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Raid 52 - 20 May 1916
The Raid
The raid was overnight and the planes weren’t seen, but from the number of bombs dropped its thought there were 5 of them.
One plane dropped bombs on Victoria Avenue, St Peters. There were no casualties and no damage done.
The next plane came in to Sandwich and dropped bombs in the sea near the Small Downs Coastguard Station then dropped a couple more bombs in the town.
The third plane also came in over Sandwich then turned to Dover where it dropped all its bombs.
The forth plane dropped 9 bombs near Chequers Inn in Sholden near Deal. No damage was done then the plane when to Dover where it dropped the last couple of bombs.
The last plane went over Ringwold but the bombs were dropped in open fields.
Victims & Damage
In Dover there was some damage, a pub in Snargate Street was the only serious damage. The rest of the damage was broken glass, there were some injuries and a soldier was killed
Summary
The raid didn’t do much damage.
Two of the German planes were shot down on the way home, one off Blankenberghe and the other off Dunkirk by a British air patrol
Weather – Wind light, weather fine and cloudless.
Response –
No AA guns were fired, there was moonlight but some mist. 4 planes took off but none saw the enemy planes.
Bombs – 59
Killed – 1
Injured – 2
Raid details taken from Aeroplane and Seaplane Raids 1914 - 1916, Compiled by the Intelligence Section, General Headquarters Home Forces, June 1917
Header Photo – IWM (Q 41374) Dover Harbour