24th August 1918 - Air Raid on Bertangles Aerodrome

On the evening of the 24th August 1918 a "concert party" was being held by 48 Squadron at the Bertangles Aerodrome. It was a bright moonlit night and the German Schlachtstaffel 16 launched a nocturnal air raid on the aerodrome by 5 German Bombers. One of the Gotha bombers scored a direct hit on the middle hanger lighting up the whole aerodrome making it an easy target. The Germans continued to bomb the aerodrome for a further 15 minutes destroying the 5 of the Squadron's hangers and causing a large explosion. During the raid most of the Squadron's Bristol Fighters (15 in total) and all of their heavy transport (plus all of the Squadron's records) were destroyed. More tragic to the squadron was the heavy loss of personal with 8 men being killed and a further 28 wounded.

Attending the concert party were George Vaughn and Alex Matthews of 84 squadron. When the attack started the personnel scattered in all direction. Vaughn took cover in a bomb crater, followed by several other people who piled on top of him. Matthews though was caught by a Gotha machine gun as it carried out a strafing run.

2/Lt Frank Bacon Palmer was awarded the Military Cross for his actions that night.

On the night of August 24, 1918, this officer performed very gallant and meritorious service. In an attack on one of our aerodromes by hostile aircraft a hangar full of machines was set on fire, illuminating the whole camp, making the aerodrome an easy mark for the raiders, who continued dropping bombs for 15 minutes. Great confusion ensued, and 20 officers and men were wounded. Lieutenant Palmer was blown over by the explosion of a bomb, and although badly shaken, he exhibited coolness and courage of a high order, and by his promptitude succeeded in collecting the wounded, placing them in comparative safety, and also managed to remove the machines and transport from the burning hangars and shelters, notwithstanding the continual dropping of the enemy's bombs in the area.

The following day Squadrons 27, 32, 43, 49, 62, 98 and 107 retaliated by taking part in operations targeting German Bomber units based at airfields at Etreux and Mont d'Origny.

The air raid on Bertangles caused the heaviest loss suffered in these circumstances by the British air services throughout the entire war. 48 squadron were transferred to the 11th Wing, 2nd Brigade at Boisdenghem, on the Second Army Front. The unit was back flying over the front two days later.

Killed
2Lt A. Urinowsky
Lt J.B. Jameson
Lt Alex Matthews (84th Squadron)

Wounded
Lt H. Hood
Lt E. Vickers
Lt T. Beck
Lt F.D. Kilby
2Lt J.N. Kier
Capt Charles Alexander Steele (Hospitalised for rest of war)
Capt H.A. Oakes
Lt C.G. Imeretinsky
2Lt E.G. Weller
2Lt S.H. Whipple
2Lt D.T. Turnbull
Lt M.F.J.R. Mahony
2Lt H.Y. Lewis
Lt C.B. Bateman (84th Squadron)

Planes Destroyed
C886, C940, C4629, D7909, E2472, E2480, F5811.3, F6094, F6118, F6404