The England Squadron (German language: Englandgeschwader), officially Kagohl 3 or later Bogohl 3, was a squadron of the Imperial German Army Air Service, formed in late 1916 during the First World War for the purpose of the strategic bombing of the United Kingdom and specifically London. The first air raid of the squadron on 25 May 1917 was unable to reach London, but bombed the coastal town of Folkestone instead. On 13 June, the squadron bombed London in daylight causing nearly 600 casualties. A further raid in July prompted reinforcement and reorganisation of the capital's air defences, but German losses had also caused a switch to bombing by night.
On the night of 3/4 September, the squadron raided coastal towns in Kent and on the following night, London was attacked. Raids continued into the spring of 1918, supported by another squadron operating larger aircraft. The final attack was at the end of May, by which time more than 2,800 people had been killed or injured, 68% of those in the London area. A later plan for the squadron to join a massed attack on London and Paris with incendiary bombs in the autumn of 1918 was abandoned on the grounds that it might prejudice peace negotiations, and possibly the fear of reprisals against German cities.
Background
A the outbreak of war in August 1914, the capability for a German strategic bombing campaign had initially rested with the eleven Zeppelin and Schütte-Lanz rigid airships which were operational with the Imperial German Air Service and the Imperial German Navy. However, the initial focus was on battlefield reconnaissance, tactical bombing and maritime patrol work. In the first weeks of the war, it seemed likely that the German offensive through Belgium would succeed in reaching the Pas de Calais area on the coast of the English Channel, which would put the South East of England within the range of the primitive bomber aircraft which were available at that time.Fegan 2013, Chapter 5
Carrier Pigeon Squadron
Major Wilhelm Siegert was an aviation pioneer and an influential advocate of strategic bombing, who immediately approached the Oberste Heeresleitung (Supreme Army Command or OHL) proposing the formation of a bombing aeroplane force to attack Britain from Calais; the idea was accepted and on 19 October 1914, General Erich von Falkenhayn ordered Siegert to form an elite force for the purpose, the Fliergercorps der OHL. The new formation was selected from the best volunteers from the various branches of the Air Service and was installed at a temporary base amongst orchards at Ghistelles (Gistel) in occupied Belgium. To conceal its function, the unit was given the cover name of Breiftauben Abteilung or "Carrier Pigeon Squadron". The personnel were accommodated in a train so that they could deploy forwards at the earliest opportunity. The squadron was provided with thirty-six two-seat aircraft of various types. All of the aircraft were capable of carrying four bombs, but not heavy defensive machine guns, so the aircrews relied on pistols or some prototype self-loading rifles which Siegert obtained from the museum of a weapons testing site. The squadron personnel were accommodated in railway carriages so that they could be quickly moved forward once the Channel coast had been captured.Hanson 2009, pp. 62-64 Amongst the talented pilots recruited to the squadron were Hermann Göring and Manfred von Richthofen.Hanson 2009, p. 65
With the failure of the German armies to make any progress in the First Battle of Ypres, it became clear that the Pas de Calais would not be captured in the near future and the focus of the Carrier Pigeon Squadron was broadened; on 28 January 1915, an attack was mounted on the port of Dunkirk, which was the main supply port for the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Further raids followed on Furnes, La Panne and Nieuport, before the squadron was broken up; part was moved to Metz while the remainder was later redeployed to the Eastern Front. Returning to Ghistelles in December 1915, the squadron was designated Kampfgeschwader 1 der OHL ("Battle Group 1 of the Army High Command"), usually abbreviated to Kaghol 1, where it was engaged in airship escort, patrol work,Hanson 2009, pp. 65-66 tactical bombing over the Verdun and Somme battlefields. In August 1916, Kaghol 1 was split into two half-squadrons or halbgeschwader; Halbgeschwader 1 remained on the Western Front while Halbgeschwader 2 was redeployed to the Balkans theatre.Castle 2015, p. 102
Operation Turk's Cross During the autumn of 1916, increasing losses to the German airship fleet while bombing London and other towns in England culminated in the disastrous raid of 27/28 November when two naval Zeppelins were shot down by defending fighters.Castle 2015, p. 91 Although the navy was determined to press on with improved airship designs, the recently reorganised army service had already decided that the campaign had "become impossible".Hanson 2009, p. 68 The army air service had been given greater operational autonomy, was retitled Luftstreitkräfte (Air Force) and given a general officer to command it, General Ernst von Hoeppner.Castle 2015, p. 103 Siegert, who was contemptuous of Hoeppner's total lack of flying experience, was made Inspector General of the new force.Hanson 2009, p. 67
One of Hoeppner's first directives was to repurpose Halbgeschwader 1 to operate the new Gotha G.IV heavy bombers specifically to bomb London, a mission which Hoeppner called "Scheme 1" but the OHL designated Operation Turkenkreuz or Turk's Cross. Hoeppner and the OHL hoped for several results from the operation; besides degrading British morale, it was believed that by bombing in daylight, specific military, political and communications targets could be effectively targeted. A subsidiary effect would be the redeployment of British anti-aircraft guns and fighter aircraft from the Western Front to home defence duties. The half-squadron was expanded from three to six kasta or flights and was renamed Kampfgeschwader 3 der OHL, abbreviated to Kaghol 3, but was better known as Englandgeschwader or England Squadron. Experience with small numbers of the earlier Gotha G.II and G.III bombers had shown that an exceptionally level airfield was required to avoid damaging the delicate aircraft, and accordingly four new airfields would be built in the area around Ghent.Sutherland & Canwell 2006, Chapter 3 While waiting for these to be finished and pending the arrival of their new aircraft, the squadron used their two-seaters for night raids on the ports of Calais and Dunkirk, and the logistic hub of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise. Detachments of aircrew were also sent in rotation for training at the naval air bases at Westerland and Heligoland, where they learned navigation at sea and warship recognition.Fredette 2006, pp. 37-38
It had originally been planned that the England Squadron would be fully equipped with 30 new G.IV bombers by 1 February 1917, but shortages of strategic materials caused by the British blockade and problems with the Mercedes D.IVa engines resulted in lengthy production delays.Hanson 2009, p. 72 Hoeppner had selected Hauptmann Ernst Brandenburg to command the England Squadron and he took up the appointment at Ghistelles on 5 March. A former infantry officer, he transferred to the air service as an air observer after being wounded in 1915 and had subsequently proved to have a flair for organisation. On arrival, Brandenburg intensified training to include more navigation over water and night flying.Castle 2015, pp. 104-105
The first G.IV aircraft arrived in March 1917, but teething problems requiring the complete replacement of their engines meant that they could not be flown fully-laden until early May, with the full complement finally arriving at the end of that month. Brandenburg ordered that each aircraft should be test-flown for twenty-five hours before being considered operational.Hanson 2009, pp. 73-74 Even so, there were numerous difficulties with landing, since the bombers became dangerously unstable without the ballast of fuel and bombs and it was difficult to avoid breaking the frail undercarriage. In April, the squadron dispersed to the new airfields at Sint-Denijs-Westrem, Gontrode (near Melle) and in the following month, Mariakerke and Oostakker. The officers were quartered centrally in a chateau at Borluut near Sint-Denijs, while Brandenburg set up his headquarters at Gontrode. On 24 May, the squadron was inspected at Sint-Denijs by General Ludendorff and declared operational.Hanson 2009, pp. 79-80
Folkestone raid
Having received a favourable weather forecast for the following day, 25 May, Brandenburg issued orders for the first Gotha attack on London. Twenty-three bombers took off at 2 pm and refuelled at Nieuwmunster near Zuienkerke on the Belgian coast, so that they had enough fuel to approach by a circuitous route over the North Sea. One aircraft dropped out with engine failure almost immediately and another turned back near the English coast.Hanson 2009, pp. 87-88 On the approach to London it was found that there was a thick cloud cover over the whole area and so on the return route, the coastal town of Folkestone and the army camp at Shorncliffe were attacked. There was no warning given to those on the ground and casualties totalled 95 dead and 195 injured,Castle 2015, p. 117 including many women and children who had been queuing outside shops in Tontine Street.Hanson 2009, pp. 97-99 British opposition, equipped and organised to oppose nocturnal airship raids, had been largely ineffective; Sir John French, who was in overall command of home defence, had previously ordered that only coastal anti-aircraft guns could fire at hostile aircraft, and although 70 fighters had taken off, only two actually sighted the bombers. However, RNAS fighters from Dunkirk intercepted the returning formation and shot down one into the Channel, while another crashed on landing.Castle 2015, p. 118 Retaliatory British raids were made on the airfield at Saint-Denijs on 28 May and 4 June but caused little damage.Hanson p. 109 On 5 June, a second raid on London was rerouted before takeoff to Sheerness Dockyard because of a bad weather forecast; one Gotha was shot down into the Thames Estuary by anti-aircraft fire.Castle 2015, pp. 118-119 Several small vessels were sunk in the docks and an ammunition store exploded; 13 were killed and 34 wounded, mostly military personnel.Hanson 2009, p. 111
Daylight London raids
There were considerable difficulties in forecasting the weather over London, since the prevailing winds came from the west where the Germans had no sources of information. However, on 12 June 1916, the England Squadron's meteorologist was able to give a confident forecast of clear weather over the capital.Hanson 2009, pp. 113-114 On the morning of 13 June, twenty aircraft took off, but two quickly fell out with engine problems. All of the aircraft had been fitted with a reserve fuel tank to avoid a refuelling stop. Diversions were carried out with the aim of drawing defending fighters away from the main formation; one aircraft turned south to bomb Margate in Kent, while two left to bomb Sheerness and another overflew Greenwich on a photo reconnaissance mission. The remaining fourteen aircraft flew on in two lines abreast. The first three fighter squadrons were ordered to take off shortly before 11 am and the first of the London area anti-aircraft guns at Romford opened fire at 11:24. The squadron flew on unaffected, dropping a small number of bombs over East London before overflying the central districts, turning over Regents Park at 11:35 and then returning to attack the City of London.Castle 2015, pp. 119-121