World Aviation in 1917 - Part 1

Part 2

6 January
In Washington DC a report recommends that the United States Army and Navy build airships similar to Zeppelins.

16 January
Rittmeister Manfred von Richtofen, the most famous and most successful air ace of the First World War, is awarded the Pour le Mérite. Scoring 80 confirmed kills, Richthofen is finally shot down as he flies deep into British lines in pursuit of Wilfrid May in April 1918. His brother, Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, also receives the decoration in 1917.

31 January
Germany declares the beginning of unrestricted submarine warfare.

1 February
The German Friedrichshafen GIII bomber, capable of carrying 4,900 kilos (3,300 pounds) of bombs, becomes operational.

7 February
Zeppelin LZ82 (L36) is wrecked after a forced landing at Rehben-an-der-Aller.

11-12 February
German Leutnants Peter and Frohwein, in a DFW CV aircraft, record the first night fighting victories when they shoot down two enemy bombers at Malzeville.

8 March
Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the father of the rigid airship, dies of pneumonia aged 78.

12 March
Revolution in Russia.

15 March
Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates in favour of Grand Duke Michael.

17 March
Zeppelin LZ86 (L39) is brought down over Compiegne in France by anti-aircraft fire.

30 March
German Schutte-Lanz airship SL9 (E2) is destroyed during a storm with the loss of all hands.

30 March
French aircraft manufacturer, Armand Deperdussin, is jailed for five years for embezzling 32,000,000 francs from his own company.

April
German fighter pilot Leutnant Werner Voss, one of Manfred von Richthofen's closest rivals as an air ace during the 1916-17 period, with 48 victories to his credit, is awarded the Pour le Mérite.

5-6 April
In the first ever planned night interception operation, German Leutnant Frankl of Jasta 4, flying an Albatros DIII, shoots down a BE2c of No.100 Squadron over Ouiery la Motte.

6 April
The United States declares war on Germany. The United States Army Signal Corps possesses 250 aircraft and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has a further 54.

7 April
Cuba declares war on Germany.

12 April
Breguet 14s are introduced into service with French squadrons on the Western Front.

18 April
In Seattle, USA, William E. Boeing's Pacific Aero Products Company becomes the Boeing Airplane Company.

24 April
Lieutenant Colonel William 'Billy' Mitchell becomes the first United States army officer to over fly the German lines.

May
Fast and well-armed Spad XIII single-seat fighters enter service with French squadrons on the Western Front.

May
The first Airmail stamps are issued by the Italian Post Office. 200,000 25c Express Letter stamps were overprinted 'Esperimento Posta Aerea - Maggio 1917 - Torino-Roma-Roma-Torino'

7 May
The first night bombing raid on London by an aeroplane takes place.

14 May
Zeppelin LZ64 (L22) is shot down by a British flying boat with the loss of all hands.

15 May
German Leutnant Heinrich Gontermann is awarded the Pour le Mérite. Gontermann achieved eighteen victories against Allied balloons, once shooting down four in three minutes. He is killed in a crash while testing a new Fokker DRI.

19 May
The United States Government agrees to send an Army division to France.

22 May
Italian military air mail service is established between Turin and Rome.

24 May
French Premier Alexandre Ribot requests American aid in the shape of 5,000 pilots, 4,500 aircraft and 50,000 mechanics.

25 May
Twenty-one aircraft attack Folkestone and Shorncliffe in Kent, in the first large daylight raid by German Gotha bombers. The attack leaves 95 dead and 260 injured and one Gotha is destroyed and another damaged by fighters based in France.

30 May
After flying overnight from Chicago, the United States Navy's B1 dirigible (steerable airship) arrives at Akron, Ohio.

31 May
Austrian pilot Linienschiffleutnant G.Banfield, at the controls of a Pfalz AII fighter, forces down an Italian seaplane, achieving the first Austro-Hungarian victory against enemy night bombers.

June
The first German Staaken RVI four-engined bomber becomes operational.

2 June
The Aviation Section of United States Army Signal Corps becomes the Airplane Division.

5 June
England is attacked by a force of 22 Gotha bombers at Sheerness in Kent.

Part 2