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    The Air War over Palestine 1917
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    The Air Battle over Palestine as told in the Kriegs-Chronik der Leipziger Neuesten Nachrichten

    July 1917 - December 1917
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    Sonnabend, 7.Juli 1917.(1) Sinaifront: Am Nachmittag des gleichen Tages [4.Juli - HT] wurde ein feindliches Flugzeug durch unser Artilleriefeuer zum Absturz gebracht.

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    Saturday, 7.July 1917. Sinai Front: In the afternoon of the same day a hostile airplane was brought down by our artillery fire. The airplane crashed.





    Montag, 9.Juli 1917. An der Sinaifront wurden am 8.Juli zwei feindliche Flugzeuge im Luftkampf zum Absturz gebracht. Einzelheiten fehlen noch.

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    Monday, 9.July 1917. To the Sinai Front at the 8.July two hostile airplanes were shot down in aerial combat and both crashed. Details are missing still.

    The BE of Lieutenant T. Taylor and Lieutenant F.W.F Lukis was on an operation escorted by the Martinsyde of Captain Charles A. Brookes an RFC officer attached to the AFC and a BE12a aircraft flown by Claude H.Vautin. The three aircraft were attacked by the Rumpler C.I aircraft of Offstv. Kern and Oberleutnant Kurt Jancke, and the Albatros DIII of Oberleutnant Gerhard Felmy. Kern and Jancke attacked the Martinsyde of Brookes and in the ensuing engagement Brookes was shot down out of control, his Martinsyde's wings collapsing in a spin before crashing. Vautin was chased to Beit Hanun before being forced to land. Vautin was the third confirmed victory for Felmy.

    Vautin's capture was to spark off an unusual series of events. Felmy dropped a note over the aerodrome of 1 Sqn AFC three days later with the information that Brookes had been buried with full military honours and that Vautin was forced to land with his propeller and controls shot away and was safe. A note from Vautin was included in the message asking that hi kit be dropped over. Captain Murray Jones flew over the Ramleh aerodrome of FA300 at 50 feet and dropped a note to the German squadron. Felmy returned the visit on the 14th of July, dropping the following letter;

    I beg, this letter not to send in a newspaper. Please send the photo X to the parents of Mr Vautin.

    All dear sports,
    My joy was tall, to receive your many letters. Tomorrow Vautin comes, to take all things and all the letters (with 1 photo), which were dropped. He is such well educated and genteel boy, that we make do with pleasure all, what is pleasant for him.

    But when you write for us, you must write more distinctly, because our English is not so perfect, that we can read all; the most legible writing has firstly your writing=machine, and secondly xxx Murray Jones. Vautin has me talled very much of him. I hope to fight with this sport more oftener. I thank him for his kind letter. - I thank also for the decoration of the Rising Sun from Mr Lex Macnaughton, perhaps I can see the sun later in Australia.

    Too my best thanks for the picture of Mr. Brown and for the kind letter and many photos of R.F. Baillieu:

    In order to answer your questions: 1). 2nd Lt Steele is unfortunately dead. he expired 20.4.17 soon after his imprisonment, he was shut down by our archies. 2). Mstr Heathcote is in captivity and well, I think in the same place as mstr. Palmer and Floyer.

    "Murray Jones is a very courageous man, we have feeled it in flying and when he came to dropp the things for Vautin so down (perhaps 100 feet), I would like ot have his address in Australia, to visit him. And a photo of him and the others, but I beg - a little more bigger the photos, because I could scarcely perceive your sport=eyesights! - Ramadan"is not practical for a visit at you, on must fast all the day. - For a souvineir I have exchanged my watch with Vautin, and we have d engraved our names. - Where can I deisperse more an aqueduct? Hoping , our good condition is continuing long time. With best wishes for all, who has written to me us. With sportly respects Your G. Felmy, Obltn.

    The rising sun mentioned is the AIF badge. The aqueduct mentioned is because Felmy had a bulls eye hit on the aqueduct at Mustabig.

    From 1916 to the middle of 1917, the German unit, FA300 had suffered no losses due to forced landing or enemy action and had brought down 16 confirmed victories.



    Konstantinopel, 12.Juli. Amtlicher Heeresbericht vom 11.Juli. Über die am 9.7. gemeldeten Erfolge unserer braven Flieger an der Sinaifront sind folgende Einzelheiten zu berichten: Von uns waren zwei Beobachtungsflugzeuge und ein Kampfflugzeug aufgestiegen, die von drei englischen Kampfflugzeugen angegriffen wurden. Ein feindliches Flugzeug fiel vollständig zertrümmert hinter unsere Linien. Die beiden anderen Flugzeuge versuchten zu entfliehen. Sie wurden von einem unserer Kampfflugzeuge eingeholt, das einen englischen Zweisitzer zum Niedergehen hinter unseren Linien zwang. Der Führer ist gefangen, das Flugzeug voraussichtlich verwendungsfähig. Der Sieger in den beiden Luftkämpfen war wieder der schon mehrfach genannte Oberleutnant Felmi. Das dritte englische Flugzeug entkam.

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    Konstantinopel, 12.July. Official army report from 11-July. On at the 9.7th the following details announced the success of our fliers on the Siani Front: Two observation airplanes and a combat aircraft had taken off, when they were attacked by three English combat aircraft. A hostile airplane fell completely destroyed behind our lines. The two other airplanes tried to escape. They were caught up by one of our combat aircraft, which forced an English two-seater to land behind our lines. The leader is imprisoned, the airplane presumably usable. The winner in the two aerial engagements was again the already mentioned several times Oberleutnant Felmi. The third English airplane escaped.





    Mittwoch, 25.Juli 1917. Sinaifront. Unsere Artillerie brachte ein englisches Flugzeug zum Absturz ins Meer. Die herbeieilenden englischen Wachtschiffe wurden durch unser Feuer vertrieben.

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    Wednesday, 25.July 1917. Sinai Front. Our artillery shot down an English airplane over the sea. The hastily approaching English guard ships were driven off by our fire.

    Possibly the BE2e A1803 of Captain R.N. Thomas and 2nd Lieutenant J.W. Howells from 14 Sqn RFC who were shot down into the sea by anit-aircraft fire on the 23rd of July.



    Konstantinopel, 25.Juli. Sinaifront: Der laut gestrigem Bericht vernichtete englische Doppeldecker wurde durch unsere Fliegerabwehrung Nr. 136 abgeschossen.

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    Konstantinopel, 25.July. Sinaifront: The destroyed English biplane mentioned in the report yesterday was shot down by our Flak [Flak battery? - HT] Number 136.





    Sonnabend, 18.August 1917. Sinaifront: Am 16.August wurde ein feindliches Flugzeug im Luftkampf zum Niedergehen gezwungen, die Landung konnte aber hinter den feindlichen Linien stattfinden. ... Vier französische Flieger warfen am 17.August Bomben auf den Hafen von Beirut. Ein Einwohner wurde verwundet.

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    Saturday, 18.August 1917. Sinai Front: At the 16.August a hostile airplane was engaged in aerial combat and forced to land, however the hostile airplane was able to land behind hostile lines. On the 17th of August four French fliers dropped bombs on the Port of Beirut. An inhabitant was wounded.

    On the 16th of August, Oberleutnant Gerhard Felmy left the theatre and FA300 for a lengthy home leave. Felmy had been suffering in the desert with amongst others illnesses, malaria. The environment was harsh on the pilots, observers, ground crew and aircraft for both sides. Illness was a common cause for the pilot reserve ot be exhausted. Felmy was regarded by the Australian and British pilots as their most skilled and capable opponent.

    On the 1st of August, 111 Sqn RFC was formed as a scout squadron to supplement the Corps and Army Squadrons of 14 Sqn RFC and 1 Sqn AFC. The squadron was equipped with a mix of Bristol Scouts, Bristol Monoplanes, DH2's and Vickers Fb.19's.



    Sonntag, 30.September 1917. Sinaifront: Beiderseitiges heftiges Artilleriefeuer und Fliegertätigkeit. Im Luftkampfe wurde ein feindliches Flugzeug zum Niedergehen hinter den feindlichen Stellungen gezwungen. Zwei andere entkamen durch Flucht.

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    Sunday, 30.September 1917. Sinai Front: Mutual violent artillery fire and flier activity. In aerial combat a hostile airplane was forced to land behind the hostile positions. Two others escaped by fleeing.

    In September another British squadron was formed, this time, 113 Sqn RFC. The squadron was to specialize as the Corps unit for trench fighting and tactical reconnaissance. 1 Sqn AFC was to become a specialized bombing squadron. The German aircraft of Rumplers, Fokker EIII's, Pfalz EII's and Alabtros Scout aircraft still out performed the obselete aircraft the entente squadrons in the Palestinian Theatre received.

    On the 1st of September the Australian pilot Ross Smith in a BE2 fought a duel with the Albatros DIII of Leutnant Schmarje. In the ensuing engagement Smith was badly wounded in the head and Schmarje fell out of the fight and crashed. A wireless was intercepted stating that "Schmarje is dead". This was Smith's first victory of an eventual 11 which would make Smith the leading ace in the theatre.



    Freitag, 12.Oktober 1917. Syrien: Am 9.Oktober erschienen ein feindlicher Hilfskreuzer und ein Torpedoboot vor Alexandrette. Ein von einem dieser Schiffe aufgestiegenes Flugzeug wurde durch unser Abwehrfeuer zum Niedergehen gezwungen. Führer und Beobachter stürzten ins Meer, die Trümmer des Flugzeuges wurden geborgen. Am 11.Oktober erschien auch ein anderes feindliches Flugzeug über Alexandrette, das ebenfalls durch unser Feuer von der Erde aus zum Niedergehen gezwungen wurde. Der Pilot fiel schwer, der Beobachter leicht verwundet in unsere Hand. Das Flugzeug ist in gebrauchsfähigem Zustande.

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    Friday, 12.October 1917. Syria: On the 9th of October a hostile auxiliary cruiser and a torpedo boat appeared before Alexandrette. An airplane which was started from one of these ships was forced to land by our defensive fire. The pilot and the observer fell into the sea, the wreck of the airplane was captured. On the 11th of October another hostile airplane also appeared over Alexandrette, which was likewise forced to land by our ground fire. The pilot fell heavily wounded and the observer wounded was easily captured. The airplane is in working condition.





    Sonntag, 28.Oktober 1917. Sinai-Front: Ein feindliches Flugzeug erhielt einen Treffer von unseren Abwehrgeschützen und stürzte dicht hinter den feindlichen Linien ab.

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    Sunday, 28.Oktober 1917. Sinai front: A hostile airplane received a hit from our defense cannons and fell closely behind the hostile lines.





    Sonntag, 4.November 1917. Syrien: Von fünf feindlichen Flugzeugen, welche Haiffa ergebnislos mit Bomben bewarfen, stürzten zwei infolge eines Schadens ins Meer. Die Trümmer der Flugzeuge versanken, nachdem die Besatzungen von einem feindlichen Monitor aufgenommen worden waren.

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    Sunday, 4.November 1917. Syria: Five hostile airplanes bombed Haiffa without result, two hostile airplanes fell damaged into the sea. The wreckage of the airplanes sank after the crews were picked up by a hostile monitor.





    Sonntag, 4.November 1917. Sinai-Front: Ein englischer Fesselballon, der sich losgerissen hatte, wurde über Askalon zum Absturz gebracht.

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    Sunday, 4.November 1917.Sinai Front: An English fesselballon, which had torn away, was brought down and crashed over Askalon.

    Novemeber was to mark the appearance of the Heeresgruppe Yildirim of which a part was a strengthening of the German and Ottaman air units with four Flieger-Abteilung units including the Bavarian unit, FA304b. A scout squadron was also formed, the German Jasta 55 or the Pascha Jasta "Felmy" which was also known as Jasta 1 and Jasta 1F. The new units consisted of approximately, 80 flying personnel, 40 reconnaissance aircraft and 16 Alabtros DIII Scout aircraft, 800 mechanics and other personnel.


    1. Excerpts of reports of the Turkish Headquarter from the Source: "Kriegs-Chronik der Leipziger Neuesten Nachrichten", Band III (Januar 1918), Band IV (1918) [ " War Chronicle of the Latest News of Leipzig ", tape III (1916/1917) ] courtesy of Hannes Täger.