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IWM (Q 111440) A vertical aerial mosaic of Thetford Aerodrome. 26th Wing. Dated 1917.jpg

Raid 56 - 2 - 3 August 1916

The Raid

The L21 appeared off Wells and Cromer then disappeared for an hour before coming back over Wells. Passed at speed over Walsingham, then Thetford and Ickburgh and Mundford. Going back over Thetford bombs were dropped on the Aerodrome without doing any damage. Was seen over the Suffolk coast and bombs were dropped on Covehithe. No damage was done, all the bombs were dropped at speed.

L13 was also seen off Norfolk when the mobile AA guns fired on it at Bacton, it retaliated by dropping bombs which fell in the sea. It then seemed to make for Norwich but missed it and ended up over the Broads. Bombs were dropped on Ditchingham, Earsham and Shelton. Over Wymondham incendiaries were dropped and the course was changed heading east. More bombs were dropped at Silfield breaking windows.

After this it seems that the L13 was looking for Norwich but missed it by flying too far north, the airship then turned and headed back to the North Norfolk Coast.

The L16 went on a course over Norfolk, incendiaries were dropped over Long Stratton and Ashby St Mary and then headed out over sea at Yarmouth.

L17 also took a wandering route over Norfolk, bombs were dropped on Pulham and it then followed the river Waveney to Eye where it picked up the railway line which it bombed with no damage. Bombs were also dropped on Billingford, Brockdish and Hardwick before trying to hit the railway again. It went out over sea near Southwold having followed the river Waveney.

A naval seaplane engaged the L11 before it came over but despite having a couple of trays of Lewis gun ammunition fired at it no damage was done. The airship was seen over Bawdesey Manor Camp where it headed inland towards Woodbridge. 6 bombs were dropped on Kirton Village. It seems that the engine was cut off and so trace of it was lost until Shingle Street guns saw it, it was then seen over Felixstowe, bombs were dropped on Landguard Fort doing some slight damage.

It seems that the L11 went out to sea for a while then came back in to Harwich before going back out. It was fired on when it went over Holland and some damage was done.

As with the previous raid while most airships came over East Anglia, one went over Kent. The L31 dropped bombs in the sea off Deal around the steamer the Duchess of Devonshire. After that it headed to Dover where it was picked up in the searchlights and was fired on so turned round and headed for home

Victims & Damage

Glass was broken at Ditchingham Hall and Mundham but no other damage and no injuries.

Glass was also broken when the L16 dropped its bombs.

6 horses were killed and 2 injured by the L17 at Bilingford where a farmhouse was also damaged.

The L11 did cause serious damage to some cottages in Kirton and broke more glass. One boy was slightly injured which was the only human casualty.

Tents and the parade ground at Landguard Ford was damaged.

Summary

The Official Report says the raid this time seems to have had more certain targets that the previous couple of raids and it seems they are still looking for Norwich.

It was another raid with a lot of airships that didn’t do much damage.

 

Weather – Generally fine but misty.

 

Response – The AA guns really seemed to have done what they should have and acted as a deterrent, although they don’t seem to have hit one of the airships. The airship that saw the AA defences round Dover certainly seemed to turn round and head for home.

One plane did engage the airship while it was still over the North Sea, another plane engaged an airship off Great Yarmouth but didn’t get close enough to fire.

 

Bombs – 137

Killed – 0

Injured – 0

Raid details Air Raids 1916, 28 July to 9 August 1916, Compiled by the Intelligence Section, General Headquarters Home Forces, no date

Header Photo – IWM (Q 111440) A vertical aerial mosaic of Thetford Aerodrome. 26th Wing from 1917

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