100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

November 2, 1917

Air War:

All Fokker Dr.Is are grounded by Idflieg pending investigation into the cause of several fatal crashes.

The only air fighting this day is on the Southern (Italian) Front.

1010 German ace Bernhard Ultsch, flying an Albatros D.III, destroys an Italian observation balloon for victory number 7.

1515 German pilot Ludwig Gaim, in an Albatros D.III, ahoots down an Hanriot HD.I for victory number 3.

1600 German pilot Fritz Schröder, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an Hanriot HD.I for his only victory.

1608 German pilot Fritz Zogmann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an Hanriot HD.I for his only victory.

[Mr Quatro]

Very interesting support before the US got into the war and the declaration would only work if all of the allies agreed.

The law will covered later in your thread of course, but President Wilson said no at first and later changed his mind. It would take 30 years to put this desire for the Jewish people to have a homeland.

The Balfour Declaration is made, where the British government announces support for a homeland for the Jewish people:

[Jimbuna]

3rd November 1917

Western Front

Skirmishing activity round Ypres.

French push forward in region of Corbeny and reach south bank of Ailette river.

Eastern Front

German and Russian soldiers fraternise on northern front.

Southern Front

German pressure on Tagliamento increases.

French troops arrive.

West of L. Garda Germans make strong attacks on Italian advanced posts.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Operations against Gaza continued.

Naval and Overseas Operations

In East Africa British and Belgian forces make good progress; drive German detachments eastward.

German submarine SM UC-65, credited with sinking 105 ships during its career, is sunk by British submarine HMS C15.

Ship Losses:

HMT Deliverer (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the Irish Sea off the Bailey Lighthouse, Howth, County Dublin with the loss of all hands.
Essichia (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea east of Crete (35°53′N 27°25′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nefeli (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea west of Crete (34°57′N 22°16′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SM UC-65 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UC II submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (50°31′N 0°27′E) by HMS C15 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 26 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

November 3, 1917

Air War:

German pilot Hans-Eberhardt Gandert, flying an unidentified aircraft on the Romanian Front as head of the Single-Seater escort division of FA 24, destroys a Russian observation balloon for victory number 1.

[Jimbuna]

4th November 1917

Western Front

Raiding on Ypres and Arras fronts.

Artillery active north of Chaume Wood (Verdun).

French consolidate new positions along Chemin des Dames.

Southern Front

British troops arrive in Italy.

Political, etc.

Mr Lloyd George and M. Painleve leave for Italy.

General Tumanov succeeds M. Verkhovski as Russian Minister of War.

Ship Losses:

Antaeus (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) north by west of Cape Bon, Algeria by SM UB-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Border Knight (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) east south east of The Lizard, Cornwall (49°58′N 5°09′W) by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
USS Empress (United States Navy) The barge sank on this date.
SMS G37 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Großes Torpedoboot 1913-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off Walcheren, Zeeland, Netherlands with the loss of four of her 83 crew.
Gimle (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south east of Scarborough, Yorkshire, United Kingdom by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Irina (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the Barents Sea east of the Kola Peninsula by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Longwy (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) east of the Copeland Islands, County Down, United Kingdom (55°20′N 5°10′W) by SM UC-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 38 of her crew.
Lyra (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 63 (Karsten von Heydebreck) and sank in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) north east of Spurn Point, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

November 4, 1917

Air War:

1045 German ace Fritz Kieckhäfer, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 7.

1455 German pilot Helmuth Contag, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an SE.5 for victory number 3.

[Jimbuna]

5th November 1917

Southern Front

Enemy cross Tagliamento north of Pinzano, capture many prisoners.

Pressure on Italian left wing intensified.

British and French troops arrive in Italy.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British carry Turkish line of defences between Gaza and Beersheba.

Sir S. Maude routs Turks at Tekrit (Tigris).

Political, etc.

British Premier Lloyd George and high military officials leave for Italy in response to the devastating Central Powers offensive.

Correspondence of British and German Governments re: alleged misuse of British hospital ships issued as White Paper (Cd. 8692).

Ship Losses:

USS Alcedo (United States Navy) The naval yacht was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay (47°23′N 4°44′W) by UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 21 of her 94 crew.
Amberton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Mediterranean Sea north of Cape Bon, Algeria (37°19′N 8°41′E) by SM UB-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached at La Calle and was not refloated until December 1919.
Caterina (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Crete, Greece (35°44′N 27°22′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Hilda R. (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south east of Cape St. Vincent, Portugal by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of one of her six crew. Three survivors reached land in their lifeboat, the other two were rescued by SM U-63.
Kai (Denmark) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean south east of Cape St. Vincent (36°22′N 8°03′W) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

November 5, 1917

Air War:

1245 German ace Kurt Wüsthoff, flying an OAW-built Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 24.

1250 German ace Paul Bäumer, in an Albatros D.V (possibly 4409/17), shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 7.

1300 Kurt Wüsthoff scores his second kill of the day, shooting down another Sopwith Camel for number 25.

1437 German pilot Walter Blume, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 6.

Austrian ace Frank Linke-Crawford, in Austrian Albatros D.III 153.11, shoots down two Macchi L3 flying boats for victories 8 and 9.

[Jimbuna]

6th November 1917

Western Front

British attack launched at dawn on Ypres ridge.

Canadians capture Passchendaele.

End of Third Battle of Ypres.

Eastern Front

Limited fighting on Russian fronts.

Southern Front

Italians again in retreat; they abandon the Tagliamento; enemy troops reach Maniago.

Renewed German attacks in Trentino.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

General Allenby captures Khuweilfesh, 11 miles north of Beersheba.

General Maude occupies Tekrit.

Political, etc.

Conference at Rapallo (near Genoa) between Allied statesmen and generals on critical situation in Italy.

War aims debate in House of Commons.

Russian government troops raid the offices of Bolshevik newspaper Pravda, run by Joseph Stalin, and destroy its printing presses.

Ship Losses:

Benor (Russia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south of Ireland by SM UB-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Emil (Sweden) The wooden brig was last heard from departing West Hartlepool bound for Uddevalla. Swedish official history on war losses put the likely cause as being a drifting mine, many of which were reported at this time. Eight casualties.
HMS Peveril (Royal Navy) The Q-ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (35°44′N 6°48′W) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.

[Sailor Steve]

November 6, 1917

Air War:

0820 German ace Paul Bäumer, flying Albatros D.V 4409/17, shoots down an unidentified Sopwith for victory number 8. This may have been 2nd Lt Francis Gartside-Tippinge, who was killed this morning.

0840 Canadian RFC pilot William James Arthur Duncan, in SE.5a B512, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 1.

0845 German pilot Richard Plange, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 1.

0846 German pilot Gottfried Strumpf, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 27 B6779 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt H.G. Downing is killed. This is Strump's only aerial victory. He survives the war but nothing seems to be known of his later life.

0850 German ace Hans von Adam, in Albatros D.V 5222/17, shoots down an unidentified Sopwith for victory number 21.

0930 German ace Max von Müller, flying an Albatros D.V, claims a victory over a SPAD. Various times are given for the even, and the location given by von Müller is nowhere near any confirmed Allied losses this day. The Allies only lost one SPAD, and it was likely Bäumer's. Despite the lack of any corroboration at all, von Müller is awarded victory number 30.

1045 English RFC pilot Arthur Peck and observer John Williams, in Bristol F.2b A7194, shoot down a Rumpler two-seater. Victory number 2 for Peck, number 4 for Williams.

1150 German pilot Gerhard Bassenge, in Albatros D.III 2219/16, shoots down Sopwith Camel B2441 for victory number 2.Lt E.G.S. Gordon is taken prisoner. Bassenge is wounded during this fight.

1150 Paul Bäumer scores his second victory of the day, shooting down Sopwith Camel B2414 for number 9. 2nd Lt E.H. Cutbill is taken prisoner.

1150 German ace Erwin Böhme, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Sopwith Camel B2408 for victory number 22. Lt William L. Harrison is taken prisoner.

Vfw Weimar (first name not listed), flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Salmson two-seater for victory number 1.

[Jimbuna]

7th November 1917

Western Front

British consolidate new positions at Passchendaele; no German counter-attacks.

Germans attack French at Chaume Wood (Verdun).

Southern Front

Italians in retreat west from Tagliamento reach River Livenza. Germans claim many thousand prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Capture of Gaza by General Allenby; the troops push on and reach the Wadi Hesi, eight miles north of Gaza. British and French warships co-operate off coast.

Political, etc.

Notes of agreement between U.S.A. and Japan, concerning their interests in China, published.

Maximalist ("Bolshevik") revolution spreading in Petrograd.

Women win the right to vote in New York State and City in yesterday's election.

Ship Losses:

Obj (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Barents Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) north east of Vardø, Finnmark by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 24 crew.
Padus (Regia Marina) The Padus-class monitor ran aground and sank in the Adriatic Sea off Caorle, Venice.
Suntrap (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) off Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Villemer (United States) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

November 7, 1917

Air War:

0720 English RFC pilot Frank Clifford Gorringe, flying Sopwith Camel B5406, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

0810 German ace Paul Bäumer, in an Albatros D.V (possibly 4409/17), shoots down RE.8 A3746 for victory number 10. 2nd Lt A. Gross is wounded and dies later. 2nd Lt B.C.R. Grimwood is killed.

1900 German pilot Erwin Härtl, in an Albatros D.III on the Italian Front, shoots down a Pomilio PE two-seater for victory number 2.

0905 German pilot Ludwig Gaim, in an Albatros D.III on the Italian Front, shoots down a Pomilio PE for victory number 4.

0915 German ace Hermann Göring, in Albatros D.V 2159/17, claims a SPAD shot down. Once again there is no confirmation, but Göring is awarded victory number 16.

Vfw Amschl (no first name given), flying an Albatros D.III on the Italian Front, shoots down a Pomilio PE for victory number 1.

German pilot Eduard Hannemann, in an Albatros D.III on the Italian Front, shoots down a Caproni bomber for victory number 1.

German ace Walter Kypke, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Nieuport scout for victory number 7.

German pilot Rudolf Windisch, in Albatros D.V 1055/17, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 5.

[Sailor Steve]

November 8, 1917



Western Front

Marshal Foch receives German armistice delegates at Rethondes (four miles from Compiegne), refuses request for provisional armistice, terms of armistice to be accepted or refused by 11 am on 11 November.

Allies continue advance: French reach outskirts of Hirson and Mezieres; French and Americans clear heights east of Meuse; British capture Avesnes and Maubeuge, advance towards Mons capturing Conde, cross Scheldt Canal and occupy west part of Tournai.

Over 18,000 prisoners taken by British since 1 November.



Eastern Front

Polish Government informs Austrian Premier that Polish sovereignty has been assumed over Galicia.



Political, etc.

Prince Max of Baden issues proclamation to Germans abroad declaring Germany beaten, and resigns Chancellorship.

Abdication of King of Wurttemberg and Duke Ernest of Brunswick.

Bavarian Republic declared at Munich.

British Minister of Blockade informs neutral countries that transfer of enemy ships to neutrals will not be recognised.



Ship Losses:

Lindhardt (Denmark): The schooner was sunk in the North Sea (60°18'N 4°13'E) by SM UB-63. Her crew survived.

The Marquis (United Kingdom): The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 16 nautical miles (30 km) east south east of Rockabill, County Dublin by SM UC-75. Her ten crew were rescued by Sarah Blanche (Isle of Man).



Air War:

0925 Canadian RFC pilot Albert Carter, flying SPAD XIII B3498, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 3.

0950 German ace Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down SPAD VII B6777 for victory number 25. Lt G.A. Cockburn is killed.

1010 German pilot Hans von Häbler, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SE.5a B4883 for victory number 4. Cpt P.C. Cowan is killed.

1010 German pilot Fritz Loerzer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SE.5a B630 for victory number 5. Lt F.R.C. Cobbold is wounded and taken prisoner.

1010 German pilot Johannes Walter, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 1.

1045 French ace Albert Deullin, flying SPAD VII S401, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 19.

1300 German pilot Hans Oberländer, in a Pfalz D.III, shoots down DH.4 A7517 for victory number 4. 2nd Lt W.C. Pruden and AM2 J. Conlin are taken prisoner.

1300 English pilot Arthur Peck and observer John Williams, in Bristol F.2b A7194, shoot down an Albatros D.III. victory number 3 for Peck, number 5 for Williams. This is also Williams' last aerial victory. He will survive the war and serve in the Royal Air Force until the 1930s when he will become Chief Constable of Cardiganshire through the end of World War Two. Date of death unknown.

1415 Two RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.V:
Frederick Elliott Brown, Canada, B513, number 1.
James Child, England, B562, number 5.

1500 German pilot Werner Dahm, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7283 for victory number 2. 2nd Lt H.G. Robinson and Lt F.B.J. Hammersley are taken prisoner. Dahm will be recorded as scoring two more aerial victories, but the dates are unknown, as are details of his later life.

1505 German ace Heinrich Bongartz, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down Bristol F.2b B1123 for victory number 21. Lt W.G. Meffitt is wounded and taken prisoner. The observer is not listed.

1510 German ace Hans Hoyer, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down SE.5a B4877 for victory number 8. 2nd Lt W.R. Kingsland is taken prisoner.

1510 German ace Theodor Quandt, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down SE.5a B4869 for victory number 8. Lt J.H. Deans is killed.

1515 Irish RFC ace William Molesworth, in Nieuport 27 B6812, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 7.

1600 English RFC pilot James George Coombe, in Nieuport 27 B6821, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

1600 William Molesworth scores his second kill of the day, shooting down a German two-seater for number 8.

1610 German ace Franz Ray, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 8.

1645 German ace Paul Bäumer, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 11.

1650 Paul Bäumer scores his second victory of the day, shooting down another SE.5a for number 12.

[Jimbuna]

9th November 1917

Western Front

Two successful British raids near Fresnoy and Armentieres.

Lively artillery actions along whole front.

Southern Front

Germans force crossing of Livenza river and pursue Italians towards Piave river.

Between Tolmezzo and Gemona, 17,000 Italians are outflanked and surrender.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

General Allenby follows up his victory in Palestine.

Turks in retreat north on Hebron and Jerusalem.

Aviation

First and only flight of the Siemens-Schuckert DDr.I German twin engine, push-pull configuration triplane fighter aircraft. Only one was built, crashing on its first flight.



Political, etc.

Arrival in London of U.S.A. Mission under Colonel House.

Coup d'Etat and fighting in Petrograd; Bolsheviks under Lenin depose Kerenski, who takes to flight.

Revolutionaries announce "an immediate democratic peace" their first objective.

Ship Losses:

Ardglamis (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 125 nautical miles (232 km) west of Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°18′N 8°43′W) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ballogie (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) north east of Filey, Yorkshire by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 13 of her crew.
Frithjof Eide (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) east north east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UB-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
Isabelle (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north west of Flamborough Head (54°13′N 0°13′W) by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.
Rizal (United States) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 9 nautical miles (17 km) off Cape Cavallo, Sardinia, Italy (36°53′N 5°30′E) by SM UB-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

November 9, 1917

Air War:

0845 Australian RFC pilot Andrew Cowper, flying DH.5 A9232, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1000 Australian RFC pilot Claude Thompson, in a SPAD, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 5. Above The Trenches gives this as A6784, but two different sources say that serial number was a Nieuport 23.

1030 German ace Lothar von Richthofen, in a possibly misidentified Fokker Dr.I, claims a Bristol F.2b. Despite the fact that no Bristols were lost this day von Richthofen is awarded victory number 25 on his own word. Another mystery surrounding this event is the plane von Richthofen was flying. Under the Guns of the German Aces says this was his first victory in a Fokker Dr.I triplane, yet offical records say that all Dr.Is were grounded until the end of the month. No serial number is given for von Richthofen's triplane, and he may well have been flying an Albatros D.V.

1030 Claude Thompson socres his second kill of the day, shooting down another Albatros D.V for victory number 6.

1030 German ace Kurt Wüsthoff, in an OAW-built Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 26.

1040 German ace Rudolf Francke, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down Sopwith Pup B1757 for victory number 8. 2nd Lt A. Thompson is taken prisoner.

1040 German ace Fritz Loerzer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Camel B6290 for victory number 6. Flt Lt W.S. Margrath is taken prisoner.

1100 Canadian RFC pilot Albart Carter, in SPAD XIII B3498, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 4.

1200 German pilot Wilhelm Schwartz, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 1.

1200 German ace Rudolf Wendelmuth, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 13.

1330 Englsish RNAS pilot Adrian Tonks, flying Sopwith Camel B6256, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 3.

1435 English RNAS ace Albert Enstone, in Sopwith Camel B3841, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 10.

1530 German ace Josef Jacobs, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a French SPAD for victory number 10. This is probably S/Lt Pierre Constantini, who was taken prisoner at about this time.

1610 Two RFC Sopwith Camel pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.V:
John Aldred, England, B2396, victory number 3.
Lt C. Runnels-Moss, B2423, unknown.