Page 333 - Airpower in 20th Century - Doctrines and Employment

turkIsh AIr cAmpAIgns durIng the bAttles of ÇAnAkkAle mArch 1915 - JAnuAry 1916 333

damaging all supplies and equipments were observed.
Meanwhile, Turkish aviation units launched 32 bombs
and hit 17 targets in Sedd-el-Bahr (Seddülbahir) camp.
Moreover two equipment hangars in Mudros (Mondros)
Bay and an airplane hangar in Tenedos (Bozcaada) were
demolished and four shots fell down at close range of
enemy ships. In 1916, upon coming to Çanakkale in the
first week of December Fokker Fighter Company (6th
Fighter Company) took part in the operation. On January
4, 1916 Pilot First Lieutenant Schubert, from German
Maritime Airplane Company, hit one of the airplanes of
French Maurice Farman and made it shoot down. 25
Observer Lieutenant
Although they participated Battles of Çanakkale Fron- Orhan.
tal for a short time, Fokker Staffel airplanes played great
parts in the subsequent battles. In Gallipoli Frontal, Fokkers successfully managed
the missions of fighter interception. On the last days of battles merely six enemy
airplanes were shot down whereas we only had one. 26
Throughout the year, 1916, no personnel in air force at Ottoman army were killed
in Çanakkale. A Fokker airplane belonging to the 6th Flight Company (6th Fighter
Company made up of Fokker airplanes were deployed in Galata since January in
1916 and joined with 1st Company for a while) suffered damage. There wasn’t any
damage or loss at the airplanes belonging to 1st Flight Company. Four of maritime
aircrafts suffered damages owing to mechanical problems and emergency landing.
Compared to existing airplanes, guns and the number of personnel, the air force of
enemy outnumbered that of us. However, Turks had full sovereignty over Çanakkale
skies. While the remaining Allies units were leaving secretly at night in 10 January
1916, this was the picture of aviation in the peninsula including Çanakkale.

Conclusion

Although it is in limited numbers, aviation has played an important part in the
Battle’s of Çanakkale. The airplanes participating the operation each day were never
under sixty on Allies’ part whereas in Ottoman this number could scarcely be twenty.
Some of the airplanes were in maintenance, thus the number of airplanes used in
operations decreased. The operations were conducted under harsh circumstances due
to the heavy weather conditions for airplanes with small engines, lack of spare parts
and especially the existence of long supply roads for Germans and Turks. Moreover,
qualified personnel were needed much.

25
Schneide, pp. 99-100.
26
Whistler, The Defense of The Bosphorus and The Fokker Staffel, Over The Front, Vol. (3), USA,
1999, p. 259.