Always referred to as 'Two-Sixteen' rather than 'Two-One-Six', 216 Squadron can trace its history back to October 1917 - and decidedly naval roots - when a detached flight of Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) Handley Page O/100s at Manston, Kent, was designated as 'A' Squadron under the command of Sqn Cdr K C Savory dso. Ten aircraft flew to Ochey, near Nancy, France, to the 41st Wing, Royal Flying Corps (RFC), for attacks on industrial areas in Germany. Operations began on the evening of October 24 when nine of the large biplanes raided Saarbrücken, and although 4'^ tons of bombs were dropped to good effect, two 'HPs' were lost to anti-aircraft fire. Fit Lt Sieveking's 0/100 was shot down attacking Mannheim a few nights later, so after just two 'ops' strength had been significantly reduced. Bad weather curtailed further sorties until the night of January 6,1918 when Courcelles railway junction in Belgium was struck. Two days later, 'A' Squadron was redesignated as 16 Squadron RNAS (or '16 Naval'). An epic raid was staged on March 24 when Fit Cdr Digby succeeded in reaching Cologne during an 8]'z hour flight. He wrote: "Bombs were dropped in a line over the Haupt Bahnhof [the main railway station]. Large store north east of station set on fire and burning fiercely when last seen. Anti-aircraft defence was poor, only five guns noticed in action.
No comments:
Post a Comment