100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

15th September 1917

Western Front

Second phase of Third Battle of Ypres: London troops capture strong point north of Inverness Copse (Ypres).

Enemy repulsed by Portuguese at Neuve Chapelle.

Southern Front

Four successive Austrian counter-attacks on Bainsizza Plateau fail; Italians gain ground to south-east.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Hottest season on record at Baghdad.

Troops' health and spirits excellent.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Seaplanes successfully attack shipping between Blankenberghe and Ostend.

Aviation

German ace Kurt Wolff was shot down and killed in his Fokker airplane during a dogfight with Royal Flying Corps Sopwith Camels north of Wervicq, Belgium. His 33 kills tied him with compatriots Otto Koennecke and Heinrich Bongartz as the 20th-highest-scoring German ace of World War One.


Political, etc.

Provisional Council of 5 declares Russia a Republic under M. Kerenski; new War Cabinet formed.

Entire sugar industry in the United States is put under federal control to stabilize supply and prices.

Ship Losses:

Dependence (United Kingdom) The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean off The Lizard, Cornwall by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Idomeneus (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Channel (56°40′N 10°50′W) by SM U-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four crew. She was beached but was later refloated.
Platuria (United States) The tanker was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Tangier, Morocco (35°08′N 9°15′W) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten crew.
Rollesby (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) east north east of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands by SM U-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Santaren (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) north east of Muckle Flugga (61°36′N 0°14′W) by SM UB-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sommeina (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 69 (Hugo Thielmann) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south east of The Manacles (50°01′N 4°57′W). Her crew survived.
Saint Jacques (France) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 51 (Hans Galster) and sank in the Irish Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west of St. Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom.

[Sailor Steve]

September 15, 1917

Air War:

0720 German ace Heinrich Gontermann, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down a French Caudron for victory number 36.

0805 German ace Eduard von Schleich, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 15.

1245 German pilot Hans-Georg von der Osten, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith for victory number 3.
(Per Jasta War Chronology. The Aerodrome has this as a DH.4.)

1300 Canadian RNAS pilot Roy Brown, in Sopwith Camel B3893, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 3.

1410 German ace Rudolf Berthold, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith for victory number 17.
(Again per Jasta War Chronology. The Aerodrome also has this as a DH.4.)

1610 French ace René Fonck, flying a SPAD VII, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 13.

1625 German ace Bruno Loerzer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 17 B1672 for victory number 7. 2nd Lt E.D. Tyzak is killed.

1650 English RNAS pilot Norman MacGregor, in Sopwith Camel B3833, shoots down Fokker F.I 102/17 for victory number 5. German 33-victory ace Obltn Kurt Wolff is killed. Wolff had borrowed this plane, one of two prototypes, from Manfred von Richthofen. As the production Dr.Is are not yet in service this leaves Werner Voss' 103/17 as the only Fokker Triplane at the front.

1710 English RFC pilot James Payne, in Nieuport 27 B3626, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1850 Scottish RFC pilot Herbert Henry Hartley, in FE.2b A7213 with 2nd Lt E.C. Birch as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1900 German ace Hans von Adam, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel B6250 for victory number 15. 2nd Lt J.B.H. Wyman is wounded and taken prisoner.

[Jimbuna]

16th September 1917

Western Front

German attack on Apremont Forest (St. Mihiel) fails.

Stuttgart, Colmar, Thionville and Saarburg bombed by French.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German position at Kalimoto (north of Mahenge) captured.

Belgian troops (Colonel Huyghe) pursue.

Political, etc.

General Kaledin, Hetman of Don Cossacks, declares loyalty to Government.

Ship Losses:

Annina Capano (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Lion (42°50′N 3°29′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ann J. Trainer (United States) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°44′N 5°39′W) by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Arabis (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 210 nautical miles (390 km) west by south of Ouessant (46°28′N 9°42′W) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty crew.
Eendracht VII (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) off IJmuiden, North Holland by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Facto (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in Mount's Bay (49°58′N 5°36′W) by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the los of two of her crew.
HMS G9 (Royal Navy) The G-class submarine was rammed and sunk at night in the North Sea by HMS Pasley ( Royal Navy), after the submarine had mistaken Pasley for a U-boat and fired two torpedoes at her. All but one of her 31 crew were killed; the survivor rescued by HMS Pasley.
Quatre Frères (France) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) west of the French coast by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Sandsend (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 6 nautical miles (11 km) south east by east of Mine Head, County Cork by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

September 16, 1917

Air War:

1145 South African RNAS pilot Samuel Kinkead, flying Sopwith Triplane N5465, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 4.

1245 German ace Kurt-Bertram von Döring, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Sopwith Camel B3836 for victory number 7. 2nd Lt L.F. Wheeler is wounded and taken prisoner.

1245 German ace Kurt Wüsthoff, in an Albatros D.V. shoots down Sopwith Camel B3753 for victory number 16. Lt G.B. McMichael is taken prisoner.)

1300 German pilot Franz Ray, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 3.

1415 German ace Reinhold Jörke, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Pup for victory number 7.

1420 German pilot Viktor Schobinger, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Pup for victory number 5.

1500 French ace Maurice Boyau, in a Nieuport, shoots down a German observation balloon for victory number 8.

1645 Three RNAS Camel pilot share a victory over a DFW C.V:
Joseph Fall, Canada, B3883, number 21.
Hazel Wallace, Canada, B3892, number 2.
Arthur Wood, England, B3905, number 6.

1650 German pilot Hans Auer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 5. This is his last victory, after which he disappears from the records.

1800 German ace Rudolf Berthold, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down RE.8 A4693 for victory number 18. 2nd Lt H. Haslam and LCpl A.J. Lindy are killed.

1800 German pilot August Hanko, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Martinsyde G.100 for victory number 5. This is Hanko's last aerial victory. He will take command of Jasta 64 from January 1918 until an illness forces his retirement in July of that year. There is a possibility that his "illness" was a cover for him being removed from command over two of his pilots defecting in April of that year. A fascinating discussion on this, including a post by noted author Greg VanWygarden, can be found here.

1800 German ace Ernst Hess, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 14.

1825 Rudolf Berthold scores his second kill of the day, shooting down an RE.8 for victory number 19. 2nd Lt H.W. Weller and AM2 F. Farmer are both wounded, Farmer later dying from his injuries.

1830 Welsh RFC pilot Robert Chidlaw-Roberts, in SE.5a A8932, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2. Ltn Alfred Bauer of Jasta 17 is killed.

1830 German ace Josef Veltjens, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 6.

1835 Australian RFC pilot Harold Alan Hamersley, flying SE.5a A8934, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1845 German pilot Otto Fitzner, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SE.5a A8909 for victory number 2. 2nd Lt J.J.A Hawtrey is wounded and taken prisoner. He then dies from his wounds.

1845 German ace Eduard von Schleich, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 16.

1850 Eduard von Schleich scores his second victory of the day, shooting down a SPAD for number 17.

German pilot Harald Auffarth, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith for victory number 1.

German ace Rudolf Francke, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down an unidentified Sopwith for victory number 6.

German ace Walter Göttsch, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 17.

German pilot Walter Kypke, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a French-flown Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 3. Brig Jean Marquis and SLt Paul Lavigne are listed as Missing.

German pilot Gustav Nestler, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a French-flown Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 1. MdL Pierre Canivet and SLt Jean Blehaut are both taken prisoner. This is Nestler's only recorded victory.

German ace Otto Schmitt, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a French balloon for victory number 9. Observer SLt Perrissin-Pirasset is unharmed.

German pilot Hans Weiss, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 1.

[Sailor Steve]

September 17 1917

Eastern Front:
On the Riga front, fighting continues between advance posts.

Political, etc:
Central Poweers decree appointing Polish Regency Council.

Germany apologises to Argentina over Count Luxburg affair.

9d loaf order in operation.

"Summer Time" ends at 2. am.

United States:
Aboard USS Huntington a kite balloon loses altitude when the temperature drops suddenly. The balloon is hauled in, but the basket is dragged into the water. Shipfitter First Class Patrick McGunigal climbs down the hull, jumps to the basked and untangles the ropes, freeing the observer, Lt (jg) H.W. Hoyt. McGunigal ties a bowline around Hoyt, who is hauled aboard. McGunigal then ties a rope around himself and is raised safely back to the ship. For this action Patrick McGunigal will become the third U.S. serviceman to be awarded the Medal of Honor in World War One.

Ships Lost:
Annina Capano (Italy): The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Lion (42°50'N 3°29'E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).


Ann J. Trainer (United States): The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°44'N 5°39'W) by SM UC-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.


Arabis (United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 210 nautical miles (390 km) west by south of Ouessant (46°28'N 9°42'W) by SM U-54 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty crew.


Eendracht VII (Netherlands): The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) off IJmuiden, North Holland by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.


Facto (Norway): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in Mount's Bay (49°58'N 5°36'W) by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the los of two of her crew.


HMS G9 (Royal Navy): The G-class submarine was rammed and sunk at night in the North Sea by HMS Pasley (Royal Navy), after the submarine had mistaken Pasley for a U-boat and fired two torpedoes at her. All but one of her 31 crew were killed; the survivor rescued by HMS Pasley.


Quatre Frères (France): The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) west of the French coast by SM UC-31 ( Kaiserliche Marine).


Sandsend (United Kingdom): The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 6 nautical miles (11 km) south east by east of Mine Head, County Cork by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.

Air War:
0700 German ace Reinhold Jörke, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Pup for victory number 8.

0720 German pilot Fritz Bachmann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 1.

0800 German ace Ernst Udet, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a DH.5 for victory number 10.

0810 German pilot Emil Liebert, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a DH.5 for victory number 1.

1020 Italian pilot Giovanni Sabelli, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an Austrian Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

German pilot Karl Thom, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 4.

[Sailor Steve]

September 18, 1917



Southern Front:
Italians capture 200 prisoners, etc., in Carzano (Val Sugana, Trentino).


Political, etc:
M. Painleve re-defines French War Aims: Alsace-Lorraine and reparation.



Ship Losses:
Arendal (Norway): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 115 nautical miles (213 km) west of Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°27′N 8°20′W) by SM U-63 (Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Cachalot (Tunisia): The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Gulf of Gabès off the Kerkennah Islands (35°14′N 11°08′E) by SM UC-52 (Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

HMS Contest (Royal Navy): The Acasta-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in the Western Approaches (48°54′N 7°03′W) by SM U-106 (Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 35 of her 75 crew.

HMS Glenfoyle (Royal Navy): The Q-ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland (50°46′N 11°04′W) by SM U-43 (Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eighteen crew.

Joseph Chamberlain (United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) north by west of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands by SM UB-62 (Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eighteen of her crew. Two survivors were taken as prisoners of war.

Polar Prince (United Kingdom): The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west of Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°30′N 6°45′W) by SM UB-50 (Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.

Port Kembla (United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Farewell, Greenland. Her crew were rescued.


Air War:
0840 German ace Viktor Schobinger, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down RE.8 4319 for victory number 6.

1035 German ace Hans Bethge, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 17.

1040 German ace Eduard von Schleich, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 18.

1050 German pilot Karl Thom, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 5.

1120 German pilot Walter Ewers, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a DH.5 for victory number 1. Possibly A9208, 2nd Lt A.J. Chapman killed.

1105 German ace Reinhold Jörke, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a DH.5 for victory number 9. Possibly A9426, Lt H.F. McArdle killed.

1115 English RFC pilot Russell Winnicott, flying DH.5 A9218, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1430 German ace Emil Thuy, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 12.

1547 German pilot Rudolf Windisch, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 2.

1607 German pilot Otto Stadter, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 1.

1655 Karl Thom scores his second victory of the day, shooting down a Dorand AR.2 for number 6 overall.

1720 Karl Thom gets his third kill of the day, downing a Caudron for number 7.

French SPAD pilots William Herisson and Robert de Marancour share a victory over a German two-seater. Victory number 3 for Herisson, number 5 for de Marancour.

Emil Thuy scores his second victory of the day, shooting down a Caudron for number 13 overall.

[Sailor Steve]

September 19, 1917

Eastern Front:
German infantry attack Lemburg (east of Riga) repulsed with loss by Letts.

Southern Front:
Fighting dying down on Italian front.

Political, etc:

M. Kerenski tries to limit powers of Extremists.

Vote of Confidence in French Government.

343,500 U.S.A. conscripts joined to date.



Ship Losses:
Blanche (France): The four-masted barque was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (47°00′N 10°30′W) by SM U-151 (Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eighteen crew.

Etal Manor (United Kingdom): The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 7 nautical miles (13 km) south by west of Hook Point, County Waterford by SM UC-48 (Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.

Hydra (Denmark): The three-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Orkney Islands, United Kingdom (59°33′N 7°37′W) by SM U-94 (Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all six crew.

Marthe Marguerite (France): The three-masted barque was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Cape Finisterre, Spain (46°18′N 11°25′W) by SM U-54 (Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Montana (Norway): The cargo ship capsized and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Tunis, Tunisia.

Saint Ronald (United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles (176 km) north north west of Tory Island, County Donegal (56°22′N 10°17′W) by SM U-82 (Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 24 of her crew.

Teresita (Italy): The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea by SM UC-53 (Kaiserliche Marine).



Air War:
0730 German pilot Hans Waldhausen, flying Albatros D.V 2284/17, shoots down a Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 1.

0840 German ace Friedrich Gille, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7130 for victory number 6. 2nd Lt H.T. Taylor and Lt G.W. Mumford are both wounded and taken prisoner. This is Gille's last victory. The rest of his war career, and indeed his life, is not available in any sources I've found, other than that he will die in Hamburg in 1953.

1000 German ace Hans von Adam, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down RE.8 B3427 for victory number 16. 2nd Lt J.S. Walthew an Lt M.C. Hartmen are both killed.

1000 German ace Rudolf Berthold, in an Albatros D.V, ahoots down an RE.8 for victory number 20.

1000 English RNAS pilot Hugh Bingham Maund, in Sopwith Camel B6211, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory mumber 1.

1005 Hans von Adam scores his second victory of the day, shooting down Sopwith Camel N6374 for number 17.

1005 German pilot Carl Galetschky, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 1.

1010 Canadian RNAS pilot Stanley Rosevear, in Sopwith Triplane N6299, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 4.

1047 German ace Erwin Böhme, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down RE.8 B5012 for victory number 14. Lt H.L. Devlin and 2nd Lt F.A. Wright are both killed.

1203 German pilot Richard Flashar, in Albatros D.V 2065/17, shoots down a Morane-Saulnier 'P' for victory number 2. Flashar only scored two victories in his career, but the first was back on November 5, 1914, when he and Oblt Demuth scored the first ever German aerial kill. Flashar is commanding Jasta 5 from June 10 to December 31 1917, and will again from January 14 to May 12 1918. Following this I can find no records.

1215 English RFC ace James McCudden, flying SE.5a B4863, shoots down a Rumpler two-seater for victory number 12.

1217 German ace Rudolf Matthaei, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Morane-Saulnier 'P' for victory number 7. No.3 Sqdn RFC reports two Moranes lost this day: A6655, 2nd Lts C.A. Sutcliffe and T. Humble both taken prisoner; and A235, Lt E. Golding killed and Cpl L. Goss wounded and taken prisoner. Goss will later die from his wounds.

1520 German pilot Harald Auffarth, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 2.

1640 German ace Otto Kissenberth, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 14. This may have been Cpl Marcel Vassel of Esc N.80, listed as Missing.

1640 German pilot Theodor Rumpel, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 3.

1755 German ace Fritz Kosmahl, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down Sopwith Triplane N5490 for victory number 8. Sub-Lt R.E. McMillan is taken prisoner.

1835 German ace Eduard von Schleich, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 19.

German pilot Hans Fritzsche, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an unidentified Sopwith for victory number 2.

French pilot Georges Lachmann, in a SPAD VII, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 5.

German pilot Martin Mallmann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Caudron G.4 for victory number 2. Cpl Abraham and Sldt Mauvillier are listed as Missing.

German pilot Josef Schwendemann, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 1.

German ace Karl Thom, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down two Dorand AR.2s for victories 8 and 9.

German pilot Johannes Werner, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 2.

[Jimbuna]

20th September 1917

Western Front

British advance east of Ypres and take Inverness Copse, Glencorse Wood, Veldhoek and part of Polygon Wood and 2,000 prisoners.

Eastern Front

Enemy attack thrice in Susitza Valley (Moldavia), repulsed by Romanians.

Southern Front

French and Albanian troops raid Austrians in Skumbi valley (Albania); 400 prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

General Cassini's column defeat Nuri Pasha at Zanzur (west of Tripoli City); enemy losses 1,600 etc.

Trans-Caucasia declares itself a Republic.

Political, etc.

Chambers of Commerce meets for better understanding of British war aims; addressed by Lord Northcliffe.

300,000 more conscripted Americans head to U.S. Army Camps to train for the war.

Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet resigns due to continued divisions within the fledgling Russian government.

Ship Losses:

Fabian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°45′N 6°40′W) by SM UB-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Gioffredo Mameli (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) north west of Cape Spartel (36°05′N 6°15′W) by SM UB-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kurdistan (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 27 nautical miles (50 km) east south east of Pantelleria, Italy (36°40′N 12°37′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

September 20, 1917

Air War:
0940 German ace Hans von Adam, flying an Albartros D.V, shoots down DH.5 A9179 for victory number 18. 2nd Lt W.O. Cornish is wounded and taken prisoner, later dying from his wounds.

0950 Hans von Adam scores his second victory of the day, shooting down SE.5 A8931 for number 18. Sgt J.W. Bancroft is taken prisoner.

0950 German pilot Karl Stock, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Triplane for victory number 1.

0950 German ace Rudolf Wendelmuth, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Sopwith Triplane N6292 for victory number 8. Sub-Lt J.H. Winn is killed.

1030 English RFC pilot Philip August de Fontenay, in Nieuport 17 B1618, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

1104 German ace Heinrich Kroll, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 11.

1105 German ace Friedrich Altemeier, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down SPAD VII B3493 for victory number 7. Lt F. Bullock-Webster is wounded and later dies.

1115 Canadian RNAS pilot John Manuel, in Sopwith Camel B3850, shoots down a German two-seater for victory 3.

1120 English RFC pilot Edward Clarke, in Sopwith Camel B2327, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 4.

1130 German ace Rudolf Berthold, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 21.

1130 Canadian RFC pilot Edward Borgfeldt Booth, flying Sopwith Camel B6206, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1150 German ace Fritz Kosmahl, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Triplane for victory number 9.

1150 German ace Bruno Loerzer, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 8.

1155 English RFC pilot James Payne, in Nieuport 27 B326, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

1200 Welsh RFC pilot Peter Carpenter, in Sopwith Camel B2314, Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1200 Canadian RFC pilot John Crompton, flying SE.5 B543, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

1210 Canadian RFC pilot Lumsden Cummings, in Nieuport 27 B3631, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 1.

1215 German ace Kurt Wüsthoff, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 17.

1320 German pilot Richard Runge, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Nieuport 27 for victory number 4.

1400 German pilot Fritz Bachmann, in an Albatros D.III, destroys an observation balloon for victory number 2.

1405 English RFC pilot Alwyne Lloyd, flying DH.5 A9211, shares a victory over an Albatros D.V with 2nd Lt P.E. Woods in DH.5 A9280. Number 5 for Lloyd.

1430 Kurt Wüsthoff scores his second kill of the day, shooting down a SPAD VII for number 17.

1510 Canadian RNAS pilot Roy Brown, in Sopwith Camel B3893, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 4.

1510 English pilot Ronald Sykes, in Sopwith Camel B3906, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1510 German pilot Paul Bäumer, in Albatros D.V 4409/17, shoots down Sopwith Camel B3906 for victory number 5. Sub-Lt Ronald Sykes is wounded and crashes in No-Man's Land, then is rescued by British troops.

1745 Alwyne Lloyed scores his second victory of the day, a German two-seater, shared with Lt E.A. Packe in DH.5 A9219. Number 6.

1820 German ace Eduard von Schleich, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Nieuport 12 for victory number 20.

1825 Three RFC Camel pilots share a victory over a German two-seater:
Raymond Brownell, Australia, number 2.
Henry Moody, England, number 3.
Emerson Smith, Canada, number 5.

German pilot Franz Ray, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 4.

German pilot Franz Schmitt, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 3.

[Jimbuna]

21st September 1917

Western Front

Enemy's attacks on Tower Hamlets' ridge (Ypres) repulsed. Prisoners now exceed 3,000.

Eastern Front

After holding enemy here for 18 months, Russians retire north from Jakobstadt (River Dvina).

Southern Front

Second phase of Isonzo battle closed; neither side can hold Mte. S. Gabriele.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British bomb and cause surrender of Diwaniya (Euphrates).

Naval and Overseas Operations

German groups broken up west of Kilwa and Lindi; flee south to River Mbemkuru.

Political, etc.

General Alexeiev resigns.

Germany and Austria-Hungary accept Pope Benedict’s proposal for an immediate armistice in the war. The Allies had already rejected it.

Canada passes the Wartime Elections Act, which gives the vote to women in the military and to wives, mothers, & sisters of serving soldiers.

Ship Losses:

Aline Montreuil (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 22 nautical miles (41 km) north of Cap Barfleur, Manche (50°02′N 1°18′W) by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Christina (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kouang-si (France) The passenger ship was torpedoed and damaged in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) south east of The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM UC-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached but was later refloated.
Radaas (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 18 nautical miles (33 km) west of Portland Bill, Dorset, United Kingdom (50°34′N 3°05′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Santo Nicola (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Spiridon (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

September 21, 1917

Air War:
0700 German pilot Walter Jumpelt, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 1.

0715 German pilot Willi Rosenstein, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an DH.4 for victory number 1.

0820 Three RFC Sopwith Pup pilots share a victory over a German two-seater:
Eric Hughes, Wales, A6188, victory number 3.
Arthur Lee, England, B1777, number 3.
Maurice Scott, B2191, number 8.

0821 Prussia-born German pilot Gustav Schneidewind, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 3. Lt W.J. Potts is killed.

0852 German ace Erwin Böhme, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down RE.8 A3617 for victory number 15. Cpt Robert Nicholas Fenwick Mills and Lt William Angus Browne are both killed.

0905 German ace Hermann Göring, flying Albatros D.V 4424/17, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7224 for victory number 14. English 13-victory ace pilot Lt Ralph Luxmore Curtis is wounded and taken prisoner, later dying from his wounds. English 13-victory ace observer Lt Desmond Percival Fitzgerald-Uniacke is taken prisoner.

0915 German pilot Ulrich Neckel, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Pup A7321 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt R.S. Asher is killed.

0940 German pilot Harald Auffarth, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 3.

0950 German ace Rudolf Berthold, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 22.

0950 German pilot Richard Runge, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 5.
(These three SPADs are all recorded, but it is unclear who shot down which one: A3533, 2nd Lt F.W. Kirby; B3557, 2nd Lt R.A. Inglis; B3642, 2nd Lt W.G. McRae, all three killed.)

1100 Welsh RNAS pilot Howard Saint, flying Sopwith Camel B6201, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 5.

1150 German pilot Paul Erbguth, in Albatros D.III 2140/16, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 2. This is Erbguth's last victory. He will command Jasta 54 from December 28, 1917 to May 18, 1918. After this nothing seems to be known.

1400 Scottish RFC pilot Graham Young, in SE.5a B533, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1445 German pilot Gustav Bellen, in an Albatros D.III, destroys a British observation balloon for victory number 1. This is Bellen's only aerial victory. He will be wounded on October 11 while flying Pfalz D.IIIa 8169/17, after which he will sit out the war. Bellen will live until January 1965.

1700 Canadian RNAS pilot Stearne Edwards, in Sopwith Camel B6217, and English RNAS pilot Oliver Redgate, in B3818, share a victory over a DFW C.V. Number 3 for both men.

1705 English RFC pilot Alfred John Brown, Flying DH.5 B362, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1745 German pilot Rudolf Weckbrodt, in Albatros D.V 636/17, shoots down an Allied two-seater for victory number 2.

1750 German ace Paul Bäumer, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 6.

1815 Welsh RFC pilot Robert Chidlaw-Robers, in SE.5a A8932, and Lt I.O. Whiting, in B4864, share a victory over an Albatros D.V. Number 3 for Chidlaw-Roberts, unknown for Whiting.

1816 Robert Chidlaw-Roberts and I.O. Whiting shoot down a Germaan two-seater. Victory number 4 for Chidlaw-Roberts.

1830 Two French SPAD VII pilots share a victory over a German two-seater:
René Paul Louis Dousinelle, number 1.
René Montrion, number 4.

1835 German ace Eduard von Schleich, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 21.

1840 Canadian RFC ace Emerson Smith, in a Sopwith Camel, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 6.

1845 Eduard von Schleich scores his second victory of the day, shooting down a Dorand A.2 for victory number 22.

1925 German pilot Erich Löwenhardt, in an Albatros D.III, destroys an observation balloon for victory number 5.

German pilot Karl Bohnenkamp, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 1.

Three French Nieuport pilots share a victory over an "Enemy Aircraft":
Jeam Casale, number 9.
Adj Melin, number 1.
SLt de Rochenchouart de Mortemart, number 3.
(This is possibly Ltn Friedrich Weber, killed in action overLouvemont at 1830.)

German pilot Fritz Kieckhäfer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7234 for victory number 2. Lt C.H.C. Woods and 2nd Lt T.W. McLean are both killed.

[Jimbuna]

22nd September 1917

Western Front

Stuttgart, Treves, Coblenz and Frankfurt bombed.

Southern Front

Slight Italian push in Marmolada region (Carnic).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Ostend attacked by British coast patrol.

Aviation

Ralph Curtis (pictured), British aerial ace with 15 victories, is killed in action in a dogfight with German pilot Hermann Göring.


Political, etc.

Relations much strained between Germany and Argentina.

Severe shortage of paper in Germany leads to many newspapers unable to print the day’s editions.

Ship Losses:

Alkyon (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Oran, Algeria by SM UB-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Caroline (France) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 60 nautical miles (110 km) west of Asinara Island, Italy by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Garifaglia (Greece) The barque was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea west of Crete (34°57′N 22°14′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Greleen (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) east by north of Berry Head, Devon (50°28′N 3°14′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nineteen of her crew.
Inn (Austro-Hungarian Navy) The river monitor struck a Romanian mine laid by Danube ships ( Romanian Naval Forces) and sank near Brăila.
Italia (France) The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 11 nautical miles (20 km) north west of Cape Ortegal, A Coruña, Spain by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
John Knudsen (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of Cape Falcon, Algeria (36°00′N 1°01′W) by SM UB-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Mascotte (France) The schooner was sunk in the English Channel 114 nautical miles (211 km) off Ouessant, Finistère by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Primo (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off the Fimara Grande Lightship ( Italy) by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Trongate (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north west of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Ville de Valenciennes (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south east of Flamborough Head by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

September 22, 1917

Air War:
0830 Canadian RFC pilot John Henry Tudhope, flying Nieuport 24 B617, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

0900 German ace Rudolf Berthold, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7205 for victory number 23. 2nd Lts E.A. Bell and R.E. Nowell are both killed.

0900 English RFC pilot Rothesay Wortley, in Bristol F.2b A7118 with an unnamed observer, shoots down two Albatros D.Vs for victories number 3 amd 4.

[Jimbuna]

23rd September 1917

Aviation

German flying ace Werner Voss is shot down and killed during a dogfight with British pilots in the skies over Belgium.

Political, etc.

Bolsheviks accuse Russian Premier Kerensky of orchestrating the recent coup to crush the proletariat and the soviet council.

Costa Rica breaks off relations with Germany.

Ship Losses:

Agios Nicolaos (Greece) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea west of Crete (35°33′N 23°28′E) by SM UC-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Argietta (Italy) The brigantine was scuttled in the Tyrrhenian Sea by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Giuseppina Concertina (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Gloire (France) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) off Ouessant, Finistère by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the fishing vessel Algesiras ( France).
Henry Lippitt (United States) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west of Brest, Finistère (48°17′N 10°05′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hornsund' (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) east south east of Scarborough, Yorkshire by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Irthington (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Gulf of Gioja 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east north east of Cape Vaticano, Italy (40°35′N 15°01′E) by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jeune Mathilde (France) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) west of Ouessant by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Algesiras ( France).
Joaquina (Spain) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) off Cadaqués, Girona, Spain by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Medie (France) The transport ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 120 nautical miles (220 km) north west of Cape Bougaroni, Algeria by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 250 of the 626 people on board.
Nicholaos (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea by SM UC-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Perseverance (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 14 nautical miles (26 km) north west by north of Saint-Valery-en-Caux, Seine-Maritime, France by SM UC-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rosehill (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and damaged in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west by south Fowey, Cornwall by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was taken in tow but sank in Whitesand Bay (50°19′40″N 4°18′25″W). Her crew survived.
St. Dunstan (United Kingdom) The dredger struck a mine laid by UC 21 (Werner von Zerboni di Sposetti) and sank in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) north west by west of Portland Bill, Dorset with the loss of two of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

September 23, 1917

Air War:
0730 Canadian RNAS pilot Stearne Edwards, flying Sopwith Camel B6217, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 4.

0815 Canadian RNAS pilot John Playford Hales, in Sopwith Camel B3832, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

German ace Otto Kissenberth, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 16.

0820 Stearne Edwards scores his second kill of the day, shooting down another Albatros D.V for victory number 5.

0910 French ace René Fonck, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an Albatros for victory number 14.

0930 Italian pilot Giovanni Sabelli, flying a SPAD VII, shoots down an Austrian Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

0930 German ace Werner Voss, in Fokker F.I 103/17, shoots down DH.4 A7643 for victory number 48. 2nd Lts Samuel Leslie John Bramley and John Matthew DeLacy are both killed.

0950 Otto Kissenberth scores his second victory of the day, shooting down a Sopwith 1½ Strutter for number 17.

1045 German ace Hans von Adam, in an Albatros d.V, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 20.

1055 German pilot Franz Ray, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 5.

1100 New Zealand-born RNAS pilot Harold Beamish, flying Sopwith Camel N6377, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 5.

1125 French ace Maurice Boyau, in a Nieuport scout, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 10.

1130 German ace Kurt-Bertram von Döring, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 8.

1130 Welsh RNAS ace Howard Saint, in Sopwith Camel N6341, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 6

1230 German pilot Konrad Mettlich, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an unidentified Sopwith for victory number 5.
(per Jasta War Chronology. The Aerodrome says Nieuport.)

1230 German pilot Wilhelm Seitz, flying an albatros D.III, shoots down an unidentified Nieuport for victory number 4.

1230 German ace Rudol Wendelmuth, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an unidentified Nieuport for victory number 9.

1250 French pilot Jules Covin, with Adj Poreaux and MdL de Freycinet, in a three-seater (probably Caudron R.4), shoot down a German two seater. Victory number 3 for Covin and Poreaux, number 1 for de Freycinet.
(Per the French Pilots webpage http://www.cieldegloire.com/004_covin_j_c.php. The French Air Service War Chronology and The Aeodrome website listings look like they may have been in individual fighters. The Nieuport Escadrille N31 seems to indicate the latter.)

1600 Scottish RFC pilot Charles Roberd Davidson, in a Vickers FB.19 on the Palestinian Front, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1. Shared with Lt H.E. Sheppard.

1655 German pilot Hermann Becker, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an unidentified Nieupprt for victory number 2.

1740-1835 Canadian RFC ace Reginald Hoidge, flying SE.5a B506, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 23.

1800 English RFC ace Arthur Rhys Davids, in SE.5a B.4863, shoots down Fokker F.I 103/17. German 48-victory ace Werner Voss is killed. What happened is fairly simple, yet there is still much controversy surrounding the fight.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...&postcount=186

1800-1830 Arthur Rhys Davids scores his second kill of the day, shooting down an Albatros D.V for victory number 20. This may have been 14-victory ace Carl Menckhoff, and may have been the Albatros that tried to help Voss. If it was Menckhoff he landed unharmed.

1800-1830 English RFC ace James McCudden, in SE.5a B4863, ahoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 13.

1830 Rudolf Wendelmuth scores his second kill of the day shooting down DH.5 A9258 for victory number 10.
(Per The Aerodrome. Jasta War Chronology says it was a Sopwith, but gives no details.)

English 6-victory ace John Lancashire Barlow is killed in a flying accident while on patrol.

German pilot Walter Böning shoots down two Nieuports for victories 5 and 6.

German ace Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Nieuport 23 for victory number 20.

Austrian pilot Frank Linke-Crawford, flying Austrian Albatros D.III 153.04, shoots down an Italian seaplane for victory number 5.

Hungarian pilot Ferdinand Udvardy, in a Hansa-Brandenburg D.I, shoots down a SPAD and a Pomilio for victories 3 and 4.