AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE BULLETIN

THE AUSTRALIAN FLYING CORPSPART II

‘Once a pilot had proven his ability he was permitted to carry out special offensive patrols, either alone or with another aeroplane. In this manner my squadron gradually was relieved of the bulk of daily routine flights and carried out patrols at the CO’s discretion.’

Captain Edgar McCloughry, 4 AFC

In Pathfinder Issue 246, the genesis of the Australian Flying Corps and its service in the Middle East was covered with a focus on values. In this Pathfinder, Australia’s provision of three fighting squadrons and four training squadrons to the European Theatre will be discussed under the lens of adaptability.

While the Australian airmen were pioneers over the Middle East, in Europe, they were latecomers. After the success of No 1 Squadron in Egypt, in mid-1916 Australia was called upon to send further formed squadrons to help with the war effort, this time to assist over the Western Front. By 1916, the war had ground to a stalemate of stagnant trench warfare. Air power offered the only practical means of taking the war to the enemy. Eventually three fighting squadrons Nos 2, 3 and 4 AFC would be sent from Australia and four training squadrons; No 5, 6, 7 and 8 AFC would be formed in England.

Nos 2 and 3 Squadrons were the first of these Western Front fighting squadrons, formed within one day of each other. No 2 Squadron was manned partially from volunteers of No 1 Squadron that were still based in Egypt and a few airmen from the Mesopotamia Half Flight. The squadron was dedicated to the Army support role as a fighting or scout unit and was attached to the British Third Army. Their first major battle was that of Cambrai on 20 November 1917 where they carried out patrols, strafing of enemy troops and bombing runs. Seven out of the total strength of 18 aircraft were shot down—not an auspicious start. Nevertheless, No 2 Squadron went on to distinguish itself claiming 185 enemy aircraft by

war’s end. Equipped with DH5s and later the better performing SE5A, the squadron was involved in all the major offensives in their sector of the Front.

Meanwhile, No 3 Squadron had arrived in France in September 1917 and was equipped with the venerable RE8 reconnaissance biplane. The Squadron was dedicated to the role of reconnaissance and artillery spotting. Within days of their arrival, the squadron was in action over the Douai Sector. Although not equipped with fighters, the unit succeeded in destroying at least 16

enemy aircraft and claimed a further ‘unconfirmed’ 35 sent out of control. One of those victories was an Albatros DVa, captured intact which is now on display at the Australian War Memorial.

The squadron’s main claim to fame was their operations during the Battle of le Hamel in 1918. Supporting General Sir John Monash’s push to end the war, the squadron developed the means of aerial resupply of ammunition to the advancing troops and provided photography of the front to aid mapping and

manoeuvre, while continuing to carry out their designated reconnaissance role.

The final squadron to arrive at the Front was No 4 Squadron, also dedicated to aerial fighting and scouting. Attached to the British First Army from late 1917, the squadron was involved in countering the German counter offensive launched on 21 March 1918. The squadron was tasked in support of the Australian 4th Division with low level bombing and strafing to mask the approach of British tanks. As the war came to its climax, and with the Germans in retreat, No 4 Squadron continued to pursue

Issue 248, July 2015ISSN: 2205-0078 (Print) 2205-0086 (Online)

The officers of A Flight, No 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), in full flying gear in front of

line up of Sopwith Camel aircraft.

the remaining German Air Service at every opportunity. On 29 October, during what was one of the largest aerial encounters, 15 Snipes from the squadron engaged 60 German aircraft over Tournai. The melee, lasting only minutes, resulted in the shooting down of 10 of the enemy for every own loss. The squadron would end the war with a tally of 199 enemy aircraft shot down. The most successful AFC pilot was Captain Arthur ‘Harry’ Cobby of No 4 Squadron who claimed 29 enemy aircraft destroyed. He went on to join the RAAF, served in the Pacific in World War II and rose to the rank of Air Commodore.

Along with the provision of operational squadrons to the conflict, Australia also conducted its own training. Initially, pilots, observers and technical airmen were trained in Australia, and after time spent in England to prepare for the Front, joined one of the AFC squadrons under the command of the RFC in France. As the war progressed and casualties mounted, so high was the demand for pilots and observers that a decision was made to constitute four Australian flying training squadrons in England with trainees being recruited from amongst volunteers from the ranks of the Australian army battalions. Two aerodromes in Gloucestershire were established for the purpose and an AFC training depot was established at Halton to train aircraft mechanics. As well as training new pilots, the schools also provided pre-deployment training to airmen who had previously qualified in Australia.

Australia resisted the British policy to absorb all Dominion airmen into the Royal Flying Corps squadrons by establishing and maintaining her own combat and training squadrons, the only Dominion to do so. Nevertheless the RFC insisted in numbering these Australian squadrons with RFC numbers, much to the disgust of the Australian airmen. This has often led to confusion in official records, though in reality the Australians always called their unit by its original AFC number.

The officers and airmen of the AFC would return to Australia to become the founders of the Royal Australian Air Force. Many of the technical airmen who also joined

brought with them the skills necessary to ensure the RAAF would remain a capable and responsive force.

By the end of the Great War, over 3700 Australian airmen had fought in the AFC for King and Country and possibly another 1500 or so with the Royal Naval Air Service, the RFC and later, the RAF. Sadly, 217 paid the ultimate price.

Key Points• The RAAF’s traditions stem from its army roots

since the RAAF was formed by the men of the AFC and other Australian airmen who had served in British units.

• The adaptability and ingenuity shown by these pioneers in the way they took the fight to the enemy carries forward to the RAAF of today.

• The AFC’s decision to train and prepare airmen for the Western Front from within the theatre was a wise one given its great distance from Australia and the differences in the prevailing environment.

Air Power Development CentreF3-GF, PO Box 7932, Department of Defence

CANBERRA BC ACT 2610Ph: 02 6128 7041 Fax: 02 6128 7053

Email: airpower@defence.gov.auWeb: www.airforce.gov.au/airpower

Disclaimer: The views in this Pathfinder are not necessarily those of the RAAF

AFC Squadron RFC Number Formed RoleNo. 2 Squadron No. 68 Squadron 20 Sep 1916 Fighting/ScoutNo. 3 Squadron No. 69 Squadron 19 Sep 1916 Corps ReconnaissanceNo. 4 Squadron No. 71 Squadron 25 Oct 1917 Fighting/ScoutNo. 5 (Training) Squadron No. 29 (Aust. Training) Squadron 1 Sep 1917 Training-Fighting/ScoutNo. 6 (Training) Squadron No. 30 (Aust. Training) Squadron 1 Sep 1917 Training-Fighting/ScoutNo. 7 (Training) Squadron No. 32 (Aust. Training) Squadron 24 Oct 1917 Training-Corps ReconnaissanceNo. 8 (Training) Squadron No. 33 (Aust. Training) Squadron 25 Oct 1917 Training-Fighting/Scout

A group portrait of an unidentified AFC captain and mechanics of B Flight, 7 Training Squadron AFC,

Gloucestershire England