100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

April 25, 1918


Air War:


0840 German pilot Otto Wandelt, flying with Jasta 43, shoots down RE.8 B7827 for victory number 3. 2nd Lts G.W.T. Glasson and W.W. Potter land safely on their own side of the lines.


1000 Two Canadian RAF pilots share a victory over a DFW C.V:
Acheson Goulding, SE.5a B690, victory number 5.
Arthur Eyguem De Montaigne Jarvis, Bristol M.1C "Bullet" C4913, victory number 1.


1050 German ace Karl Schattauer, with Jasta 16, shoots down RE.8 B6615 for victory number 6. Capt H.M. Gibbs and Lt A. Lomax are both wounded.


1115 German pilot Hans Schorn, with Jasta 16, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 1.


1220 Belgian pilot Willy Coppens Omer François Jean Coppens de Houthulst, in an Hariot HD.1, shoots down a German "Scout" for victory number 1.


1425 German ace Karl Bolle, flying a Fokker Dr.I, shoots down Sopwith Camel D1665 for victory number 7. Lt A.N. Baker is killed.


1500 German pilot Alfred King, with Jasta 40, shoots down a DH.9 for victory number 4. King is also seriously wounded in this fight. After a lengthy hospital stay he is assigned to Kampstaffel VII, and sees no further combat.


1700 Canadian RAF pilot Roy Manzer, in SE.5a D259, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.


1745 German August Jühe, with Jasta 8, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 2.


1825 German ace Josef Mai, in an Albatros D.V Sopwith Camel D1801 for victory number 10. 2nd Lt N.A. Newnham lands safely on his own side of the lines.


1930 German pilot Lt H-R. von Decker, flying with Jasta 20, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 1.


1935 American RAF ace pilot Wilfred Beaver and Scottish observer Malcolm Mather, in Bristol F.2b B C817, shoot down an Albatros D.V. Victory number 12 for Beaver; number 8 for Mather.


German pilot Kurt Kressn3er, with Jasta 5, shoots down Bristol F.2b B1126 for victory number 1. Englsh 11-victory ace Thomas Colvill-Jones is wounded and taken prisocer. AM1 F. Finney is also captured. Colvill-Jones will later die from his wounds.


German 5-victory ace Otto bon Breiten Landedburg is seriously wounded, ending his wartime career. Further information is unknown.


Three RAF Sopwith Camel pilots share a victory over an LVG two-seater:
Cecil Marchant, England, victory number 7.
2nd Lt E. Smith, unformation unknown.
Philip Murray Tudhope, South Africa, victory number 1.


German pilot Karl Meierdirks, flying with Jasta 55 over the Palesinian Front, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 2.


German naval ace Theo Osterkamp, in an Albatros D.V with Marine FeldJasta II, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 10.


German naval ace Gotthard Sachsenberg, in an Albatro D.V with MFJ I, shoots down a French Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 10.


German pilot Heinrich Schott with Jasta 25 over the Macedonian Front, destroys an observation balloon for his only victory. Schott is also killed, either in this same attack or by the crew of another balloon.


German pilot Ltn Karl Adolf Siefert (1 victory, is killed in the crash of Albatros D.Va 7253/17 at Erccheu aerodrome.


German pilot FlgMt Strucke (no first name given, flying an Albatros D.V with MFJ II, shoots down a Camel for victory number 1.

[Jimbuna]

26th April 1918

Western Front

In Kemmel region, Germans occupy Kemmel Hill and village and Dranoutre after very severe fighting.

Locre is lost and retaken by French.

Ypres-Comines Canal, Allied line falls back; at Voormezeele (Ypres) heavy fighting results in repulse of Germans.

In Luce Valley and at Givenchy, fighting is to the advantage of the Allies.

Hangard Wood recaptured.

Political, etc.

Ministry of Reconstruction issues report of Balfour Committee on commercial and industrial policy after the war.

Ship Losses:

Angelina di Paola (Italy) The brig was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea north of Cape San Vito, Sicily by SM UB-68 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Ethel (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 19 nautical miles (35 km) north by east of the Smalls Lighthouse by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Leopold d'Or (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea off San Pietro Island, Italy (39°55′N 7°02′E) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Llyngwair (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south south east of Seaham Harbour, County Durham by SM UC-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her crew.


British soldiers examining the downed fuselage of a German Pfalz Scout D.III at the Vert Galand Aerodrome.

[Sailor Steve]

April 26, 1918


Air War:


0945 English RAF ace Gerald Gibbs, flying SE.5a B694 over the Macedonian Front, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 9.


1045 Canadian RAF pilot Arthur Jarvis, in Bristol M.1c over the Macedonian Front, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 2.

[Jimbuna]

27th April 1918

Western Front

In Ypres sector Voormezeele is twice attacked by Germans without success.

Local fighting astride Ypres-Comines Canal.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Armenia: Turks report capture of Kars with 860 guns.

Rapid British advance north of Baghdad; Kifri captured.

Political, etc.

Announcement of Sir W. Weir's appointment as Secretary of State for Royal Air Force.

France announces that there will be three meatless days a week starting on May 15 due to limited supply and the need to feed arriving American soldiers.

Independence of Georgia (Trans-Caucasia) declared by its Diet.

Important War Conference at Delhi.

Ship Losses:

Azizeh (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (32°07′N 32°32′E) by SM UB-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Gresham (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) north west by north of Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire (52°14′N 5°05′W) by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nemaat Kheda (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (32°07′N 32°32′E) by SM UB-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Romany (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 47 nautical miles (87 km) west south west of Cape Spartivento, Italy by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Walpas (Russia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Irish Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) west by nort of Bardsey Island, Pembrokeshire by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

April 27, 1918


Air War:


1445 Two English RAF Camel pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.V:
Robert Forster, B6276, victory number 4.
Oliver Redgate, B7270, victory number 14.


1445 Canadian RAF pilot Merrill Taylor, in Sopwith Camel B3858, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 4.


1515 Scottish RAF pilot Colin Brown, in Sopwith Camel B7274, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.


French ace Gabriel Guérin, in a SPAD, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 22.


German pilot Hans Rolshoven, in a Pfalz D.III with SeeFrontStaffel II, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 3.

[Jimbuna]

28th April 1918

Western Front

Germans again attack at Locre and are repulsed.

Great artillery activity in Luce Valley and south of Lassigny.

Further attacks on Hangard Wood are repulsed.

At Langemarck, Belgians repulse a big enemy raid.

Announced that an American force has entered the line under French command on Northern battle front.

Eastern Front

Polish Government addresses Note to Central Powers.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British forces reach the Ak Su river (Tigris).

Political, etc.

Gavrilo Princip, the assassin of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, dies in prison due to tuberculosis caused by poor treatment.

Senhor Sidonio Paes, Provisional President, is elected President of the Portuguese Republic.

Ship Losses:

HM CMB-39B (Royal Navy) The Coastal Motor Boat was lost on this date.
Damao (Portugal) The cargo ship was sunk in St. George's Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) west of Bardsey Island, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Elba (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 6 nautical miles (11 km) north west of the Pendeen Lighthouse (50°13′N 5°48′W) by SM UB-103 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of ten of her crew.
HMT Emley (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Firth of Forth south of the Isle of May, Fife by SM UC-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her crew.
Kingstonian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in Carloforte Bay by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Moose (United Kingdom) The tug was torpedoed and sunk in Carloforte Bay by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Oronsa (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in St. George's Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) west of Bardsey Island by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Poitiers (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south west of Hartland Point, Devon, United Kingdom by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Rimfakse (Norway) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south west of Hartland Point (50°54′N 4°35′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Upcerne (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south east by east of Coquet Island, Northumberland by SM UC-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of sixteen of her crew.
Verdun (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the Gulf of Gabès 37 nautical miles (69 km) east of Kerkennah, Tunisia (34°49′N 11°52′E) by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

April 28, 1918


Air War:


1745 Australian AFC pilot Edward Patrick Kenny, flying Bristol F.2b C4626 over the Palestinian Front with Lt F.C. Hawley as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1. Ltn Fritz Bötzow is killed.

German pilot Hermann Kunz, with Jasta 1F on the Palestinian Front, destroys an obswervation Balloon for victory number 4.

[Jimbuna]

29th April 1918

Western Front

Heavy bombardment between Meteren and Voormezeele followed by violent infantry attacks by 13 Divisions; 3 British divisions repulse every attack; latter continuous; enemy losses very heavy.

French at Scherpenberg (north-west of Kemmel) and Belgians north of Ypres are unsuccessfully attacked.

French regain Locre.

End of the Battle of the Lys.

Eastern Front

Viborg taken by White Guards.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British capture Tuz Khurmati (Tigris).

Naval and Overseas Operations

East Africa: British columns from coast and Lake Nyssa have forced Germans to River Lurio; other British and Portuguese columns approaching this river from the South.

Political, etc.

France: Bonnet Rouge treason trial opens.

Germany: Formation of State Grain Bureau in Ukraine announced.

Ship Losses:

Australier (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 6 nautical miles (11 km) south west by south of Dungeness, Kent (50°52′N 0°58′E) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
Broderick (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) south south east of Hastings, East Sussex by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Christiana Davis (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) south east by south of the Tuskar Rock, Ireland by SM U-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
City of Pensacola (United States) The auxiliary four-masted schooner was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Garrucha, Almería, Spain (38°58′N 4°21′E) by SM UB-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Dalkeith (Royal Navy) The naval tug was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off San Pietro Island, Italy by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine of her crew.
Ellis Sayer (United Kingdom) The collier was lost on this date.
Frogner (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Portland Bill, Dorset, United Kingdom by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Johnny Toole (United Kingdom) The ketch was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south of the Tuskar Rock by SM U-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kut Sang (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east south east of Cape Palos, Spain by SM UB-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 59 of her crew.
La Somme (France) The cargo ship was sunk in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) west south west of Dungeness (50°52′N 0°51′E) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Maria (Greece) The vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (35°38′N 13°20′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Prarial (French Navy) The Pluviose-class submarine collided with the steamer Tropic ( United Kingdom) in the English Channel off Le Havre, Seine Maritime, France, and sank with the loss of nineteen of her 26 crew.
Saint Chamond (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 14 nautical miles (26 km) north of St. Ives Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°15′N 5°30′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

April 29, 1918


Air War:


1140 English RAF pilot Clive Beverley Glynn, flying SE.5a C1078, shoots down Fokker Dr.I 575/17 for victory numbe 1. German 33-victory ace Heinrich Bongartz is hit in the face. He manages to crash-land safely but the soldiers who help him find his left eye dangling on his cheek and the bullet lodged in his nose. Bongartz will lose the eye but make a full recovery and end the war commanding the Aircraft Test Center at Aldershof. He will will will end up as Director of the German Air Trade. He will survive the Second World War as well and die in 1946.


1735 English RAF pilot Thomas Rose, in SE.5a C5392, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 3.


1810 Two American Nieuport 28 pilots share a victory over a Pfalz D.III:
James Norman Hall, victory number 4. This is Hall's last victory. He will survive the war and become famous as an author, writing books about his adventures in the air and the team up with old flying buddy Charles Nordhoff to write the 'Mutiny On The Bounty' trilogy.
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, victory number 1.


1840 German pilot Ernst Pabst, with Jasta 51, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 2.


1900 Canadian RAF pilot Carl Frederick Falkenberg, in SE.5a B8272, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 1.


1935 German ace Karl Schattauer, flying with Jasta 16, destroys a British observation balloon for victory number 7.


2015 German ace Richard Plange, in Fokker Dr.I 546/17, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 7.


German pilot Wilhelm Lehmann, with Jasta 5, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 2.

[Jimbuna]

30th April 1918

Western Front

Fierce fighting in Noyon sector.

Eastern Front

Russia: Rumoured that a counter-revolution is about to take place.

Southern Front

Operations during the month confined to artillery, air and patrol actions.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British reach Tank river on Mosul road and capture 12 guns and 1,800 prisoners.

British advance east of Jordan to attack south of Es Salt.

Line advanced at Mezra (Jerusalem).

Political, etc.

Mr. Ian Macpherson, Under-Secretary of State for War, appointed Vice-President of Army Council.

Major-General Harrington to be Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

Ship Losses:

Conway (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 38 nautical miles (70 km) south of Cape Palos, Murcia, Spain (37°10′N 0°28′W) by SM UB-105 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ella Sayer (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 15 nautical miles (28 km) east by north of the Royal Sovereign Lightship (50°49′N 0°48′E) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.
Isleworth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south west of Ventnor, Isle of Wight by SM UC-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 29 of her crew.
Kafue (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south west of the Mull of Galloway, Wigtownshire by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Kalliope (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) off Alexandria, Egypt by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kempock (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km) south east by south of the Copeland Islands by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM UB-85 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB III submarine foundered in the Irish Sea off Belfast, County Antrim, United Kingdom. All 34 crew were rescued by HMS Coreopsis ( Royal Navy).
Umba (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) south of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twenty of her crew.

MERCHANT SHIPPING

British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 129 ships of 280,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)

[Sailor Steve]

April 30, 1918


Idflieg bi-monthly report on German fighters operating at the front at the end of April 1918:

Albatros:
D.III--174
D.V---131
D.Va--928

Fokker:
Dr.I--171

Halberstadt:
CL.II--342
D.III-----3

Hannover:
CL.II---269
CL.III---51
CL.IIIa-104

LFG Roland:
D.III---14

Pfalz:
D.III---13
D.IIIa-433


Air War:

No aerial combat this day.

[Jimbuna]

1st May 1918

Western Front

Comparative quiet on Western Front.

French improve their positions before Locre.

U.S. troops join Amiens front.

Eastern Front

Germans occupy Sevastopol, establish military dictatorship in Ukraine under Field Marshal von Eichhorn.

General Skoropadski proclaimed Hetman.

Germans occupy Odessa.

Southern Front

British airmen in Balkans bomb Bulgarian aerodromes in Vardar valley.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British advance east of Jordan, capture Es Salt.

British mounted brigade, guarding ford at Jisr ed Damiya, attacked and compelled to fall back, leaving 9 guns.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British in East Africa capture important convoy from Germans retreating towards Nanungu.

Zeebrugge lock gates heavily bombed.

Political, etc.

Mr Lloyd George, M. Clemenceau and Signor Orlando attend Fifth War Council in France.

Further increase of U.S. Army sanctioned.

France and Germany arrange for exchange of prisoners of war.

Ship Losses:

HMS Blackmorevale (Royal Navy) The Hunt-class minesweeper struck a mine laid by U 71 (Richard Scheurlen) and sank in the North Sea off Tod Head, Aberdeenshire with the loss of 26 of her 74 crew.
Era (Australia) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Ténès, Algeria (36°45′N 1°56′E) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve crew.
Matiana (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Tunisia, Tunisia (37°15′N 10°05′E) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nikolaos (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt (31°31′N 29°14′E) by SM UC-74 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Samsö (Denmark) The coaster struck a mine laid by UC 49 (Hans Kükenthal) and sank in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east by south of the Roker Lighthouse, County Durham, United Kingdom. Her crew survived.
San Nicola (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (35°58′N 23°50′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Zavetni (Imperial Russian Navy) The Boiki-class destroyer was scuttled at Sevastopol.

[Sailor Steve]

May 1, 1918


Sometime during this month production of the Fokker Dr.I ceases with 320 having been built.


Air War:


0850 Canadian RAF pilot William Carrall Hilborn, flying Sopwith Camel B4220 over the Italian Front, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.


1115 English RAF pilot Harold Midgley Maude, in Sopwith Camel B7283 over the Italian Front, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.


Italian pilot Orazio Pierozzi, in a Macchi M.5 flying boat fighter, shoots down Hansa-Brandenburg W.18 A67 for victory number 2.

[Jimbuna]

2nd May 1918

Western Front

Minor infantry actions.

Enemy guns active on Villers-Bretonneux sector.

French gains in Avre valley, seize Hill 82, between Hailles and Castel.

British airmen bomb Thionville.

Zeebrugge again bombed.

Eastern Front

Ex-Tsar is removed to the Urals.

Germans occupy Taganrog in Donetz region.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Heavy fighting in Palestine; Turks cross Jordan at Jisr ed Damiya; attack troops holding Es Salt.

Naval

German submarine SM UB-31, which sunk 26 Allied ships during its career, is sunk with all hands by the Royal Navy in the English Chanel.

Ship Losses:

HMT Antares II (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date in the Mediterranean Sea.
Flawyl (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east south east of Pantelleria, Italy (36°41′N 12°42′E) by SM UB-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Franklyn (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) east by north of Port Mahon, Spain (40°24′N 5°41′E) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Girdleness (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in Bude Bay (50°54′N 4°41′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Medora (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south west of the Mull of Galloway, Wigtownshire by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but three of them were taken as prisoners of war.
Thorsa (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) north north west of the Pendeen Lighthouse, Cornwall (50°12′N 5°44′W) by SM UB-103 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tyler (United States) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) east by north of Port Mahon (40°24′N 5°41′E) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew.
SM UB-31 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type UB II submarine struck a mine and sank in the Strait of Dover (51°01′N 1°16′E) with the loss of all 22 crew.
SS Unity (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 9 nautical miles (17 km) south east of Folkestone, Kent by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve of her crew.
Valdivia (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) south west of Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°07′N 6°30′W) by SM UB-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

May 2, 1918

Air War:

0645 English RAF piloat Reginald Carey Brenton Brading, flying Sopwith Camel B6421, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

0740 Australian AFC pilot Paul Joseph McGinness, in Bristol F.2b C4849 with Lt F.C. Hawley as observer, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

1035 Canadian RAF pilot Earl Hand, in Sopwith Camel B2430 over the Italian Front, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

1040 Canadian RAF ace Clifford McEwen, in Sopwith Camel B7383, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 7.

1105 English RAF pilot Charles Maude, in Sopwith Camel B7283 over the Italian Front, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1203 American pilot James Armond Meissner, flying Nieuport 28 N6144, shoots down a Hannover two-seat fighter for victory number 1.

1230 German ace Erich Löwenhardt, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down SE.5a C1796 for victory number 18. Maj R. Balcombe-Brown is killed.

1315 German ace Hans Pippart, with Jasta 19, shoots down a Bréguet 14 for victory number 11.

1320 American ace Frank Baylies, in a SPAD with the French Air Service, shoots down a Rumpler two-seater for victory number 6.

1325 English RAF pilot Lewis Whitehead, in Sopwith Camel D1876, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

1350 Australian RAF pilot Harry Rigby, flying SE.5a C1113, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 4.

1415 German ace Joseph Mai, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 11.

1450 English RAF pilot Walter Alfred Southey, in SE.5a D5399, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1615 English RAF pilot Will Hubbard, in Sopwith Camel D9297, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 1.

1700 Two RAF Sopwith Camel pilots share a victory over a Pfalz D.III:
Cecil Marchant, England, B9211, victory number 7.
John Smith, Canada, C1575, victory number 4.

1745 Two RAF Sopwith Dolphin pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.V:
Arthur Winston Blake, South Africa, C3843, victory number 1.
Arthur Fairclough, Canada, C3796, victory number 14.

1745 Canadian RAF ace Albert Carter, in Sopwith Dolphin C4017, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 24.

1750 German pilot Karl Schmückle, with Jasta 21, shoots down an Allied two-seater for victory number 1.

1750 Canadian RAF pilot Merrill Taylor, in Sopwith Camel D3326, shoots down Fokker Dr.I 545/17 for victory number 5. German 16-victory ace Hans Weiss is killed.

1750 An unknown RAF pilot shoots dwon Fokker Dr.I 591/17 while it is taking off. German 5-victory ace Edgar Scholtz is killed.

1830 English RAF pilot Joseph Siddall, flying Sopwith Camel D3327, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

1845 English RAF pilot Edward Drake, in Sopwith Camel D3345, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1845 German pilot Hermann Juhnke, with Jasta 52, shoots down Sopwith Camel C1685 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt L.C. Hickey is killed.

Italian ace Flavio Baracchini, in an Hanriot HD.1, shoots down a "Scout" for victory number 13.

Four French SPAD pilots share a victory over a Pfalz D.III. This is possibly Vfw Philipp Jopp of Jasta 79, who was killed in the same area:
André Barcat, victory number 2.
August Lahoulle, victory number 4.
S/Lt Louvat, victory number unknown.
Sgt Morel, victory number unknown.
(There are some interesting problems with this listing, which comes from the French Air Service War Chronology. August Lahoulle is the Commanding Officer of Spa 154, while the other three are from Spa 153. The listing of Lahoulle's career has him shooting down a Fokker D.VII alone, not shared. Some sources say there were 19 D.VIIs in service at the end of April, but another source says the first actual mention of one in combat was May 9th. There is absolutely no way I could find to tell which report is correct, so I followed the day-by-day book.)

French pilot Jean Fraissinet, flying a SPAD, shoots down an Aviatik two-seater for victory number 3.

French ae Henri Hay de Slade, in a SPAD, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 7. This is possibly Ltn Stoy (first name unknown), who was lightly wounded and landed safely, remaining with his Jasta and not even going to the hospital.

German pilot Karl Hertz, with Jasta 59, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 3.

German pilot Friedrich Megerle, with Jasta 70, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 1.

French pilot Marcel Nogues, in a SPAD, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

German ace Fritz Rumey, flying an Albatros D.Va, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 15.

German pilot Hans Schlieter, with Jasta 70, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 1.