Thursday, July 19, 2018

First Aircraft Carrier Launched Raid. Todern, July 19, 1918.

On this day the Royal Navy achieved a military milestone when it launched the first aircraft carrier supported air raid in history.

Sopwith Camels on the HMS Furious.

Seven Sopwith Camels were launched from the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier, the HMS Furious, upon the German Navy's airship base at Tonder, which is now part of Denmark but which was then part of Germany.

The Furious had been a battle cruiser, but it had been converted to an aircraft carrier.  The attack, which was delayed due to weather, was undertaken in two waves.  The Germans were taken by surprise.  Two airships and a captive balloon were destroyed.  However, only one Camel was recovered.  Three were interned in Denmark after their pilots took them there as they feared they had insufficient fuel to make it back to the carrier.  Two of the planes were abandoned and one was lost at sea. The one that made it back was damaged.

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