RFC and RAF

Royal Flying Corps; Royal Air Force from 01-Apr-1918

  • 16th Wing Headquarters; from UK 20-Sep-16
  • No. 17 Squadron, from UK 21-Jul-16
  • No. 47 Squadron, from UK 20-Sep-16
  • No. 150 Squadron, formed in theatre 01-Apr-18
  • Composite Fighting Squadron, formed in theatre Mar-17; broken up about May-17
  • Headquarters No. 22 Balloon Company; from UK 12-Feb-17
  • No. 17 Balloon Section, from UK 20-Sep-16
  • 26 and 27 Balloon Sections, both from UK 12-Feb-17

Only flying units which operated from Macedonia are noted. There were a number of others in the Aegean which could be called upon for specific tasks. Nos 17 and 47 were originally mixed fighter and corps reconnaissance squadrons but when No.150 arrived it received all of the fighters in the theatre and the other two became corps reconnaissance squadrons with a limited light bombing capability. The squadrons were equipped as follows (RAF is Royal Aircraft Factory):-

No. 17 Squadron

  • RAF BE2c (Jul-16 to Jun-18)
  • Bristol Scout (Jul-16 to Sep-16)
  • RAF BE12a (Dec-16 to Sep-18)
  • Spad VII (Jul-17 to Dec-17)
  • Nieuport 17 (Aug-17 to Dec-17)
  • RAF SE5a (Dec-17 to Apr-18)
  • Armstrong Whitworth FK8 (Mar-18 onwards)
  • Airco DH9 (Aug-18 onwards)

No. 47 Squadron

  • RAF BE12 (Oct-16 to Apr-18)
  • Airco DH2 (Feb-17 to Jan-18)
  • Armstrong Whitworth FK3 (Feb-17 to Jul-18)
  • Vickers FB19 Mk2 (Jun-17 to Apr-18)
  • RAF BE12a (Sep-17 to Feb-18)
  • RAF BE2e (Oct-17 to Apr-18)
  • RAF SE5a (Nov-17 to Apr-18)
  • Bristol M1C (Feb-18 to May-18)
  • Armstrong Whitworth FK8 (Mar-18 onwards)
  • Airco DH9 (Aug-18 onwards)

No. 150 Squadron

  • Bristol M1C (Apr-18 onwards)
  • RAF SE5a (Apr-18 onwards)
  • Sopwith Camel (May-18 onwards)
  • RAF BE12a (Jul-18 onwards)
  • RAF BE2e (Aug-18 onwards)

The Composite Fighting Squadron was formed around a number of Sopwith Fighters of the Royal Naval Air Service from Mudros specifically to intercept raids by a German bomber squadron. It was broken up when the German squadron left the theatre. A Royal Naval Air Service bombing squadron began operating on retaliatory raids at the same time.

BRITISH FORCES IN THE SALONIKA CAMPAIGN 1915-1918
A kite balloon starting to ascend for observation duty in the Struma Valley. BRITISH FORCES IN THE SALONIKA CAMPAIGN 1915-1918. (click on image to see full size) © IWM (HU 81088)

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