Into Action - WW1

Because of the primitive and makeshift conditions, it was several days before the Squadron began operations, but on 3rd November 1916, Naval 8 flew its first sortie of the war, a line patrol from Bouzincourt to Chateau-de-la-Haie by 4 Nieuports. On 6th November, the Squadron received another distinguished visitor when General Sir Douglas Haig and 2 staff officers arrived with a mounted cavalcade of 4 lancers, keen to see the aircraft and to know that the Squadron was battle ready. His question was answered on 9th November when Naval 8 scored its first victory, as Flight Sub-Lieutenant D M B Galbraith's Sopwith Pup (N5193) brought down an enemy Roland over Bapaume. Unfortunately, before the month was out, Naval 8 had lost its first pilot, and mounting losses were made no easier to bear by the bitterly cold winter weather. However, in February 1917, the Squadron was pulled back to St Pol in the Dunkirk complex for a rest and to re-equip with the new Sopwith Triplane. As the Squadron left for Dunkirk, they had the comfort of a message from General Haig, which said: 'The care of machines has been above reproach and the discipline of the unit has been very good.' Praise of the best kind and straight from the top.

After reforming and re-equipping at Dunkirk, Naval 8 moved to Furness to defend the Dunkirk area, and then to Auchel to replace Naval 1 Squadron in support of the battle for Vimy Ridge. It was from Auchel that Flight Lieutenant R A Little came across the legendary 'Red Baron,' a story best told in the words of Squadron Commander Geoffrey Bromet, from the book 'Naval Eight:'

The second combat concerned a crowd of Albatross Scouts and the incident, as related by eye-witnesses in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group of the Third Army is: 'At 6:45 pm on the 7th April 1917, a Sopwith Triplane, working alone, attacked eleven hostile machines, almost all Albatross Scouts, north-east of Arras. He completely outclassed the whole patrol of hostile machines, diving through them and climbing above them. One Albatross Scout, painted red, which had been particularly noticed by this section, dived on to him and passed him. The Sopwith dived on him and then easily climbed again above the whole patrol, drawing them all the time towards the anti-aircraft guns. As soon as they were in range, the anti-aircraft guns opened fire on the patrol, which turned eastwards, and the Sopwith returned safely. The officers who witnessed the combat report that the manoeuvring of the Sopwith Triplane completely outclassed that of the Albatross Scout.'

Then, from the same diary, comes this amusing little story:

'On 23rd May, the day ended with a sporting attempt by a Hun to bomb our aerodrome. Booker's Flight had just landed when the shout went up: "Hun at 3000 feet approaching the aerodrome!" At the same time, all of the anti-aircraft for miles around (including our own Lewis guns) opened up on him and Booker, Soar and McCudden jumped in their machines and were away after him. The Hun turned for home as soon as he was spotted, but our fellows caught him over Souchez and gave him a hot time. in the failing light, he made good his escape and was last seen over Lens - a thrilling episode which did credit to both sides.'

Now Naval 8 Squadron moved to Mont St Eloi, where they supported the offensive at the Battle of Messines in the Ypres Campaign, and it was there that the Squadron reached its peak in World War I. Given the job of attacking the high-flying German artillery observation machines, it soon found that by sending up aircraft when the Germans were reported, it was too late. So Naval 8 had to maintain a standing patrol high over the Front, as most interceptions took place at upwards of 17,000 feet. This work was extremely successfully accomplished, but lacked the glamour of the big dogfights. Whilst at Mont St Eloi, more re-equipment took place with Sopwith Camels succeeding the triplanes. Squadron aircrew carried over the names they had given to their original mounts to personalise the new 150 hp machines. Flight Commander Jenner-Parson took 'Angel' from his Triplane N5468, whilst Flight Commander Arnold transferred 'Dixie Lee' to his new Camel. Shortly after, Arnold left the Squadron in a time when several new faces arrived, including a prospective new Commanding Officer, just one year and a day after the Squadron's formation. After a rest period in Eastchurch, Flight Commander Christopher Draper DSC reported to Wing Captain Lambe at Dunkirk Headquarters to be told: 'I'm sending you to Number 8 Squadron. It is my best Squadron. Bromet is in command and it will be a great opportunity for you.' As a flight commander, Draper and his counterpart Munday decided to find some more offensive activities and specialised in attacking kite-balloon sheds at night with bombs slung under their Camels' wings, registering some success in this original field of operations As the year drew on, fighting flared up on the ground around Cambrai and Naval 8 transferred to Close Air Support duties, hedge hopping around on reconnaissance flights, low level strafing, bomber escort duties and 'interference flying,' preventing enemy aircraft from spotting artillery positions. Such was the danger to the pilots of Naval 8 that no fewer than 8 were decorated for gallantry in January 1918. At the end of October 1917, Christopher Draper succeeded Geoffrey Bromet as the Commanding Officer of Naval 8 and immediately built on the tradition that the Squadron had already established with an indomitable spirit (it was the same Draper that flew an Auster through Tower Bridge in 1954 'to liven things up a bit'). At the end of the year, the Squadron returned to its high-altitude work, achieving further victories, and then in the Spring of 1918 it was returned to Walmer in Kent for a well-deserved rest.

At the end of March 1918, however, things were so desperate in France that Naval 8 was rushed back to help stem the German advance. On 1st April, however, Naval 8 Squadron RNAS became No 208 Squadron in the newly-formed Royal Air Force with its Commanding Officer in the new rank of Major (the Squadron did not take kindly to the change at all and continued to call itself 'Naval 8' and, even when Major Draper left the Squadron in 1919, he and at least one other member of the Unit were still wearing their naval uniforms!). A change in the Squadron aircraft markings had also taken place. Until then, Naval 8 had been distinguished by a white disc on the fuselage side aft of the roundels, but from March 1918, its aircraft were painted with 2 vertical bars aft of the roundels, sloping in at the top. The newly-labelled 208 Squadron went first to Teteghem and then to La Gorgue, supporting the Portuguese defence of the line. It was a tragic time for 208 Squadron as it was there that the Portuguese line collapsed and 208 was overrun by the advancing Germans. Unable to fly its aircraft out due to fog, it had to burn them on the airfield and dash away in what transport it had. This abridged version of Major Draper's report tells the sorry tale:

'With reference to the destruction of the 16 machines of this Squadron, I have the honour to submit the following report: About 4:00 am on the morning of the 9th (April) we were aroused by the sound of very heavy gunfire, which increased in intensity towards dawn. There was considerable hostile shelling of Merville, La Gorgue and the surrounding districts. A large number of French civilians were passing west through our Camp, followed by considerable Portuguese troops in open disorder, without either rifles or equipment an apparently un-officered. I gave orders to have the machines removed from the hangars and spread out over the aerodrome in case of a concentrated shelling of the hangars. I ordered officers and men to pack all gear and stores as quickly as possible.

I decided I was not justified in risking personnel by flying away in fog, though a majority volunteered to try. We collected the machines in one bunch in the middle of the aerodrome, the idea being for everyone to clear out and leave one officer with a cycle and sidecar to stand by until the last moment with orders to destroy the machines if necessary. I was unable to get in touch with XV Corps, so I ordered the telephone exchange and compass station to pack up.

The ammunition supply column which had been parked on the road alongside the hangars had gone, their guns having been captured. The machines were then burnt and everyone cleared out by 11:30.'

Back at Serny aerodrome, Major Draper and his Squadron were re-united, re-equipped and ready for action again within 48 hours. In May 1918, they were joined by Flight Lieutenant Henry Botterell and, in the 5 months that followed, 208 Squadron engaged the enemy 103 times and brought down 86 aircraft with only 6 casualties of their own. So Major Draper was heartened , and much relieved no doubt, by a letter from Air Commodore Lambe that arrived after one of the Squadron's better days, just less than 2 weeks after La Gorgue, which read:

'Dear Draper, Hearty congratulations to you and the Squadron on the success of yesterday. I hope you will keep it up. I am glad that the Squadron is doing so well. Yours sincerely, C L Lambe.'

In July 1918, 208 Squadron moved to Tramecourt, where one of its defence responsibilities was HM King George V, who was then residing in a nearby chateau. In September, however, it returned to its original 22 Wing and moved to the bleak airfield at Foucacourt, right on the Somme. From there, it fought on until October, when signs of the final German collapse were showing. It then moved to Estree-en-Chaussee, where the Squadron stayed for only 17 days before moving on to Moritz where it was re-equipped with the Camel's successor, the Sopwith Snipe. Before 208 Squadron could fly the Snipe in action, however, the action ceased and the Squadron carried out its last line patrol at 10:00 am on Armistice Day, 11th November 1918. Immediately following the Armistice, 208 Squadron became part of the Army of Occupation, where it spent 10 months between Stree, Heumar and Eil, defending the peace in Belgium and Germany. In December 1918, Major Draper handed over command to Major Smart, who eventually brought the Squadron home to Netheravon in England where it was disbanded on 7th November 1919.