The harrowing report of a pilot of the First World War of the bloody first day of the Battle of the Somme has come for 109 years with dozens of unseen photos.
Lieutenant Edward Packke flew on July 1, 1916 about the battlefield of the Western front in a double BE2C Biplane.
He described the 'terrible sight' of dozens of British soldiers 'who are in line, dead or injured'.
So many Tommies were mechanically donated by crossing no man's land that he only saw a handful of 'troops that reached the German trenches.
Lieutenant Packke was shot in the buttocks during the flight by a German hunter at 2,000 ft about Beaumont Hamel, but returned to the base.
He reported back to his superiors of the disastrous situation that unfolded on the battlefield, but they 'unbelieving' his assessment.
Tragically enough, the worst fears of Lieutenant Packke were realized because more than 19,000 men were killed on the bloodiest day in British military history.
His account was published in new book The Airman's War, by historian Matthew Richardson.
Lieutenant Edward Packke flew on July 1, 1916 about the battlefield of the Western front in a double BE2C Biplane
An X-ray with the bullet in Lieutenant Edward Packke buttocks
The book also contains dozens of unseen photos.
Among them are photos of fearless pilots on both sides and some of their notoriously unreliable aircraft.
The brave ranks include the Night Hawks of No 44 Training Depot Station and Corporal Bill Sainsbury, from No 48 Squadron, which survived near Villers Bretoneux in May 1918.
Other images show curious German soldiers who inspect a shot-down Bristol hunter in Ocober 1917, and the German Aas Paul Baumer who claimed that 43 confirmed murders.
Lieutenant Packke, from No. 15 Squadron, was taken to the hospital to treat his bullet wound.
He had to spend one night on a stretch on a floor because it flooded from victims.
He later wrote: 'We were over the lines at noon 7.30 am.
“It was a terrible sight to see our men lying in rows opposite Beaumont Hamel, death or injured.
Bristol Fighter A7231 was shot by Jasta 5 and landed intact behind enemy lines on October 17, 1917
German flying Aas Oswald Boelcke Klimmt from his breeder Endecker after his return of a sortie to the front of Somme, 1916 a few months before his death
'Only in two places did I see one of our troops reaching the German trenches, and only a handful of each.
'I got a bullet in my buttock while we were 2,000 ft over Beaumont Hamel, the bullet that had first gone through our gas tank, there was no future in it, so we came back.
'I went to the squadron office and indicated an oral report (commander) who did not believe me at the time. (Events then proved me right). I walked to my cabin in the forest and the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps).
“The hospital quickly filled up with overflow and I spent an unpleasant night on a stretcher on the floor.”
Lieutenant Packe's account was supported by that of another observer, Captain t Stallibrass, from No 3 Squadron, who flew over the Albert-Bapaume Road.
Captain Stallibrass then wrote in his logbook: 'At 7.30 am the artillery stopped on their front line and our infantry came from the trenches.
“They could be clearly seen about 'No Man's Land', and fall under heavy machine gun fire.”
It is estimated that 125,000 British soldiers were killed during the Battle of the Somme, which ran from July to November 1916 and ended in stalemate.
The grave of Captain Robert Pike van No 5 Squadron RFC, buried by German troops in August 1915
Paul Baumer, a German bait with 43 confirmed murders, nicknamed 'The Iron Eagle' received the Pour Le Merite, the greatest honor of Germany
Air Mechanic 1st Class Harry Holyoake, a motorcycle carrier in number 3 Army Aircraft Park was a driver of Leeds in the Burgerleven
Private 2nd class Thomas Arthur Hetherington hired in the RAF in August 1918 and was placed at 212 Training Depot Station, Vendome, France
Sergeant mechanic Ronald C.Chapman Raf, ex-RNAs, had served with HMS Queen since 1916 at Waterplalhis on Malta. He continued to do this in the summer of 1918, which was promoted to observer in July. He received the distinguished flying medal
Lieutenant William Norman Hamilton, left, in Bad Colberg Prisoner of War Camp. He was shot on April 29, 1917
Leading mechanic Thomas Weatherald Rnas was a plane rigger and served with Naval 11 Squadron in France from February 1918
Corporal Bill Sainsbury of No 48 Squadron Raf was shot near Villers Bretoneux in May 1918
Air Mechanic 2nd class Frank A.Hadlow was an air shooter on board an FE2B, serial number 4954, of No. 11 Squadron RFC
Air Mechanic 2nd class James T. Caiger, from Manchester, was a motorcycle fitter before the war
Mr. Richardson first heard of Lieutenant Packe's report when he spoke with his son -in -law – who had served in World War II 30 years ago.
The historian, who lives on the island of Man, said: 'In the construction of the battle for the Somme, the troops were repeatedly told that the bombing would destroy all opposition in advance and they could simply walk over no man's land.
'Only a few lonely voices pointed that in many areas the German barbed wire was not cut and there were not enough heavy guns to destroy the deep German dugouts.
'The preparations, however, continued according to a rigid timetable (partly because of the political pressure of the French, who wanted the British offensive to be launched as quickly as possible to purchase pressure at Verdun).
'In these circumstances it is not surprising that the Packke report about what happened was initially not loaded.
'In that phase, however, there was little that could be done anyway, because the first waves had already crossed the top.
'It is certainly rare – on that day there are very few comparable accounts from an air observer.
“His report clearly shows how aggressively the Germans were and how their morality was unbroken by the provisional bombing, while they tried to shoot him out of the ground.”
The night hazks. The location is probably not a 44 training depot station, Oxford, in 1918
A RAF concert party C1918. The image plays with dozens of others in the new book The Air War
The grave of Captain Robert Pike van No 5 Squadron RFC, buried by German troops in August 1915
Occasionally there were times of respite, while another photo records a RAF concert party at the end of the war with participants of chic clothing.
Mr. Richardson added: 'In 1914 there was no precedent for a war in the air.
“These men were pioneers, who completely re -developed the doctrines and tactics of air fights, while they went on.”
The Airman's War, by Matthew Richardson, costs £ 22 and is published by Pen & Sword.
Battle of the Somme: one of the deadliest battles in history
Sustainable 141 days, the Battle of the Somme was the bloodiest battle of the First World War.
The British suffered 420,000 victims, including 125,000 dead, during intense fights. Another 200,000 French troops and 500,000 Germans were killed or injured in action.
It is estimated that 24,000 Canadian and 23,000 Australian soldiers also fell in the fight of four months.
A British soldier keeps watch over the land of no one while his comrades sleep during the Battle of the Somme in 1916
The British and French joined forces to fight the Germans on a 15 -mile front front, with more than a million people killed or injured on both sides.
The battle began on July 1, 1916 and lasted until November 19, 1916. The British managed to develop seven miles, but failed to break in the German defense.
On the first day alone, 19,240 British soldiers were killed after 'going over the top' and more than 38,000 were injured.
But on the last day of the battle, the 51st Highland division Beaumont Hamel brought along and captured 7,000 German prisoners.
The plan was for a 'big push' to relieve the French troops, which were besieged further south at Verdun, and breaking through German lines.
Although it reduced the pressure of Verdun, it could not give a breakthrough and the war dragged on for another two years.
