Raid 53 - 9 July 1916
The Raid
There were two raids, no bombs were dropped in the first one which circled round Westdate then to Manstone.
The second raid came in over Folkestone then went over to Dover. 7 bombs were dropped between Trevanion Street and Douro Place.
Victims & Damage
Glass was broken in 18 to 20 houses but there were no casualties.
Summary
The first raid was though to be a photographic reconnaissance of the Manstone aerodrome.
The second raid was an attack on the military in Dover.
Weather – Mostly fine but cloudy
Response –
For the first raid AA guns were fired at the airfields, and some planes took off and caught the enemy planes firing 2 trays of Lewis Gun bullets but no damage was done.
There was no response to the second raid.
Bombs – 7
Killed – 0
Injured – 0
Raid details taken from Aeroplane and Seaplane Raids 1914 - 1916, Compiled by the Intelligence Section, General Headquarters Home Forces, June 1917
Header Photo – Flight Lieutenant Smythe (R.N.V.R) at the first wooden building at Manston February 1916 from www.manstonehistory.org.uk