From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1917:

Events

January

• January 27 - French air-raid on Freiburg

February

• No. 100 Squadron RFC, the first British night fighter squadron is formed.

April

• Known as Bloody April. The Royal Flying Corps, while supporting the Arras offensive, loses 245 aircraft—140 in the first two weeks—out of an initial strength of 365. Aircrew casualties are 211 killed or missing and 108 prisoners of war.
• April 6 - the United States declares war on Germany

May

• May 7 - British ace Major Edward Mannock claims his first kill.
• May 7 - British ace Captain Albert Ball (44 victories) is killed in a crash following a dogfight with Lothar von Richthofen, who also crashes but survives.
• May 9 - French ace René Fonck shoots down six German aircraft in a day.
• May 19 - United States "star in a circle" national insignia adopted
• May 20 - German submarine U-36 is sunk by an RNAS flying boat
• May 25 - a mass air-raid by 21 Gotha G.V bombers attacks Kent.

June

• June 13 - 14 Gotha bombers make the most destructive air-raid on London of the war. Attacking in daylight, 162 people are killed and 432 wounded.

August

• August 2 - A Sopwith Pup flown by Sqn Cdr Edwin Dunning becomes the first aircraft to land aboard a moving ship, HMS Furious.
• August 7 - Dunning is killed on his third landing when the Pup falls over the side of the ship.

September

• September 3 - The US 1st Aero Squadron arrives in France
• September 11 - French ace Capitaine Georges Guynemer goes missing in action. Kurt Wisserman of Jasta 3 is credited with shooting him down, but his body is never found.
• September 26 - for the second time, French ace René Fonck shoots down six German aircraft in a day.

November

• November 20 - the Battle of Cambrai (1917) begins
• November 21-24 - the Zeppelin L 59 (LZ104) makes a 6,757 km journey through Africa in 96 hours (average speed 71 km/h).

First flights

January

• Sopwith Camel flown by Harry Hawker
• 5 January - Sage Type 3

February

• Junkers J.4

April

• April 4 - SPAD S.XIII

June

• Sopwith Cuckoo^[1]
• June 22 - Port Victoria P.V.7

July

• July 5 - Fairey N.9

September

• September 7 - Port Victoria P.V.8
• September 14 - Fairey III^[2]

October

• October 15 - Alcock Scout

November

• November 30 - Vickers Vimy,^[3]

Entered service

January

• Airco DH.4 with No. 55 Squadron RFC^[4]

February

• Sopwith Triplane with No.1 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service^[5]

March

• Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 with No. 56 Squadron RFC.^[6]

April

• Bristol F.2A with No. 48 Squadron RFC

June

• Sopwith Camel

References

• Bruce, J.M. "The S.E.5: Historic Military Aircraft No. 5". Flight, 17 July 1953. Pages 85–89, 93.
• Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber Since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.
• Robertson, Bruce. Sopwith – The Man and His Aircraft. London: Harleyford, 1970. ISBN 0-90043-515-1.
• Taylor, H.A. Fairey Aircraft since 1915. London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-370-00065-x.
• Thetford, Owen. British Naval Aircraft Since 1912. London: Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.