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Canadian Airmen and the First World War by F.S. Wise; Vol 1
The addition of 139 Squadron was balanced by the departure of 45 Squadron to France on 20 September. Its departure was linked to a general reorganization and reduction of the British contingent in Italy. lnfantry brigades were reduced from four to three battalions (this had been done on the Western Front in early 1918)and the nine battalion surplus went to France. The British 48th Division and a French division remained on the Asiago front while, in October, the other two British divisions, together with an Italian corps, were formed into Tenth Army under a British commander, Lord Cavan, and placed on the Piave front to spearhead the coming attack.(62)
Prior to the opening of the offensive the RAF dealt two punishing blows to the Austrian air force by striking at the chief sources for pilot reinforcements on each of the battle fronts. On 4 October every available Camel from 28 and 66 Squadrons, armed with phosphorus and high-explosive bombs, attacked the Campoformido advanced training school southwest of Udine. The attack was a complete surprise, and many aircraft and several hangars were destroyed. The attackers were escorted by Stanger and McEwen and the two Canadians were credited with shooting down three Albatros D-llls over the mouth of the Tagliamento River. So successful was this raid that the next day the flying school at Egna, northeast of Trento, was bombed.
• Twenty-two pilots took part, among them Ontarians W.J. Courtenay and A.G. Kettles, R. Menzies, address unknown, R.H. Foss of Sherbrooke, Que., and the Newfoundlander, R.G. Reid. According to the report sent the Air Ministry by Colonel Joubert, at least three hangars and several parked aircraft were set ablaze and mechanics who rushed out to save the burning machines and buildings were driven off by machine-gun fire. Joubert noted particularly the action of Foss, who sent an LVG plunging into a nearby canal before dropping his bombs.(63)
Before the end of the Italian campaign RAF squadrons were to be surfeited with such low-level work. The crux of Generale Diaz’s plan was to force a crossing of the Piave while containing the Austrian Sixth Army on the Trentino front. The key sector was that between the Montello and Papadopoli Island. Lord Cavan’s Tenth Army was to cross at Papadopoli, with the Italian Eighth Army on its left. Together the two armies were to strike north and northwest for Vittorio Veneto
and Sacile, aiming to cut the communications between the Austrian forces in the mountains and those on the Venetian plain.(64)
The air plan was simplicity itself: ‘to obtain the mastery of the air and to maintain it throughout the action.’ The roles assigned the RAF’S 14 Wing placed emphasis upon ‘free scouting and cruising expeditions’ for the fighters, in addition to bomber escort duties. Ground attac’k at low levels was to be ‘an integral part of the bombing raids’ and was to be conducted by all types of machines. In keeping with the tight security which was a notable feature of this offensive, RAF squadrons
did not leave their concentration .iin the rear of the Asiago sector until the eve of the battle. On 22 October 14 Wing HQ moved to Dosson, three miles south of Treviso and near Lord Cavan’s headquarters at Villa Marcello. On the same day 28 Squadron moved to Limbrage and 34 Squadron to San Luca, both airfields being in the Treviso area. No 66 Squadron remained at Casa Piazza, ready if need be to support the British 48th Division on the Asiago.(65)
• Canadians arriving in Italy during the June-October period included D.B. And R.H. Foss,
brothers from Sherbrooke, Que., to 28 Squadron; W.N. Hanna of Sarnia, Ont., A.E. Popham of
Victoria, L.J. Shepard of Port Stanley. Ont.. and Harold Shone of Toronto, to 34 Squadron; A.V.
Green of Vancouver to 45 Squadron; W.J. Courtenay of St Thomas, Ont. (KIA 7 Oct. 1918),
A.G. Kettles of Bruce Mines. Ont., and Robert Menzies, address unknown, co 66 Squadron.
Notes to Pages 464-73 707
62 Edmonds, Military Operations: Italy, 1915-1919, 260-3
63 Joubert to Secretary, Air Ministry, report of bomb raids, 4-8 Oct. 1918, Air 1/1985/
204/273/97; 28 Squadron air combat re?or ts, 4and 5 Oct. 19 18, Air 1/ 1854/204/213/ 15;
66 SRB, 4-5 Oct. 1918. Air 1/1575/204/80177; London Gazefle, 3 Dec. 1918, 14316.
31046; Jones, War in the Air. v I, 288
64 Jones, War in the Air, v1, 289-90; Edmonds, Military Operations: Italy, 1915-1919, 266-7
65 Jones, War in the Air, VI, 289-90; Edmonds, Military Operations: Italy, 1915-1919,
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Canadian Airmen and the First World War by F.S. Wise; Vol 1