As far as I am aware, very little is known or has been written about the use of aircraft in the Irish War of Independence, the official British history of the war in Ireland, known as " Record of the Rebellion in Ireland, 1920 - 1921 ( Vol.1V, Part 111 ) " tells us that aeroplanes were used to disperse crowds near Mountjoy, distribute propoganda leaflets by air, and provided armed protection to convoys and trains. Towards the end of the war, aerial reconnaissance was becoming increasingly important to the Auxiliary and army units, leading to the discovery of arms dumps in the Wicklow Mountains and monitoring the Flying Columns of the I.R.A. in the countryside.
The report does not go into detail of how many aerodomes there were or how many aircraft were stationed in Ireland, or how many pilots were involved, not even what type of planes, except they were two seater with pilot and observer.
I am hoping that readers to this post will be able to contribute and help to fill in that information, whether from their own research or perhaps from family members who were involved.
I have come across two aerodomes in my research 1) Baldonnel Aerodome, Co. Dublin and 2) Collinstown Aerodome, Co. Dublin, the 2nd aerodome was the scene of a successfull raid for arms by the I.R.A. in March of 1919 and I will post more details on the raid in a later post.
EMPLOYMENT OF AEROPLANES IN DUBLIN DISTRICT 5 MARCH ( document date )
1.The R.A.F. are prepared to co - operate as follows -
a) Escort to convoys.
b) Reconnaissance duties.
c) Raids, where rebels are likely to break into open country.
d) Attack and defence with machine guns ( if carried )
ESCORT TO CONVOYS
2. The following information will be required by the R.A.F. -
a) Number ( not type ) of vehicles, and their distribution into advanced, main body, and rear party and flanking parties ( if any )
b) Route and destination
c) Time the convoy will leave, and, in the case of a convoy leaving Dublin, the time it will clear the city, and approximate time of arrival at destination.
In this case the action of the aeroplane would be to reconnoitre the route, report suspicions of an ambush, and assist the convoy in case of attack.
NOTE -It may be assumed that one aeroplane can remain in the air for four hours ( average )
RECONNAISSANCE
3. The observer in an aeroplane may be expected to detect -
a) Road block of felled trees or wall
b) Broken - down bridge, or bridge with road surface destroyed if not camourflaged
c) Soldiers in khaki from persons in civilian clothing, but Police are difficult to distinguish from latter.
COMMUNICATIONS
4. a) Troops and Police co - operating with aeroplanes will carry -
i) Verey pistols and red Very lights as an SOS signal. ( Also to be carried in aeroplanes - )
ii) A large - size signalling flag ( white, with a blue band ) to denote position of C.O. It will be waved horizontally, or placed flat on suitable ground..
b) Messages will be dropped from the aeroplane at the above place (4 (a) (ii).But in the case of a moving column. the aeroplane will drop message in front of column.When an aeroplane flies low and circles, it may be assumed that a message is about to be dropped.
c) For operations of importance a wireless telephone set will probably be available for use between the O.C. troops and the aeroplane.
5.Before a combined operation ( other than convoy duty ), the pilot and O.C.troops must personally confer.Instructions to the pilot must be simple and definate. The area, route and place to be reconnoitred and the position of the dropping ground will be clearly stated.
TROUBLE AT MOUNTJOY PRISON AND THE USE OF AEROPLANES
The futility of committing troops to hold back such a crowd ( 12 and13 April, 1920, in some cases upto 20.000, due to the hunger strike by political prisoners ) including many women was soon obvious. Rapidly constructed obstacles were soon trodden down. The troops found themselves in the unenviable position of either being overwhelmed or having to open fire on a somewhat passive, but advancing crowd of men and women............. Intrepid work was done by the Air Force on the 13th with low - flying planes, in spite of a 50 - mile gale of wind, and the proximity of the houses. In one case an aeroplane flew along a broad street below the eaves of the houses. This clearly demonstrated that aeroplanes could be used for clearing streets by dropping warning notices and if necessary, using Lewis gunfire.
COMMUNICATIONS
From its commencement, each military detachment constructed a dropping circle, for receiving messages by aeroplane. Later, a special identification sign at each dropping circle was found necessary, as the rebels were apt to construct bogus ones.
USE OF AEROPLANES
Peridical reconnaissance by aeroplanes over suspected and suitable areas were now instituited. Suitable opportunities were especially offered by the openess of the terrain in the Wicklow Hills.This area was also known to be used by the rebels for training and dumps, Useful results were achieved so long as the weather remained favourable for flying. The aeroplane inspired a fearsome dread in the rebels, who at first showed little knowledge of hiding themselves. The great handicap to the Air Force in Ireland was that NO ARMS WERE PERMITTED TO BE CARRIED IN THE AEROPLANES. ( My note, I do not underatand that statement about not carrying arms, when there is mention of a Lewis gun in a previous paragraph, perhaps someone can explain the reasons )
On one occasion an aeroplane pursued rebels who had siezed a R.A.F. motor car. Owing to the alertnes of the pilot the car was overhauled in a very short time, but nothing could be done, as the pilot and observer were unarmed.
PROPAGANDA
Bundles of leaflets comparing IRA reports with the facts were issued down to detachments for distribution, and also scattered from aeroplanes throughout the country.
I hope you find the above of some interest and look forward to any comments.
CSM
The report does not go into detail of how many aerodomes there were or how many aircraft were stationed in Ireland, or how many pilots were involved, not even what type of planes, except they were two seater with pilot and observer.
I am hoping that readers to this post will be able to contribute and help to fill in that information, whether from their own research or perhaps from family members who were involved.
I have come across two aerodomes in my research 1) Baldonnel Aerodome, Co. Dublin and 2) Collinstown Aerodome, Co. Dublin, the 2nd aerodome was the scene of a successfull raid for arms by the I.R.A. in March of 1919 and I will post more details on the raid in a later post.
EMPLOYMENT OF AEROPLANES IN DUBLIN DISTRICT 5 MARCH ( document date )
1.The R.A.F. are prepared to co - operate as follows -
a) Escort to convoys.
b) Reconnaissance duties.
c) Raids, where rebels are likely to break into open country.
d) Attack and defence with machine guns ( if carried )
ESCORT TO CONVOYS
2. The following information will be required by the R.A.F. -
a) Number ( not type ) of vehicles, and their distribution into advanced, main body, and rear party and flanking parties ( if any )
b) Route and destination
c) Time the convoy will leave, and, in the case of a convoy leaving Dublin, the time it will clear the city, and approximate time of arrival at destination.
In this case the action of the aeroplane would be to reconnoitre the route, report suspicions of an ambush, and assist the convoy in case of attack.
NOTE -It may be assumed that one aeroplane can remain in the air for four hours ( average )
RECONNAISSANCE
3. The observer in an aeroplane may be expected to detect -
a) Road block of felled trees or wall
b) Broken - down bridge, or bridge with road surface destroyed if not camourflaged
c) Soldiers in khaki from persons in civilian clothing, but Police are difficult to distinguish from latter.
COMMUNICATIONS
4. a) Troops and Police co - operating with aeroplanes will carry -
i) Verey pistols and red Very lights as an SOS signal. ( Also to be carried in aeroplanes - )
ii) A large - size signalling flag ( white, with a blue band ) to denote position of C.O. It will be waved horizontally, or placed flat on suitable ground..
b) Messages will be dropped from the aeroplane at the above place (4 (a) (ii).But in the case of a moving column. the aeroplane will drop message in front of column.When an aeroplane flies low and circles, it may be assumed that a message is about to be dropped.
c) For operations of importance a wireless telephone set will probably be available for use between the O.C. troops and the aeroplane.
5.Before a combined operation ( other than convoy duty ), the pilot and O.C.troops must personally confer.Instructions to the pilot must be simple and definate. The area, route and place to be reconnoitred and the position of the dropping ground will be clearly stated.
TROUBLE AT MOUNTJOY PRISON AND THE USE OF AEROPLANES
The futility of committing troops to hold back such a crowd ( 12 and13 April, 1920, in some cases upto 20.000, due to the hunger strike by political prisoners ) including many women was soon obvious. Rapidly constructed obstacles were soon trodden down. The troops found themselves in the unenviable position of either being overwhelmed or having to open fire on a somewhat passive, but advancing crowd of men and women............. Intrepid work was done by the Air Force on the 13th with low - flying planes, in spite of a 50 - mile gale of wind, and the proximity of the houses. In one case an aeroplane flew along a broad street below the eaves of the houses. This clearly demonstrated that aeroplanes could be used for clearing streets by dropping warning notices and if necessary, using Lewis gunfire.
COMMUNICATIONS
From its commencement, each military detachment constructed a dropping circle, for receiving messages by aeroplane. Later, a special identification sign at each dropping circle was found necessary, as the rebels were apt to construct bogus ones.
USE OF AEROPLANES
Peridical reconnaissance by aeroplanes over suspected and suitable areas were now instituited. Suitable opportunities were especially offered by the openess of the terrain in the Wicklow Hills.This area was also known to be used by the rebels for training and dumps, Useful results were achieved so long as the weather remained favourable for flying. The aeroplane inspired a fearsome dread in the rebels, who at first showed little knowledge of hiding themselves. The great handicap to the Air Force in Ireland was that NO ARMS WERE PERMITTED TO BE CARRIED IN THE AEROPLANES. ( My note, I do not underatand that statement about not carrying arms, when there is mention of a Lewis gun in a previous paragraph, perhaps someone can explain the reasons )
On one occasion an aeroplane pursued rebels who had siezed a R.A.F. motor car. Owing to the alertnes of the pilot the car was overhauled in a very short time, but nothing could be done, as the pilot and observer were unarmed.
PROPAGANDA
Bundles of leaflets comparing IRA reports with the facts were issued down to detachments for distribution, and also scattered from aeroplanes throughout the country.
I hope you find the above of some interest and look forward to any comments.
CSM
