British aircraft attack on Izmir (Smyrna) 1917

Discussions on the final era of the Ottoman Empire, from the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 until the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
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Jochen Kruesmann
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British aircraft attack on Izmir (Smyrna) 1917

#1

Post by Jochen Kruesmann » 16 Aug 2015, 12:48

Hello,

During the night of 6. / 7. July 1917 British aircrafts attacked and bombed Izmir, but obviously not causing any big damages. Does anyone know which Royal Flying Corps units and / or seaplane carriers were invloved in this action?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Jochen

stevebecker
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Re: British aircraft attack on Izmir (Smyrna) 1917

#2

Post by stevebecker » 20 Aug 2015, 03:36

Mate,

This is a reply to your question, which either answers what you want as no direct attack is shown on that date so far?

"THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, 1917
The air operations in the Aegean during 1917 may be divided into: (i) watching the Dardanelles for possible movements of the Turko-German fleet, (ii) preventing enemy aircraft from surveying the British fleet bases and the movements of ships, (iii) long-distance reconnaissance to the Marmara and Bosporus, (iv) bombing attacks on military objectives in Turkey and Bulgaria, (v) work on the right flank of the army in Macedonia, and (vi) anti-submarine patrols. For these extensive operations there was, in the Eastern Mediterranean on the 1st of February 1917, a total strength of 57 flying officers, 78 aeroplanes, 29 seaplanes, and 5 S.S. type airships. This strength was distributed among the following units: 'A' Squadron at Thasos and 'D' Squadron at Stavros, responsible for re-connaissance and bombing operations in southern Bulgaria and the Lower Struma; 'C Squadron at Imbros for reconnaissance and bombing of the Gallipoli Peninsula, the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Constantinople railway; and 'B' Squadron (RNAS) at Thermi (Mitylene) for anti-submarine patrols of the Smyrna and Aivalik areas, and for reconnaissance and bombing of the Panderma-Smyrna railway and other communications. The rest of the air command comprised the stores depot and base at Mudros, the S.S. airship station at Kassandra, the seaplane carrier Empress, and the depot ship Ark Royal.

also

The aerodrome of 'B' Squadron at Thermi on the island of Mitylene was well placed for offensive action against the Smyrna-Panderma railway, and many attacks on the bridges were made throughout 1917. Other objectives in the first half of the year were the aerodromes at Paradisos and Kassimir, ripening crops, granaries, and shipping in Smyrna harbour.
[Both quotes from https://archive.org/stream/warinairbein ... e_djvu.txt]

Not the full answer to your question Steve, but it's somewhere to start from "

Hope its of some help

S.B


Jochen Kruesmann
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Re: British aircraft attack on Izmir (Smyrna) 1917

#3

Post by Jochen Kruesmann » 21 Aug 2015, 13:37

Thanks for your help!

Jochen

Tucobenedito
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Re: British aircraft attack on Izmir (Smyrna) 1917

#4

Post by Tucobenedito » 15 Mar 2021, 18:41

My War at Sea 1914-1916 by Heathcoat S Grant covers early naval and air operations in the Dardanelles and also Smyrna. I think it's free to download on i books

stevebecker
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Re: British aircraft attack on Izmir (Smyrna) 1917

#5

Post by stevebecker » 19 Mar 2021, 01:57

Mate,

This area was under control of the Ottoman 5th Tayyare Boluk (Aircraft Company)

5th Air Company (Recce) - shown Coastal Recce Unit 2x Albatros B1 (B11 &12) 2x LVG B1 (LVG1 & 2) from 1 Sqn 12-15) formed 4x Gotha LD2 (G3 4 5 & 6) at Seydiköy near Izmir Smyrna 3-16 shown Fokker E1 (F2) arrived from 6th Air Company 4-16 shown Albatros C1 (AK6) Albatros C3 (AK8) 4-16 shown 1x Albatros C3 (AK14) 2x Fokker E3 (F5 & 6) 8-16 2x Albatros C3 (AK22 & 25) 10-16 shown 6 pilots & 4 obsvers 3x Albatros C3 (AK34 35 36) at Izmir Smyrna 12-16 shown 6 (P) 5 (O) 4x Albatros C3 (AK24 34 35 36) Gotha LD2 (G5) Fokker E3 (F5) 1-17 shown (2x Albatros C3 2x Fokker-E I 1x Gotha-B) at Izmir 3-17 shown 3x Albatros C3 (AK47 49 & 52) 4-17 shown 3 (P) 4 (O) 9 men 5x AEG C4 (AEG1 5 7 15 & 24) 12-17 & 1-18 shown AEG C4 (7108) 10-18 shown Halberstadt D5 shown at Izmir 11-18

Later during 1918 parts of the 12th and 15th Tayyare Boluk (Aircraft Company) also arrived to help

The problem of limited aircraft, due to operational stress and maintenance, made its strength very during the war, the allies had strong air units on the islands off the coast bombing the one main rail link with the Ottoman Armies in the east, in Causcasus and Mesopotania and Palestine/Arabia.

These one rail link was the only supply road for the Ottoman/German forces, so a major target.

S.B

Tosun Saral
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Re: British aircraft attack on Izmir (Smyrna) 1917

#6

Post by Tosun Saral » 20 Jul 2021, 10:25

A little news anout plane raid on Kuk newspaper
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