December 24, 1916
Air War:
Royal Flying Corps 54 Squadron takes the first RFC Sopwith Pups to France. The Pup has been operating with the Royal Naval Air Service since October.
1120 French ace Alfred Heurtaux, flying a SPAD VII, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 14.
1530 German pilot Ernst Udet, in Fokker D.III 1017/16, shoots down a Caudron G.IV for victory number 3.
In an earlier D.III, 368/16, Udet experimented with a tinplate fake rear gunner.
1640 German pilot George Strasser, in Albatros D.II 1712/16, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 1.
Bristol Channel:
British tanker SS
Paul Paix, 4,196 tons, travelling in ballast from Dunkirk to Swansea, hits a mine laid off Mumbles Head by Friedrich Moecke in
UC-46. The damaged ship manages to make it safely to port.
English Channel:
Ralph Wenninger, commanding
UC-17, sinks British freighter SS
Bargany, 872 tons, bound from Cardiff for Lorient with a load of coal, north of Ushant. His score is now 33 ships and 14,238 tons.
His Majesty's Trawler
Abelard, 187 tons, is wrecked off Plymouth.
Bay of Biscay:
Otto Wünsche, in
U-70, stops British schooner
Harry W. Adams, carrying a load of codfish from Burin, Newfoundland to Corunna. After the crew abandon ship Wünsche sinks it with his deck gun. This takes place off Cape Vilano, Spain, and Wünsche's score is now 33 ships and 42,357 tons.
Gulf of Cadiz:
American schooner
Fannie Palmer, 2,233 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newport News, Virginia to Cartagena, Spain, founders west of Gibraltar.