ISSUE 91 : Nov/Dec - 1991 - Australian Defence Force Journal

46 AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE JOURNAL NO. 91 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 1991
without any reaction from the defenders. The raid
was not repeated and was soon regarded as one with
the 'hit and run' raids on the coast. Although not
known at the time, this was to be the last raid on
London of any kind, either by airship or aircraft, for
just on six months.
There were a few of the raids by single aircraft
against coastal towns, and an occasional zeppelin
attack against the same targets from time to time.
However, it certainly looked as if the defences had at
last gained complete mastery over the German
raiders.
The New Threat
The war in the air over Britain generally became
so quiet over the next six months that the lights
came on again, most of the guns were withdrawn,
and many of the home defence squadrons sent to
France. Then suddenly, on 25th May 1917, a force of
29 Gotha bombers attacked Folkestone at 6.30 p.m.
It is probable the attack was meant for London, but
was diverted because of heavy cloud. There was no
warning, and 95 people were killed and 195 injured.
Although no direct warning had been received,
the defences were still in a fair state of alert from one
of the rare Zeppelin raids which had occurred the
night before. They were able to put 74 fighters into
the air, but the response was far too late, and in any
case few were capable of reaching the height of the
raiders. The raiders turned for home unharmed.
However, on the return journey they were intercepted
by the RNAS at Dunkirk and one was shot down.
Another was severely damaged, and crashed on
landing at base.
A further raid in strength followed on 5th June
when 22 Gothas attacked Sheerness at 6 p.m.,
resulting in 13 killed and 34 injured. One of the
raiders was shot down by A A fire, but no contact
was made by the fighters. The public and government
were already alarmed by these two attacks
when the Gothas struck at London a week later.
First Gotha Raid on London
The first Gotha raid on London came at 11.40
a.m. on 13th June 1917. Eighteen aircraft reached
their target and 72 x 50 kg bombs were dropped. All
landed within one mile of each other, showing a high
This is the aircraft which Fit Sub-Lieut R.H.J. Warneford was flying when he bombed and destroyed the first
Zeppelin ever to be lost in air combat. It is a wooden 80 hp Morane Parasol'.