630 German pilot Alexander Hellwig, with Jasta 77, shoots down a Bréguet 14 for victory number 1.
(Three Bréguets are shot down this day: 1272, Sgt Aureléin Larroucau and Brig Bouet both KIA; 1277, MdL Commin and Sldt Cador both MIA; 1278, Cpl Michel and MdL Hertzog both MIA.)

1710 German pilot Andreas Triebswetter, with Jasta 16, destroys a British observation balloon for victory number 1.

French ace Omer Demeuldre, in a SPAD, shoots down a Rumpler two-seater for victory number 10

French ace Hector Garaud, flying a SPAD XIII, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 10.

[Jimbuna]

9th March 1918

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British cross Wadi Auja (Jordan valley) and advance 2-3 miles on front of 13, astride Jerusalem-Nablus road, taking height of Tel Asur.

British occupy Hit (on Euphrates).

Aviation

Daylight air-raid by British on Mainz.

Political, etc.

George von Lengerke Meyer, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy and ambassador to Italy and Russia, has passed away.

Ship Losses:

Grane (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) west south west of Portland Bill, Dorset, United Kingdom by SM UB-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Hindenburg (Germany) The icebreaker struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea off Åland, Sweden with the loss of three of her crew. The wreck was found 1995 at 50 meters by diveinstructor Richard Johansson from Maltaproffsen and his crew from Ålands Dykcenter and FF-Dyk.
Jolanda (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea north east of Sardinia (41°25′N 9°40′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Marguerite (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the Irish Sea off Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nanny Wignall (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 14 nautical miles (26 km) south east by south of the Tuskar Rock, Ireland by SM U-110 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pasqualina (Italy) The schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea north east of Sardinia by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Randelsborg (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Skagerrak 20 nautical miles (37 km) south east of Oscö by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Silverdale (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 28 nautical miles (52 km) east by north of the Cani Rocks, Tunisia by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Udala Mendi (Spain( The cargo ship collided with a British merchant vessel and sank. Her crew were rescued.

[Sailor Steve]

March 9, 1918

Air War:

0800 English RFC pilot Leslie Howard Tandy Capel and Scottish observer Malcolm Mather, flying Bristol F.2b B1191, shoot down two Albatros D.Vs. Victores number 1 amd 2 for Capel; 6 and 7 for Mather.

0800 English RFC ace pilot Douglas Cooke and observer James John Scaramanga, in Bristol F.2b C4605, shoot down an Albatros D.V. Victory number 6 for Cooke; number 1 for Scaramanga.

1010 English RFC pilot George Cox, in Sopwith Camel B2411, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 3.

1015 Australian RFC pilot George alexander Lindfield, in Sopwith Camel B5631, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 1.

1045 English RNAS observer William James Middleton, riding in DH.4 N6095 with Lt G.E. Siedle as pilot, shoots down an Albatros D.V. for victory number 1 for both.

1110 German ace Paul Bäumer, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 19.

[Jimbuna]

10th March 1918

Western Front

Many German raids on French.

Eastern Front

Enemy advance on Odessa continues.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British advance 3,000 yards on front of 12 miles astride Jerusalem-Nablus road.

Aviation

British aircraft bomb the Daimler Motor Works in Stuttgart in a daylight raid, dropping 1.25 tons of bombs.

German ace Hans-Joachim Buddecke is shot down and killed over Lens, France, in combat with Sopwith Camels of the Royal Naval Air Service's No. 3 Naval Squadron. He has 13 victories at the time of his death.


Naval and Overseas Operations

Hospital ship "Guildford Castle" torpedoed in Bristol Channel, but not sunk.

Ship Losses:

Chagres (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 62 nautical miles (115 km) east north east of Cape Drepano, Crete, Greece by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of one life.
HMT Columba (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 40 (Hermann Menzel) and sank in the Firth of Forth 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off the Isle of May, Fife (56°10′N 2°34′W) with the loss of five of her crew.
Cristina (Spain) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) south west of Trevose Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°23′N 5°13′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Endeavour (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost due to enemy action.
Germaine (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Pentire Head, Cornwall (50°37′N 4°58′W) by SM U-110 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Prince Charles de Belgique (Belgium) The cargo ship collided with Firtree ( United Kingdom) in the English Channel, 3 to 4 nautical miles (5.6 to 7.4 km) east of Bull Point 51°20′N 4°06′W and sank. Her ten crew were rescued.
Skrymer (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) off Pendeen, Cornwall (50°11′N 5°40′W) by SM UC-77 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Sunrise (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the Irish Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Maughold Head, Isle of Man by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UB-58 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine struck a mine and sank in the English Channel (51°00′N 1°19′E) with the loss of all 35 crew.
Wave (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the Irish Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) south west by west of St Bees Head, Cumberland by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

March 10, 1918

Swedish pilot John-Allan Hygerth becomes the first commander of the Finnish Air force.

0730 German pilot Karl Hertz, flying with Jasta 50, shoots down Sopith Camel B9147 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt E.P.P. Edmonds is wounded and taken prisoner.

1130 Two RFC Camel pilots share a victory over a DFW C.V:
Sidney Joseph Cottle, England, B6354, victory number 1.
Richard Dawes, Canada, B6412, victory number 5.

1210 German ace Hans Bethge, in a Pfalz D.III, shoots down DH.4 A7719 for victory number 20. 2nd Lt J.N.B. McKim and Lt C.H.R. Ffolliott are both killed.

1215 English RFC pilot George William Francis Darvill, in DH.4 B9435 with Sgt A. Pollard as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1305 German ace Kurt Wüsthoff, in an OAW-built Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 27. Lt B.A. Cooke is wounded.

1315 Four RNAS Camel pilots claim an Albatros D.V at this time. though not listed as a shared victory, only one Albatros was brought down in this fight, killing German 13-victory ace Hans-Joachim Buddecke:
Frederick John Shaw Britnell, England, B7251, victory number 1.
William Chisam, England, B7223, victory number 3.
Aubrey Ellwood, England, B7229, victory number 5.
Arthur Whealy, Canada, B7220, victory number 10.

1400 Brazil-born English RFC pilot Gordon Rule and English observer Philip Holligan, in DH.4 A7705, shoot down an LVG two-seater. Victory number 2 for both.

1415 English RFC pilot Maurice Le Blanc-Smith, in Sopwith Camel B55572, shoots dow a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 1.

1420 English RFC pilot Edwin Clear, in SE.5a C5325, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

1420 German pilot Franz Hemer, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Sopwith Camel C6719 for victory number 3. 2nd Lt C.H. Flere is taken prisoner.

1425 English RFC pilot George Stacey Hodson, flying Sopwith Camel B7291, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 1.

1545 English RNAS pilot Walter Hinchliffe, in Sopwith Camel B7190, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

1745 German ace Adolf von Tutschek, in Fokker Dr.I 404/17, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 27. Adj Eugène Vallod is listed as Missing.

Australian RFC pilot Geoffrey Hughes and English observer Hugh Claye are credited with shooting down two Albatros D.Vs. Victories 2 and 3 for both.

German pilot Gefr Zell (no first name given, with Jasta 42, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 1.

[Jimbuna]

11th March 1918

Western Front

Big German raids near Ypres and Armentieres repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Further British progress astride Nablus road.

Aviation

Big aeroplane raid by night on Paris; four Gothas downed.

Seaplane raid by night on Naples.

Lieutenant Paul Frank Baer shoots down a German aircraft, becoming the first pilot of the US Army Air Service (forerunner of the US Air Force) to shoot down an enemy craft.


Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George on connection between Government and Press.

National Expenditure Committee report on extravagance in munitions, etc.

American Secretary of War Baker arrives in France to tour the frontlines and meet with other Allied officials.

Ship Losses:

HMT Frigate Bird (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Stolt Nielsen (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 38 nautical miles (70 km) south of Dellimara Point, Malta (35°10′N 14°40′E) by SM U-28 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Tripoli (Italy) The barque was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea off Toulon, Var, France by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SM UB-17 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB I submarine departed Zeebrugge, West Flanders, Belgium on patrol. No further trace, lost with all eighteen crew.
W. A. Massey (United Kingdom) The trawler struck a mine and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) west by north of Handa Island, Sutherland with the loss of ten of her crew.
SM UB-54 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine departed for a patrol in the English Channel. Sunk on 11 March 1918 at 53°15′N 0°45′E by British destroyers HMS Sturgeon, Thruster, and Retriever using depth charges, lost with all 29 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

March 11, 1918

Air War:

1000 Canadian RNAS pilot Hazel Wallace, flying Sopwith Camel B6359, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

1140 English RFC pilot Alan Jerrard, in Sopwith Camel B5648 over the Italian Front, shoots down an Aviatik Berg D.I for victory number 3.

1230 Four RFC Camel Pilots share the destruction of an observation balloon:
Walter McFarlane Carlaw, Scotland, s/n unlisted, victory number 1.
Alfred Koch, Canada, s/n unlisted, victory number 8.
Frank Quigley, Canada, B7475, victory number 24,
Kenneth Seth-Smith, England, s/n unlistted, victory number 6.

1255 Scottish ace RFC pilot Herbert Hartley and Scottish observer John Robertson, in Bristol F.2b A7114, shoot down a Fokker Dr.I. Victory number 7 for Harttley; number 5 for Robertson. Robertson is mortally wounded in this fight, and dies later this day.

1300 Englsh RFC observer Arthur Cooper, in Bristol F.2b B1269 with 2nd Lt R.J. Smethan-Jones as pilot, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 7. This is Arthur Lewis Cooper's last aerial victory. He will survive the war and live until 1985. Further details unknown.

1310 German ace Lothar von Richthofen has been out of action for four recovering from a wound, now flying Fokker Dr.I 454/17, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7227 for victory number 27. 2nd Lt Wynne Llewellyn Thomas and Cpl J.H. Bowler crash on their own side of the lines unharmend.

1310 German pilot Edgar Scholtz, in a Fokker Dr.I (possibly 591/17, with which he is later associated), shoots down SE.5a B54 for victory number 2. 2nd Lt Douglas Woodman is killed.

1315 Five RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over a German two-seater:
Alfred Brown, England, C9494, victory number 4.
Lt E.W. Lindeberg, B125, nationality and victory number unknown.
Ronald Mark, England, C6397, victory number 6.
2nd Lt P.J. Nolan, C5301, nationality and victory number unknown.
Herbert Richardson, England, C1070, victory number 5.

1355 English RFC pilot Thomas Sydney Sharpe, in Sopwith Camel B5627, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 1.

1445 South African RNAS ace Leonard Slatter, in Sopwith Camel B6400, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 6.

[Jimbuna]

12th March 1918

Western Front

Repulse of big German raid on Portuguese near Laventie.

Eastern Front

German troops land at Aabo (Finland), and advance inland.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British advance three miles on 11-mile front in coastal sector of Palestine.

Turks report recapture and burning of Erzerum.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British submarine D3 is mistakenly targeted and sunk by a French airship in the English Channel, with the loss of all crew.

Enemy driven from Poluvu (Portuguese East Africa).

Aviation

Daylight air-raid by British on Coblenz.

Zeppelin raid on Yorkshire; Hull bombed, one woman killed.

Ship Losses:

HMS D3 (Royal Navy) The D-class submarine was bombed and sunk in the English Channel by the French airship AT-0 with the loss of all 25 crew.
Gaupen (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south east by east of North Foreland, Kent.
Nordkyn (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (34°12′N 10°17′W) by SM U-154 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Oswin (Sweden) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east north east of St Abb's Head, Berwickshire, United Kingdom[79] by SM UB-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

March 12, 1918

Air War:

0710 German pilot Waldemar Baron von Dazur, flying with Jasta 20, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 1.

0905 Four RNAS Sopwith Camel pilots share a victory over a Rumpler two-seater:
Sub-Lt E.V. Bell, B7226. nationality and victory number unknown.
Maurice Cooper, Ireland, B6410, victory number 3.
John Greene, Canada, B6407, victory number 2.
George MacKay, Canada, B6400, victory number 5.

1045 German pilot Robert Heibert, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 4.

1045 German ace Franz Schleiff, in an Albatros d.V, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 7.

1050 German pilot Erich Gürgenz, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 1.

1050 German pilot Helmut Steinbrecher, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down SE.5a 4889 for victory number 1. Lt A.H. Fitzmaurice is killed.

1100 English RFC pilot George Everard Gibbons and observer Sidney Arthur William Knights, in a Bristol F.2b, shoot down a Fokker Dr.I. Victory number 1 for both.

1100 German ace Lothar von Richthofen, in Fokker Dr.I 454/17, shoots down Bristol F.2b B1247 for victory number 28. Cpt Douglas Stewart Kennedy and Lt Hugh Goddard are both killed.

1120 English RNAS pilot Leonard Rochford, in Sopwith Camel B7203, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 9.

1100 German pilot Werner Steinhäuser, in a Fokker Dr.I, shoots down Bristol F.2b C4824 for victory number 4. Lt J.A.A. Ferguson and Sgt L.S.D. Long are both wounded and taken prisoner.

1110 Lothar von Richthofen scores his second victory of the day, shooting down Bristol F.2b B1250 for number 29.

1115 Welsh RFC pilot John Chick and English observer Percy Douglas, in Bristol F.2b C4847, shoot down a German two-seater. Victory number 3 for Chick and 1 for Douglas.

1115 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, who has missed three months of flying over the winter due to adminstative duties as commander of JG I, in Fokker Dr.I 152/17, shoots down Bristol F.2b B1251 for victory number 64. 2nd Lt Leonard Cyril Frederick Clutterbuck is taken prisoner; 2nd Lt Henry James Sparks is wounded and taken prisoner.

1140 German ace Friedrich Albemeier, with Jasta 24, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7290 for victory number 12. 2nd C.H. Hore is unharmed; Cpl J. Cruickshank is killed.

1145 John Chick and Percy Douglas score their second kill of the day, shooting down a German two-seater. Number 4 for Chick; number 2 for Doublas.

1150 John Chick and Percy Douglas bring down another Two-seater, victory number 5 and 3 respwctively.

1155 John Chick and Percy Douglas shoot down another German two-seater and the Fokker Dr.I defending it. They end the day with 5 victories, bringing Chick's total to 7 and Douglas' to 5.

1250 English RFC ace Kenneth Seth-Smith, in Sopwith Camel B7474, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 7.

1300 Scottish RFC pilot Walter Carlaw, in Sopwith Camel B7473, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1315 Two English RFC Camel pilots share the destruction of an observation balloon:
Cyril Ridley, B7248, victory number 6.
Herbert Rowley, B6429, victory number 6.

French ace Charles Nungesser, in a SPAD XIII, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 31.

[Jimbuna]

13th March 1918

Eastern Front

Germans and Austrians occupy Odessa.

Aviation

Daylight air-raid by British on Freiburg.

Zeppelin raid on Co. Durham, Hartlepool bombed; 8 killed, 39 injured.

Political, etc.

Lts. Sholtz and Woolley released by Germans.

Japanese industrialist Matsu****a Kōnosuke founds an electric company (that will later be known as Panasonic).

Ship Losses:

SMS A56 (Kaiserliche Marine) The A56-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of sixteen of her crew.
Adine (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) off the Heugh Battery, Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom (54°42′N 0°58′E) by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Adrian (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
A. E. Whyland (United States) The whaler was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 55 nautical miles (102 km) off Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain (27°02′N 16°26′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Arno Mendi (Spain) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 14 nautical miles (26 km) south of the Stack Lighthouse by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Crayford (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 110 nautical miles (200 km) west by south of Skudesnes, Rogaland, Norway by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Lisette (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) north east by north of the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) by UB 16 (Rudolf Stier) with the loss of a crew member.
Londonier (Belgium) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel south of the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom (50°31′N 1°19′W) by SM UC-71S ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Nexus (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
San Francesco di Paola (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) south of Naples (39°45′N 12°38′E) by SM UB-49 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Tweed (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) south by west of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight by SM UB-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew.
Wegadesk (Norway) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

March 13, 1918

Air War:

1010 English RFC pilot Percy Hobson, flying SE.5a D260, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

1010 English RFC pilot Charles Stubbs, in SE.5a C5303, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1015 German pilot Julius Fichter, with Jasta 67, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 4.

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At 1015 a huge air battle begins as Albatros D.Vs from Jasta 56 attack a formation of Bristol F.2bs from No 72 Sqadron RFC. This is quickly joined by Sopwith Camels of No 73 Squadron and Fokker Triplanes from Jasta 11.

1015 English RFC pilot George Hodson, in Sopwith Camel B7291, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3. His victim is uncertain but Ltn Walter Bowien of Jasta 57, in an Albatros, is killed at this time. The victory is reported as an F.2b but the fight is escalating quickly and becoming confused.

1016 German pilot Rudolf Heins, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Bristol F.2b B1207 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt C. Allen is killed; Lt N.T. Watson is wounded and taken prisoner.

1020 German ace Franz Schleiff, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down Bristol F.2b B1268 for victory number 8. 2nd Lt N.B. Wells and Lt G.R. Crammond are both taken prisoner.

1030 Australian RFC pilot Geoffrey Hughes and English Observer Hugh Claye, in Bristol F.2b C4630, report a Pfalz D.III shot down. Victory number 5 for both. Jasta 56 is reported as flying Albatros D.Vs, but they may have had an odd plane or Hughes and Claye may have mistaken their target.

1030 At the same time Geoffrey Hughes and Hugh Clay score thier second victory of the day in conjunction with English RFC pilot Augustus Orlebar in Sopwith Camel B7282. Their victim is Fokker Dr.I 454/17. The Triplane sheds the center section of its top wing and crashes heavily. German 29-victory ace Lothar von Richthofen, only back from his four-month leave for a few weeks, suffers a broken jaw that will keep him back in the hospital for another three months. Victory number 6 for Hughes and Claye; number 3 for Orlebar.

"...by far the most amazing fight I ever had. We started off with 11 Bristols in two formations to patrol the Cambrai-Le Cateau road to keep the air clear for some DH4 bomb raids. I was leading my Flight with C Flight on top. A single Albatros came under my nose and went gently east in front of me. It was rather too obvious a decoy and a careful search revealed about 30 Huns in three formations down below, waiting for us.

I decided to try and bait the Huns and manoeuvred to try and draw one formation away so that we could mop it up. This game of cat and mouse went on for an hour...I could not see an opening to attack. Meantime, another formation of Triplanes was coming in from the east at our height. By this time we had completed our 90 minute patrol, so I decided we'd done our job. To my horror, as I turned, two of my Flight began to dive on the 30 Huns below us. There was nothing for it but to go after them. The fight that followed is beyond description. I dived on a Triplane that was on the tail of one of my Bristols, firing until I had to pull away for fear of a collision. I have never seen anything like the tracers that streaked from the Triplanes that were round our tail in a semi-circle.

Claye shot one down - its top wing fell off - but then his gun jammed and I was hard put to keep the Huns off our tail and I dived steeply. Then a single bright red Triplane came at us from above and when I saw he was gaining on us I decided to turn and fight him with the front gun. I did a sudden climbing turn and first got my sights on him, when he simply half-rolled over me and came down vertically, firing both his guns. He was the only Hun I ever met who really was a wonderful shot, and the splinters fairly flew down from my old Bristol. I did a half-roll, dived and managed to get clear, though he followed us to the lines. Staton got back, his machine shot about too, and later all but two got home."
- Geoffrey Hughes

Orlebar reported seeing 35 Triplanes and Albatros scouts near Cambrai. He shot one Albatros, which went down upside-down, and then attacked a Triplane which nose-dived and lost its top wing. He next went to the aid of a Camel under attack by four Germans, but his guns jammed and he had to run. This may have been 2nd Lt Hyatt, who barely made it home in a shot-up airplane.

1030 Augustus Orlebar is credited with a second victory at the same time, shooting down an Albatros for number 4.

1030 German pilot Franz Piechulek, in an Albatros D.Va, shoots down SE.5a C1070 for victory number 4. 2nd Lt D.A. Whitehead is killed.

1030 English RFC pilot William Ernest Staton and observer Horace Ernest Merritt, flying Bristol F.2b C4619, shoot down a Fokker Dr.I and an Albatros D.V. Victories 1 and 2 for both.

1035, German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Fokker Dr.I 152/17, shoots down Sopwith Camel B2523 for victory number 65. Lt Elmer Ernest Heath is wounded and taken prisoner.

"I started with Jasta 11 and fought later on with two Staffels of my group against 20 to 30 Englishmen (DH4s, SE5s and Sopwith Camels). I forced down a DH4 from 4,000 to 2,000 metres. My opponent glided down in the direction of Caudry with only very slowly working engine. The fight took place quite a distance behind our lines. The Englishman landed south of Le Terrière in square 2256. Harrassed by Albatroses of another Staffel, I let my doomed adversary off, climbed to 3,200 metres, where I fought with several Sopwith Camels.

In this moment I saw an Englishman attacking one of my Staffel's planes. I followed him, approached to within 20 metres, and put holes through his benzine tank. Apparently I had hit the pilot, as the machine dived and plunged to the ground. The Englishman tried to land in the fighting area near Gonnelieu but smashed his machine just behind our lines."
-Manfred von Richthofen.

Von Richthofen apparently mistook the Bristols for DH.4s, a not uncommon mistake for German pilots at this stage of the war.

1040 German pilot Edgar Scholtz, in a Fokker Dr.I (possibly 591/17, with which he was later associated), shoots down Sopwith Camel B5590. 2nd Lt James Noble Layton Millett is killed.

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1040 German pilot Franz Hemer, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 4.

1050 German pilot Ludwig Beckmann, in an Albatros D.Va, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 1.

1215 German ace Harald Auffarth, flying with Jasta 29, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 11.

1215 German pilot Karl Pech, with Jasta 29, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 1.

1220 Nine RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over a Pfalz D.III:
Percy Clayson, England, A8908, victory number 4.
2nd Lt W.M.R. Grey, A8904, nationality and victory unknown.
Herbert Hamilton, England, B32, victory number 7.
Lt A. Hollis, B520, nationality and victory number unknown.
2nd Lt L.W. Mawbey, B632, nationality and victory number unknow.
Guy Moore, Canada, B511, victory number 8.
William Patrick, Scotland, B641, victory number 6.
Harry Alexander Rigby, Australia, C9724, victory number 1.
2nd Lt A.E. Sweeting, A8932, nationality and victory number unknown.

1235 Australian RFC ace Andrew Cowper, in SE.5a C5428, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 11.