The CITARS of 2 Sqn AFC during the Cambrai Battle

Combat In the Air Reports

2 Squadron Australian Flying Corps made six decisive claims between the 22nd of November and the 6th of December, 1917. All claimants were flying Airco DH5 aircraft.

Combat Report No.Army Form Squadron : No.68 Squadron, AFC Type and No of Aeroplane : DeHav.5, A9463 Armament : 1 Vickers Pilots : (Plt.) Lieut F.G.Huxley Locality : about 51B.W.17/D. Date : 22nd November, 1917 Time : 10.45 a.m. Duty : Escort and Bombing Height : 700 feet Result : DES Remarks on Hostile Aircraft : Name unknown - Single Seater - speed uncertain. Page 31 "Silhouettes of Aeroplanes". Narrative : Left A.L.G. 10 am. I was at 1,700 feet and saw scout about 700 ft and in front of me. I dived onto his tail and opened fire at 50 feet. After 30 rounds he hovered and nose-dived into the ground. I flew back at low altitude and saw 4 wings lying flat on the ground and tail in the air. No sign of movement. Signed : (sgd)F.G. Huxley, Lieut Approved : Major Commanding No.68 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps Outcome : COMBAT DECISIVE

The book Silhouettes of Aeroplanes was a standard used to describe aeroplane outlines and shapes. The book was used by the British and Commonwealth forces as well as the French and American forces. Below are examples from page 31 and 51 in the French book.

Page 31 from a 1917 Aircraft Silhouettes Book. This may have been the page that Huxley was referring to in his CITAR. Image courtesy of Finn Newick

The title page from the 'Avions Allemands' which was the Sillhouette book that was the standard for the French L'Aeronautique Militaire and United States Air Service. This is for comparison to the Royal Flying Corps Silhouette Booklet. Image courtesy of Ira Silverman

Page 31 from the French aviation silhouettes book. Page 31 on the French book shows the Bristol Fighter and SE5a aircraft. Image courtesy of Ira Silverman

Page 51 from the French aviation silhouettes book. This shows the Pfalz D aircraft. Image courtesy of Ira Silverman

Combat Report No.12 Squadron : No.68 Squadron, AFC Type and No of Aeroplane : DeHav.5, A9294 Armament : 1 Vickers Pilots : (Plt.) Lieut R.W.Howard Locality : Graincourt Date : 22nd November, 1917 Time : 11.40 a.m. Duty : Low flying and protection Height : maximum 5,000 ft Result : Driven Down - 2 Remarks on Hostile Aircraft : (a) Albatross Scout (b) Believed D.F.W. (2 seater) Narrative : (a) Being alone, joined formation of 3 or 4 SE5's and saw E.A. on the tail of one which was away from the formation. I turned and fired 20 yards. into him and he went down in a spinning nose-dive and I lost sight of him 11.15 am at 5,000. (b) When flying at 1,000 feet, I saw an EA (2 seater) 200 yards in front of me on same level and fired 100 rds at him when he began to glide down, and I followed him. I then noticed 2 SE5's also diving on him. He landed in our lines about 57C/L/1 (11.45 am is hand written in). I also exchanged shots with about 4 other E.A. including a light khaki 2 seater with dihedral. Signed : (sgd)R.W. Howard, Lieut Approved : Major Commanding No.68 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps Outcome : 2 E.A. hit I believe - the second being forced to land in our territory. 1 COMBAT DECISIVE. (b)

In the CITAR above, the first paragraph describing the combat (a), in the margin the words "hideous?" or something of that nature is written. It is difficult to read. The second paragraph has "same as Capt Childs" written next to the paragraph. Captain James M. Childs was an ace with 84 Squadron, RFC. Childs times the combat with the DFW as 11.50 am, whereas Howard times the combat as 11.40 am. The crew of the DFW was Captured, they were Flieger Elser and Lieutenant Steiner of FAA 269.

Combat Report No.18 Squadron : No.68 Squadron, AFC Type and No of Aeroplane : DeHav.5, A9449 Armament : 1 Vickers Pilots : (Plt.) Capt G.C. Wilson Locality : Bantouzelle Date : 30th November, 1917 Time : 1.15 pm Duty : Special Mission Height : 1,000 ft Result : DES Remarks on Hostile Aircraft : Type believed DFW (2 seater) 2 guns fore and aft. Narrative : While engaging a similar machine over BANTOUZELLE, I was attacked by this E.A. from behind. I did a sharp turn and got underneath him and fired 40 rounds, he went down steeply, but apparently under control, but on attempting to land, 57B/M.32 he turned completely over. I then dropped my remaining bomb on him which landed in angle between fuselage and planes. Signed : (sgd)G.C. Wilson, Capt Approved : Major Commanding No.68 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps Outcome : While returning from this Combat having exhausted his ammunition, Capt Wilson found himself cut off by a hostile 2 seater who opened fire at long range. He turned and flew towards this E.A. feigning attack and the E.A. immediately turned and flew East. COMBAT DECISIVE. 1 Crashed.

This CITAR has scrawled across it in large handwriting in the remarks section "Worth Reading". The Narrative has "brought down" written in the margin. Captain Wilson modestly did not mention in his CITAR the engagement with the Hostile Aircraft while he was out of ammunition. This was added by another, possibly the recording officer.

Combat Report No.20 Squadron : No.68 Squadron, AFC Type and No of Aeroplane : DeHav.5, A9461 Armament : 1 Vickers Pilots : (Plt.) Lieut F.G. Huxley Locality : 57C/X.D- about 20 yards S.W. of cross roads Date : 1st December, 1917 Time : 7.45 am Duty : Low Flying Height : 800 ft Result : DES Remarks on Hostile Aircraft : Aviatik and rear gun only in action. Not much faster than DH5 all out. - camouflaged green- blue- underside light khaki. Narrative : Whilst on low flying duty on emerging from the mist. I saw an E.A. (2 seater) on my Right about 100 feet below me and 100 yds away. I did a diving turn into him and his observer opened fire: I passed over him and did an Immelmann turn to left, and opened fire at 50 yds before the observer had time to swing his gun to the right: almost at once the observer dropped and his gun remained still pointing to his left. I then swung my machine to Right, and after about 100 rds, the E.A. nose dived striking the ground and turning on it's back. On coming out again about 10.am after refilling at A.L.G. (advanced landing ground) I saw a machine in same position surrounded by about 30 men and I dropped 1 bomb from about 30 feet which fell amongst them and knocked the tail of the machine over. Signed : (sgd)F.G. Huxley, Lieut Approved : Major Commanding No.68 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps Outcome : COMBAT DECISIVE.

Combat Report No.22 Squadron : No.68 Squadron, AFC Type and No of Aeroplane : DeHav.5, A9451 Armament : 1 Vickers Pilots : (Plt.) Lieut R.W. McKenzie Locality : N.E. of Villers Guislaie Date : 1st December, 1917 Time : 12.25 pm - 12.30 pm Duty : Low Flying Height : 800 ft Result : DES Remarks on Hostile Aircraft : V Strutter, aluminium painted scout resembling Albatross Scout No.2 but with clipped tail, front gun. Faster than DH5. Narrative : I was flying with Lieut Forrest and saw him dive on enemy trenches and drop 1 bomb "ok". He had just pulled out of his dive and was climbing up when I saw 5 E.A. coming towards and 400 feet above me and 1 was lagging slightly, and I zoomed up and got in a stalling burst at about 50 yards range, when he immediately turned East and started a steep glide and I was unable to follow him on account of other 4 E.A. but I saw him try to land in most unfavourable country and go nose first into a shell hole where he remained with his tail in the air. I then had to return owing to a No.3 stoppage. Signed : (sgd)R.W. McKenzie, Lieut Approved : Major Commanding No.68 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps Outcome : COMBAT DECISIVE.

This was a combat in which a patrol, led by Captain H.G. Forrest, came across a formation of German aircraft which included a German three-seater, possibly a Gotha, with five Albatros Scouts near Villers-Guislain. Forrest attacked a Scout and drove it into the low mist and clouds, he then zoomed up under the three-seater and fired into it. During this engagement McKenzie attacked one of the scouts with the three-seater resulting in the CITAR above.

Combat Report No.25 Squadron : No.68 Squadron, AFC Type and No of Aeroplane : DeHav.5, A9461 Armament : 1 Vickers Pilots : (Plt.) Lieut F.G. Huxley Locality : South of Honnecourt Date : 6th December, 1917 Time : 3.45 pm Duty : Low Flying Height : 1,000 ft Result : DES Remarks on Hostile Aircraft : 2 Seater DFW top plane light blue and very distinct black crosses. Narrative : I was flying about 2,000 ft when I saw through the haze two 2 seaters about 1,000 ft below me. One of which, I took to be an A.W. (Armstrong Whitworth FK8 "Big Ack") attacked by an E.A. and I immediately dived on the E.A. As soon as I opened fire, the Enemy Observer opened fire also, but on striking the ground, burst into flames. Meanwhile, the other 2 seater had turned left and was attacking me from behind. I did a right-hand zooming turn to get away and he continued his course away East. Signed : (sgd)F.G. Huxley, Lieut Approved : Major Commanding No.68 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps Outcome : COMBAT DECISIVE.

Combat in the Air Reports for 2 Squadron Australian Flying Corps sourced by Darryl Hackett.