Angels Of Armageddon: The Royal Air Force In The Battle Of Megiddo [Illustrated Edition]

By Major Gary J. Morea

Includes World War One In The Desert Illustration Pack- 115 photos/illustrations and 19 maps spanning the Desert campaigns 1914-1918
Egypt and Palestine offered the British an opportunity to fight a war of movement. Unlike the Western Front, Egypt and Palestine were undeveloped with wide expanses of land. It was ripe for the development of maneuver warfare using the mechanical products of the industrial age: motor cars, machine guns, tanks and aeroplanes. In particular, the use of aeroplanes proved vital to the successful British defense of the Suez Canal by providing reconnaissance of enemy formations and early warnings of attack. This role of the Royal Flying Corps expanded in this theater to cover the breadth and depth of British efforts at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. The strategic success of the Royal Air Force in wrestling air superiority from the Germans was the key that allowed the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) to prepare and conduct its campaign against the central powers across the plains surrounding Megiddo. It provided the EEF intelligence of enemy positions, freedom to maneuver forces undetected, and the depth to attack and rout the retreating Turkish forces to the point of annihilation. The evolution of local air superiority in Palestine, properly coordinated with the ground offensive, was the deciding factor for victory in that theater.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Verdun Press
• Release date: Aug 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781782894414

Major Gary J. Morea

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Text originally published in 2007 under the same title.

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Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

ANGELS OF ARMAGEDDON: THE ROYAL AIR FORCE IN THE BATTLE OF MEGIDDO

by

GARY J. MOREA, MAJ, USA

ABSTRACT

ANGELS OF ARMAGEDDON: THE ROYAL AIR FORCE IN THE BATTLE OF MEGIDDO, by Gary J. Morea.

Egypt and Palestine offered the British an opportunity to fight a war of movement. Unlike the Western Front, Egypt and Palestine were undeveloped with wide expanses of land. It was ripe for the development of maneuver warfare using the mechanical products of the industrial age: motor cars, machine guns, tanks and aeroplanes. In particular, the use of aeroplanes proved vital to the successful British defense of the Suez Canal by providing reconnaissance of enemy formations and early warnings of attack. This role of the Royal Flying Corps expanded in this theater to cover the breadth and depth of British efforts at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.

The strategic success of the Royal Air Force in wrestling air superiority from the Germans was the key that allowed the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) to prepare and conduct its campaign against the central powers across the plains surrounding Megiddo. It provided the EEF intelligence of enemy positions, freedom to maneuver forces undetected, and the depth to attack and rout the retreating Turkish forces to the point of annihilation. The evolution of local air superiority in Palestine, properly coordinated with the ground offensive, was the deciding factor for victory in that theater.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

ABSTRACT 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 6

ACRONYMS 7

ILLUSTRATIONS 8

TABLE 9

CHAPTER 1 — INTRODUCTION 10

Allenby Enters Jerusalem, 1917 10

Significance of Megiddo 10

Translation of the Name 10

Geography of Megiddo 11

Pharaoh Thutmose III 12

Importance of Airpower 14

Reconnaissance 15

Air-Ground Integration 17

Artillery spotting 17

Bombing 19

Ground Attack 20

Deny Enemy Air Capabilities 20

Overall Effect 22

The Road To War In Palestine 22

CHAPTER 2 — PHASE I: AUGUST 1914 TO FEBRUARY 1916 24

Leadership 24

Commander-in-Chief Egypt, Lieutenant-General Sir John Maxwell 24

Initial Flight Commander, Captain S. D. Massey 25

Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. H. Salmond 26

Equipment 28

British 28

German 28

Training and Tactics 29

Organization and Operations 30

Summary 33

CHAPTER 3 — PHASE II: MARCH 1916 TO APRIL 1917 35

Leadership 35

Commander, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Murray 35

Commander, Middle East Brigade, RFC, Brigadier General Geoffrey Salmond 37

Equipment 37

British Aeroplanes 37

German Aeroplanes 37

Training and Tactics 38

The Training Brigade in Egypt 38

Organization and Operations 39

Australian Flying Corps arrives in Egypt 39

Defense of Suez in August 1916: the Battle of Romani 41

Advance into Palestine 42

Cavalry Raid on Bir El Mazar 42

1st Battle of Gaza 43

2nd Battle of Gaza 44

Summary 45

CHAPTER 4 — PHASE III: APRIL 1917 TO NOVEMBER 1918 47

Leadership 47

Commander, Egyptian Expeditionary Force General Sir Edmund H. H. Allenby 47

Equipment 50

British 50

German 50

Training and Tactics 50

The Gosport School 50

The Formation of the Training Group in Egypt 52

Organization and Operations 53

Bloody April 1917. 53

Reorganization of EEF 53

Capture of Beersheba 53

Capture of Gaza 56

Capture of Jerusalem 57

Summary 58

CHAPTER 5 — THE BATTLE OF MEGIDDO 59

Airpower Before the Battle 59

Airpower During the Battle 64

Airpower in Pursuit 67

CHAPTER 6 — THE LEGACY OF MEGIDDO 70

APPENDIX A — HISTORIC MEGIDDO 77

Solomon 77

Pharaoh Necho II 77

Saladin 82

Mamluke Sultan Qutuz 83

APPENDIX B — EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT 85

Phase I: August 1914 to February 1916 85

British Aircraft 85

Maurice and Henri Farmans (Maurice Farman S.11 Shoehorn) 85

French Nieuports (80 hp) 86

B.E. 2 (Bleroit Experimental version 2) 86

German Aircraft 87

Rumpler C-I 87

Fokker E I 88

Phase II: March 1916 April 1917 89

Machine Guns 89

Lewis Gun 89

Parabellum gun 89

Vickers Gun 90

Hotchkiss 90

Spandau 90

British Aeroplanes 91

DeHaviland DH2 91

Bristol F2 91

Martinsydes 92

German Aeroplanes 92

Halberstadt Fighters 93

Fokker E III 93

Phase III: April 1917 to November 1918 95

British Aircraft 95

Handley Page Bomber O/400 95

Sopwith Camels 96

R.E.8 96

S.E.5a 97

Vickers Bullets 97

German Aircraft 98

Halberstadts D.II 98

Albatross D III 98

APPENDIX C 99

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 100

GLOSSARY 101

WORLD WAR ONE IN THE DESERT ILLUSTRATION PACK 102

ILLUSTRATIONS 102

MAPS 192

AEROPLANES OF THE DESERT WAR 213

Phase I: August 1914 to February 1916 213

British Aircraft 213

German Aircraft 215

Phase II: March 1916 April 1917 217

Machine Guns 217

British Aeroplanes 219

German Aeroplanes 220

Phase III: April 1917 to November 1918 223

British Aircraft 223

German Aircraft 225

SOURCES 227

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My first extension of gratitude goes out to my Committee members: Mr. Bradbeer, Mr. Faulkner and Dr. Bourque whose guidance, mentoring and patience provided me focus and clarity throughout the year. I also want to thank the staff of the Combined Arms Research Library for maintaining such a rich source of material as well as a friendly and accommodating climate. To Ms. Helen Davis, for saving me hours of agonizing formatting corrections. You are an institution unto yourself. Finally, I want to thank my bride, Michelle, for your patience, understanding and encouragement over the past year. I could not have done this without you.

ACRONYMS

ANA—Arab Northern Army

CIGS—Chief of the Imperial General Staff

CTC—Camel Transport Corps

DMC—Desert Mounted Corps

EEF—Egyptian Expeditionary Force

ELC—Egyptian Labor Corps

GOC—General Officer Commanding

LOCs—Lines of Communications

RAF—Royal Air Force

RFC—Royal Flying Corps

RNAS—Royal Naval Air Service

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1. The Jezreel Valley, Megiddo, and the Via Maris

Figure 2. Map of the Battle of Megiddo 1457 B.C.

Figure 3. Map of EEF Area of Operations, 1914-1918

Figure 4. Aircraft at Ismailia prepared for Reconnaissance Work

Figure 5. Aerial View of Ismailia and Lake Timsah from a Farman Aircraft

Figure 6. Map of the Eastern Desert from Cairo to Gaza

Figure 7. The Gaza-Beersheba Line

Figure 8. Map of Megiddo, 1918

Figure 9. Photo of Maurice Farman Aeroplane

Figure 10. Photo of Henry Farman Aircraft

Figure 11. Photo of Nieuport 4G with Float Gear

Figure 12. Photo of B.E.2a Aircraft

Figure 13. Photo of Rumpler C-I German Aircraft

Figure 14. Sketch of Fokker E-I Monoplane

Figure 15. Sketch of Lewis Gun (Aerial Version)

Figure 16. Sketch of German Parabellum Gun (Aerial Version)

Figure 17. Sketch of Vickers Machine Gun

Figure 18. Sketch of Hotchkiss Machine Gun

Figure 19. Sketch of German Spandau Machine Gun

Figure 20. Sketch of DH 2 Aeroplane

Figure 21. Sketch of Bristol F2 Fighter

Figure 22. Sketch of Martinsyde Bomber

Figure 23. Photo of Halberstadt Fighter

Figure 24. Photo of Eindecker E-III Monoplane

Figure 25. Sketch of British Handley Page Bomber

Figure 26. Sketch of Sopwith Camel Fighter

Figure 27. Sketch of R.E.8 Reconnaissance Aeroplane

Figure 28. Sketch of S.E.5 Reconnaissance Aeroplane

Figure 29. Sketch of Vickers Bullet Fighter

Figure 30. Sketch of German Halberstadt Fighter

Figure 31. Sketch of German Albatross D-III Fighter

TABLE

Table 1. WWI AIRCRAFT IN MIDDLE EAST COMPARISON TABLE

CHAPTER 1 — INTRODUCTION

Allenby Enters Jerusalem, 1917

By the end of 1917, the Allies were facing a dark period. The Italian offensive was reversed at Caporetto; the communist revolution caused the Russians to abandon the war; Romania withdrew; and the Germans launched a successful counteroffensive at Cambrai.{1} Yet in a separate corner of the world, there was another front of the Great War that was raging. The area was Palestine and a triumphant leader was driving the allies from victory to victory against the Turko-German forces defending there. His name was Sir Edmund Allenby and his force was the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF).

In stark contrast to the gloom enshrouding the allies in Europe, Sir Edmund Allenby walked through the Jaffa gate into the historic city of Jerusalem on 11 December 1917. The capture of Jerusalem was a definitive point for the Palestinian front as it represented an important operational victory for Allenby and placed his forces at the doorstep of the Turko-German Force Headquarters. The victory also had a heartening effect on the morale of the Allies.

Egypt and Palestine offered the British an opportunity to fight a war of movement. Unlike the Western Front, Egypt and Palestine were undeveloped with wide expanses of land and low density of people and material. It was ripe for maneuver warfare using the mechanical products of the industrial age: motor cars, machine guns, tanks and aeroplanes. In particular, it was the use of aeroplanes that proved vital to the successful British defense of the Suez Canal by providing reconnaissance of enemy formations and early warnings of attack. This role of the Royal Flying Corps expanded in this theater to cover the breadth and depth of British efforts at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of war.

Thesis: The actions of the Royal Air Force at the Battle of Megiddo were the culmination of three phases of development. Driven by capable leadership, and fueled by an ever-evolving aircraft manufacturing industry, the RAF quickly evolved as a learning organization able to capitalize on the emerging third dimension of warfare. What the RAF achieved at Megiddo was a systematic dominance of battlespace which contributed directly to the victory of Allied Forces in the Palestinian theater.

Significance of Megiddo

Translation of the Name

The name Armageddon connotes biblical references to the end of the world but it is also a location on the globe. The name Harmageddon or Armageddon derives from the Hebrew Har, meaning tell or hill, and Mageddon, referring to the ancient city of Megiddo. Therefore the name quite literally refers to the ruins of the ancient city of Megiddo-a city with a history of military significance. This significance was not lost on the forces arrayed in Palestine in September 1918. In fact, General Allenby’s decisive Palestine campaign so closely resembled the strategy used by the Pharaoh Thutmose in 1457 B.C. that many historians debate whether Allenby was in fact replicating the ancient strategy. According to author and archaeologist Eric H. Cline, Allenby was aware of the history if Megiddo and of the campaign waged by the Pharaoh Thutmose III. Furthermore, according to Cline, Allenby was offered the honor to add of Armageddon to his title, but refused believing it to be too sensational. Instead, he accepted the more benign title: Allenby of Megiddo, thereby demonstrating his understanding of Megiddo’s significance.

Geography of Megiddo

Megiddo sat upon key terrain in the ancient world. It is located at the mouth of the Musmuss Pass, half-way between the great cities of Nablus and Haifa, and twelve miles Southwest of Nazareth. It sits at the entrance to the vast Plain of Esdraelon (the Greek translation of Jezreel) and has a vantage of the pass and the plain all the way to Haifa some fifteen miles to the Northwest.{2} Most significant, though, is that Megiddo sat astride a great road intersection, connecting the coastal road from Egypt to Damascus and Mesopotamia. This road, known as the Via Maris (way of the sea), was one of the most important communication and trade routes of the ancient world{3} (see figure 1).

There were many famous and infamous historic figures associated with Megiddo: Solomon, Pharaoh Necho II, Saladin, and the Mamluke Sultan Qutuz (see appendix A). Yet of the many battles that were recorded to have been fought in the vicinity of Megiddo, there was one that bears the most significance to the actions of Allenby and the Egyptian Expeditionary Force of the First World War-Pharaoh Thutmose III. It was the details of this battle which bore the controversy over Allenby’s decisions during his Palestine Campaign. Was he conscious of Thutmose III’s victory at Megiddo and did he try to recreate it?