Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Iraq
6 Squadron RAF, WW1 Aviation and My Books
6 Squadron Aerial Photos - White Chateau
The two photographs on Page 9 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1.
Both photographs were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron over the White Chateau (near Palinbeek - not the White Chateau at Hollebeke), east of St Eloi, as defined by the mapping coordinates 28. O. 4. B and 28. O. 4. C, each area measuring 500 yards square. The first photograph was taken on the 24th April 1917 and the second on the 5th June 1917, 2 days before 19 mines were detonated beneath the German lines along the Messines ridge at the start of the Battle of Messines.
The two photographs on Page 23 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1.
The photographs were were taken of the white chateau at Hollebeke (as distinct from the White Chateau at Palinbeek), defined by mapping coordinates 28. O. 12. B. The first photograph was taken on the 6th April 1917 and the second on the 12th June 1917, 5 days after 19 mines were detonated beneath the German lines along the Messines ridge at the start of the Battle of Messines. Note the incredible destruction caused by the allied bombardment prior to the start of the Battle of Messines.
The two photographs on Page 24 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1.
The photographs were were taken of the white chateau at Hollebeke (as distinct from the White Chateau at Palinbeek), defined by mapping coordinates 28. O. 12. B. The target for the destructive shoot was a farm at 12 Rosettestraat, GPS coordinates 50°48'11.9"N 2°56'43.4"E. Today there is still a farm at that location. The first photograph was taken on the 6th April 1917 and the second on the 14th June 1917, 7 days after 19 mines were detonated beneath the German lines along the Messines ridge at the start of the Battle of Messines. Note the arrows marking the site of an enemy artillery battery, slightly to the west of the Ypres-Comines canal.
6 Squadron Aerial Photos - East of Hollebeke White Chateau
The two photographs on Page 26 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1.
The photographs were were taken of two destructive shoots on hostile batteries approximately one kilometre to the east of the White Chateau at Hollebeke. The upper photograph was taken on the 29th April 1917 and is misclassified regarding its coordinates, which should be 28. O. 12. B and not 28. Q. 7. A. The lower photograph is of the same shoots but taken of coordinates 28. O. 13. A and printed upside down. The date the lower photograph was taken is unknown. The exact locations of the two shoots are 1) On the hedge line of a field 100 metres west of Klijtgatstraat 1-5, GPS coordinates 50°48'23.9"N 2°57'15.4"E and 2) On the line of a stream/hedge 200 metres north of Hollebekestraat at 50°48'23.5"N 2°57'36.0"E.
6 Squadron Aerial Photos - Destructive Shoot at Hollebeke
The two photographs on Page 33 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1.
The photographs were taken to show the effect of the pre-bombardment allied barrage on a German battery west of the Ypres-Commines canal (present day location 50°48'16.4"N 2°56'46.1"E - a few metres south of the junction of Rosettestraat and Kortewildestraat and 500 metres south-west of the site of the Hollebeke White Chateau) immediately prior to the Battle of Messines, map coordinates 28. O. 12. b and 28. O. 12. a. The upper photograph was taken on the 1st May 1917 and the date of the lower photograph was 7th May 1917.
