National Experiences - British Commission for Military History

tu r k I s h AIr cA m pA I g n s d u r I n g t h e bAttles o f ÇA n A k k A l e mA r c h 1915 - JA n u A ry 1916 327
While the land airplanes were continuing
to conduct operations in Tenedos (Bozcaada)
HMS Ark Royal was utilizing its seaplanes in
the vicinity of İzmir and Enez for the mission
of long-range reconnaissance. 10
By the arrival of the German submarines
the HMS Ark Royal, which was slow in motion
and vulnerable was first sent to the Mudros
Port and then to Salonika to serve as aircraft
carrier. It was replaced by HMSBen-my-Chree
equipped with five seaplanes.
Çanakkale Front was not only witness to
the use of land and seaplanes but also to another
“first”. It caused the fact that the balloon
activities increased in the Royal Navy and that
Major General Birdwood asked for free or tied
balloons to help identify the distribution of the
Ottoman artillery companies and arrange the
fires accordingly. The advantages of the tied
balloons are that they could stay in the air for a long time and that the reconnaissance
reports could directly conveyed via telephone lines and that mechanical problems
were quite rare in the balloons when compared to the English aircraft.
A trade ship called Manica discharging the cargo of fertilizer at Manchester port
was made ready for the balloon operation and arrived at Mudros Port on 9 April
1915. Air reconnaissance activities contributed significantly to the operations of the
English army during the Battles of Çanakkale operation and caused casualties in
the Ottoman forces, therefore the only successful air reconnaissance activity were
considered those executed by the balloons. In the mean time the balloon ship Hector
which was formed modifying a trade ship would come to the area on 9 June 1915
and support Manica.
On the Turkish side, 1st Flight Company in Galata in the vicinity of Gallipoli,
strengthened with a few aircraft together with the Turkish and German observers
continued to execute reconnaissance and bombing tasks against the English and
French forces on the islands. The bombs used to be sent by hand. The aircraft had
little ammunition. The first aircraft the rear cockpit of which was equipped with
weapons arrived in August 1915. This unit based in Çanakkale had approximately 4
aircraft. 11
Lieutenant (Navy) Hüseyin Sedat.
In order for the Allied powers to land in Cape İlyas and Anafartalar Bay at the
10 Schneide, p. 95.
11 Whistler, p. 234.