Bombing of Constantinople in World War I

History

In some of the strategic bombing raids in Istanbul, civilians were also killed or wounded, with damage to their properties. The British aircraft were deployed to positions in the aerial hinterland of Istanbul and the Turkish Straits, namely to the North Aegean Islands belonging to Greece, in particular Lemnos, Thasos and Imbros (the latter was a part of the Kingdom of Greece from 1913 to 1923, when it was ceded to Turkey), from where they would perform combat and bombing missions. Thus, the Minister of War, Enver Pasha, sent a threatening note to the United Kingdom for protesting the air strikes and civilian casualties.

The bombings led to the extension of an electric power line to the headquarters of the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons in Yeşilköy to speed up communication; to the transfer of more experienced pilots to the aviation squadrons; to the establishment of the İstanbul Muharebat-ı Havaiyye Komutanlığı (Istanbul Command of Air Defense); and to the acknowledgment by the Ottoman government that the danger was much greater than previously thought.

The government took measures to protect the civilian population from the bombing raids, but in many cases it failed; this led to increased government censorship of news reports about the casualties and public resentment. An effective reconnaissance network was created, which applied the following principle: whenever enemy aircraft approached, a blackout would darken the city, while the light of the projectors would track them for assisting anti-aircraft fire. The Ottoman 9th Aviation Squadron took responsibility for chasing and engaging enemy aircraft. This contributed to minimal damage to the city during July–August 1918. On 13 August 1918 the Ottoman government announced new directives aimed at the active protection of the population. Citizens were obliged to be more careful and to beware of espionage activities. The commission Tetkik-i Hasarat Komisyonu was created to help the civilians and restore their damaged property. According to British reports, while Istanbul was vulnerable to air strikes, the British were not able to create the "atmosphere of fear and panic" that they expected among the public.

During the war, the Ottoman cities of Trabzon, İzmir and Giresun were also bombarded.