Page 332 - Airpower in 20th Century - Doctrines and Employment

332 airpower in 20 Century doCtrines and employment - national experienCes
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4. The Forth Stage: Departure of The
Allies / The Turkish Victory in Battles of
Çanakkale

On 10 August Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı) Battle re-
vealed that in Gallipoli Peninsula landing forces had no
chance in land battles. The battle of Çanakkale was stuck
to trenches. Although Mustafa Kemal offered to pulver-
ize the adversary with an attack since he was sure about
the withdrawal of the adversary, he was replied, “we
don’t have any force to sacrifice, even a soldier.” Upon
realizing that a great opportunity was about to be missed,
Pilot First Lieutenant
Ali Rıza. Colonel Mustafa Kemal resigned his post on December
10, 1915. Liman von Sanders respecting to Colonel Mus-
tafa Kemal converted the resignation into sick leave. After arriving at İstanbul, Mus-
tafa Kemal learned that the adversary vacated Çanakkale harmlessly (19 December
1915). 22
In September 1915 the joining of Bulgaria to war near the Central Powers fa-
cilitated the transfer of the military equipments. Airplanes could easily pass through
Bulgaria without any risk of confiscation. While the essential military equipments,
especially airplane spare parts were being transferred via recently opened supply
roads, on November 30, 1915, Albatros CI Airplane under the control of Pilot First
Lieutenant Ali Rıza together with Observer Lieutenant İbrahim Orhan confronted
with a French airplane at the moment of reconnaissance flight over Kaba Tepe. In the
23
air warfare Lieutenant Orhan , observer of the airplane, succeeded in hitting the fuel
tank of the enemy airplane with a machine gun and then the enemy airplane went
down in flames between İntepe and Sedd-el-Bahr (Seddülbahir). 24
The reconnaissance flights, air photos and reports at the end of the Battles of
Çanakkale showed that the enemy was preparing to evacuation. This recognition was
achieved on the reports given after reconnaissance flight by German Aviation Units
Inspector Major Siegert. However, General von Sander’s opinion that the enemy
wouldn’t relinquish control of the Strait of Çanakkale and his determined manner
gave an opportunity to the Allies to leave from the island suffering fewer losses.
Before evacuation a great number of fires disclosing that occupying forces were

22
Falih Rıfkı Atay, p. 94.
23
In 1916 Lieutenant Orhan was sent to Germany to take pilot training. After getting pilot brevet he
carried successful missions in Palestine and Medina. In 1918 he was one of the İzmir The Fifth Air-
plane Company airmen. During Worl War I, on June 13, 1918, in the course of reconnaissance flight
over Chios with his observer Lieutenant Hüseyin Hüsnü, his airplane which was hit by anti-aircraft
fire went down near the island. İbrahim Orhan died and Hüseyin Hüsnü became a prisoner of war.
Lieutenant İbrahim Orhan was buried in Chios.
24
Kansu, p. 205.