64 FLYPAST April 2018
1918 2018
“...the unreliable valve springs on the DH.9’s engines caused
several to turn back. Lt C J Stanfi eld and Captain R E Dubbur’s
machine came back riddled with bullet holes”
Above left
On many of the sorties
during the Battle of
the Lys, the DH.9s of
98 Squadron dropped
230lb bombs mounted
under the centre
section. J M BRUCE/G S
LESLIE COLLECTION
Above right
On April 12, 1918 the
DH.9 fl own by Captain
Rupert Atkinson was
hit by anti-aircraft.
VIA N FRANKS
Below
Short-built, BHP-
engined DH.9 D2781,
mid-1918. AUTHOR’S
COLLECTION
took off at 1630hrs and dropped
its weapons at 6,500ft. Mist was
obscuring parts of the target, but this
also hid the DH.9s from the ‘Archie’.
On the 24th, the Germans struck
out further south towards Villers-
Bretonneux on the Somme. Pressure
was still maintained in the north along
the Lys with an advance on Mount
Kemmel.
A raid again set out early in the
morning, but the unreliable valve
springs on the DH.9’s engines caused
several to turn back. Lt C J Stanfield
and Captain R E Dubbur’s machine
came back riddled with bullet holes.
As dusk approached, the DH.9s
of ‘C’ Flight took off to hit Menin,
but became separated. Holiday and
Whyte dropped their 230lb bomb on
Wernicq. Although they evaded some
German scouts, the pair had to force-
land due to fog on the way back.
The battle of the Lys recommenced
on the 25th with a renewed assault
on Mount Kemmel by 13 German
divisions. The British were driven
back.
Three aircraft of 98 Squadron took
off at 1130hrs to attack Gheluwe,
two DH.9s dropping 230-pounders
despite being attacked by seven Pfalz
D.IIIs of Jasta 40 from Masny.
Lts C J Gillan and W Duce were
captured when their stricken C6079
was hit and glided down. This, the
first of 98’s many losses, was probably
the victim of Ltn Alfred King who
claimed a DH.9 over Dickebusch as
his fourth victory. King was severely
wounded by return fire from the
bombers and was hospitalised on
landing.
Having fought their way home, the
two surviving 98 Squadron pilots
reported that the roads from Gheluwe
to Gheluvelt and Wervicq were heavily
congested and, in parts, jammed with
mechanical transport. Immediately,
98 sent a dozen aircraft, each carrying
a 230lb bomb, along with five more
from 206 Squadron, to attack the
roads, but frustratingly the visibility
had deteriorated, and the results could
not be observed.
Poor weather and visibility prevented
much activity for 98 for several days
and the attacks in Flanders reached
their peak intensity on the 29th. The
Germans pushed from the hamlet of
Locre to Voormezeele, southwest of
Ypres, but the British line generally
held firm.
Throughout the day, the enemy
suffered dreadful losses for little gain
and improved conditions saw the RAF
back in the air. Soon after dawn, 98
Squadron launched an attack against
German troops near Menin.
At 0750hrs D5571, flown by Lt C
G Tysoe and 2nd Lt C V Carr was
hit and came down north of Cauchy,
where they were captured. The aircraft
had possibly fallen victim to one of the
green-tailed Albatros D.Vs of Jasta 5
flown by Ltn Wilhelm Lehmann.
On the 30th, Locre was liberated as
the last German ‘push’ was completely
shattered. The new squadron had
played a full part in the RAF’s efforts
to blunt this most dangerous German
offensive and had earned the fledgling
RAF the first Battle Honour after its
formation.