Halberstadt CL.II 15342/17

This is a profile of the Halberstadt CL.II 15342/17 flown by Gefreiter Kuesler and Vizefeldwebel Mullenbach on June 9th, 1918 when they were forced to fly back to the aerodrome of 3 Squadron at Flesselles. The Australian Flying Corps aircrew were Lieutenant R.J. Armstrong and Lieutenant F.J. Mart flying in RE8, D4689. The account of the engagement is contained in, "The Battle Below",

Lieutenant Rod C. Armstrong and Lieutenant Frank J. Mart as observer, were carrying out an artillery reconnaissance in the vicinity of Meaulte-Gressaire Wood-Warfusee Abancourt, but on this occasion had found the front comparatively quiet with little of importance to report. The observer had just fired a number of rounds from his Lewis gun into the enemy trenches near Morlancourt when, at about 11.30 am, the pilots attention was attracted by four anti-aircraft shell bursts over Querrieu. These were followed by other bursts, and Lieutenant Armstrong then noticed an enemy aircraft flying in an easterly direction and endeavouring to reach it's own territory. It afterwards transpired that this enemy aircraft had been engaged in a low flying attack on the French lines near Montdidier, and that the pilot had lost his bearings. Lieutenant Armstrong headed the enemy off, where the enemy pilot became panic stricken, made no attempt at resistance and, after one or two feeble attempts to escape, allowed Lieutenant Armstrong to take up position about 300 feet in the rear and lightly above him and force him steadily down to land on No.3's aerodrome. The enemy pilot and observer were taken prisoners and the aircraft captured intact, together with the maps and papers giving details of the German forces employed against the French in the Noyon area. The feat gained the congratulations of Lieutenant-General Sir John Monash, the G.O.C. Australian Corps, and the captured aircraft - a Halberstadt - has since become a valued exhibit in the Australian War Memorial.

The Official History also contains further information on the episode,

Now and then Mart would shout to his pilot, "Give him a burst to make sure." but Armstrong would look back, grin, and shake his head. He meant, as he said afterwards, to "take him home."

The Australian aerodrome was surprised to have a German aircraft land on their field, however the two German aviators were quickly taken prisoner at revolver point. The Halberstadt was given the British intelligence number of G56(b?)/16 and the aircraft, after receiving British roundels, was flown by Captain S.G. Brearley and Captain R. Ross to Marquise, where it was handed over to the Royal Air Force and British Intelligence.

The Intelligence Report for the aircraft describing its markings contained,

The body work and also the centre section of the top plane are covered with a scumble of colours arranged in indefinite areas and shading to one another. The colours used are a cloudy yellow, dark and light greens, brown, purple, and light blue. The belly of the fuselage is coloured yellow throughout.

Armstrong and Mart were two of the most aggressive aircrews in an already aggressive squadron, which is no mean feat considering No.3 Squadron was a Corps squadron equipped with the docile and slow RE8. Roderick Charles Armstrong was born in Footscray, Melbourne in 1894. He enlisted in the AIF on the 9th of July, 1916. Lieutenant Frank Jelly Mart, enlisted on the 9th of December 1915 with the AIF and was in the 5th Tunnelling Corps. Previously he had been a Station Overseer in Semaphore South Australia. Semaphore was where Frank Mart was born, on the 24th April, 1889.

The Halberstadt was displayed in England at shows, and then after the war shipped to Tasmania as war booty. Unfortunately it's eventual fate is unknown, there was a fire in a Melbourne Warehouse in which some World War I aircraft were lost, as well as a fire at the Australian War Memorial in which some other World War I aircraft were destroyed. It is likely it was lost in one of those two fires.

Profile of the Halberstadt CL.II, 1534/17 appears courtesy of Todd Comeau, www.wingstrut.com. The image is subject to United States copyright law and cannot be published without the express permission of the artist, Todd Comeau.