Mesopotamian Half Flight

The Mesopotamian Half-Flight, or Australian Half-Flight was the first Australian Flying Corps (AFC) unit to see active service.

At the start of World War I, the air power of the Allied forces was extremely limited. Most of the available aircraft and pilots were assigned to the Western Front. This meant that the Indian Army, which was assigned the task of attacking the Ottoman Empire's Turkish and Arab forces in Mesopotamia (later known as Iraq) had no air support (see also: Mesopotamian campaign).

On February 8, 1915, the Australian government received a request for air assistance from the Viceroy of India. The AFC was still in its infancy and could provide enough aircrews and ground staff for only half a flight: the unit therefore became known as the Mesopotamian Half-Flight, or Australian Half-Flight and Captain Henry Petre was appointed commander. The Australians were to be augmented by personnel from the Indian Army and New Zealand. The AFC contingent sailed for Bombay, and on April 20 it left for Basra.

The half-flight's aircraft were to be provided by the Indian Government, and on its arrival in Basra on May 26, two Maurice Farman Shorthorns and a Maurice Farman Longhorn were handed over. These three biplanes were of a "pusher" design, so-called because the propeller faced backwards, behind the cockpit. The planes were already obsolete and were not suitable for the desert conditions. To start with, their top speed was only 50 mph (80 km/h), while the desert wind (known as the shamal) often reached 80 mph (129 km/h). Secondly, the warmer desert air reduced the aircraft lift capability, rendering them unable to take off on occasions. The Longhorn was a second-hand aircraft and had persistent mechanical problems, meaning that it spent a lot of time being repaired.

After arrival, the airplanes were immediately put to use on reconnaissance missions. Shortly afterwards, the Indian Army captured the town of Amara, and the half-flight moved there on June 9.

On July 4, the half-flight's equipment was augmented with two Caudron G3 aircraft, which were still not up-to-date, but generally preferred to the Farmans. On July 30, one of the Caudrons was forced to land in enemy territory due to mechanical problems. It was later reported that the crew — Lieutenants G. P. Merz and W. W. A. Burn (a New Zealander) — were killed by armed civilians after a running gun-battle over several miles. They were Australia's first air-war casualties.

On August 24, the half-flight was attached to No. 30 Squadron Royal Flying Corps, which was operating four Martinsyde S1s. Three Maurice Farman seaplanes were added to the squadron in September. Because the Tigris river was too shallow for the sea-planes to use at that time of year, the seaplanes were converted into Shorthorns.

On September 27, Kut was captured and 30 Squadron was moved there. In October, four BE2c aircraft arrived, and 30 Squadron was divided into two flights, with the Australian half-flight incorporated into B Flight. However the Australian personnel suffered an increasing number of misadventures with at least two crews being taken prisoner, either after being shot down or suffering engine failure.

The Indian Army soon met with stiff opposition outside Baghdad, and were forced back to Kut on December 4, where the city was besieged (see also: Siege of Kut). Ottoman forces eventually broke through and nine Australian ground staff from the half-flight became prisoners of war. Like the rest of the Allied POWs, AFC personnel taken prisoner in Mesopotamia endured a punishing forced march to Turkey proper and only four of them survived captivity.

Petre, the last remaining Australian airman in Mesopotamia, left No. 30 Squadron and flew the only remaining Shorthorn to Egypt on December 7, where he and it were eventually incorporated into 1 Squadron AFC.