Losses in Aerial Combat in June at the Somme, July 8, 1916

The English-French Offensive Continues

Latest Official War Report - WTB. Central Headquarters July 7, Official

Western Theater of War

Shot down French combat biplane with two engines
(Illustrierte Geschichte des Weltkrieges, 1914/1916)

Lively battles at the Somme continued during the night, with unfavorable outcomes for us. The battles mainly took place in the area south of Contalmaison, Hem and Estrees.


To the east of the Maas, heavy attacks across a broad section of the Front, instigated by the French against our trenches on the "Kalte Erde" ridge as well as in the forest south-west of Fort Vaux failed with considerable losses for the enemy.

Multiple patrol skirmishes across the rest of the Front.



To the south-west of Valenciennes, we captured a French plane. At Peronne and to the south-west of Vouziers, enemy planes in aerial combat were forced to land.

Result of aerial combat in June:

German losses:
in aerial combat                              2 planes
shot down from the ground          1 plane
missing                                              4 planes
                                                          -------------
                                          total:        7 planes

French and English losses:
in aerial combat                              23 planes
due to involuntary landing
   within our lines                              9 planes
shot down from the ground         10 planes
at landing for the purpose of
   eliminating spies                          1 plane
                                                        --------------
                                         total:       37 planes

Of these, 22 are in our possession.