Istanbul was an attractive target for the aircrafts of Allied forces, not only because it hosted the Ottoman High Command, but also because it had several important military, industrial, commercial and social targets. Being aware of the threat posed by enemy aircrafts, the High Command issued a series of measures in March 1916, including the protection of the city with anti-aircraft guns, establishment of an early warning system and civil defense measures. The first air raid on Istanbul came on 12 April 1916, when two British aircrafts departing from Imbros dropped a total of 11 firebombs on the munitions plant in Zeytinburnu and on the aircraft hangars in Yeşilköy, as well as propaganda leaflets on the city itself. It was a small squadron, with limited armament capacity and apparently its aim was not inflict damage on the city, but to give the message that Istanbul was not untouchable.1

Istanbul was vulnerable. After this initial raid, the Turkish High Command became aware of the danger and issued a second series of measures for the defense of the city. This decree stated that the air raids are likely to come from the Black Sea or the Aegean Sea and implied the following: (i) Since enemy planes can take off not only from Aegean islands but also from battleships, Saros and Edremit bays will be closely monitored for approaching enemy vessels; (ii) Aircraft watch posts connected to Turkish air units through phone or telegram lines will be positioned on possible routes of enemy aircrafts; (iii) Anti-aircraft batteries will be positioned in Kağıthane, Zeytinburnu, Yeşlköy, Okmeydanı, Osmaniye, Sarayburnu, İstinye, Tophane, Başıbüyük and Baruthane;2 (iv) All city lights are to be blackened out during air raids.

These measures proved to be effective against enemy attacks in the following months. However, the air raids also showed that civilians were to a great extent left uniformed about what to do.3

It was in early 1917, when the threat against Istanbul began to be more apparent. As of March that year, vessels of the Russian fleet were positioned close to the northern entrance of Bosphorus. On 26 March, three aircrafts taking off from the Russian ships got engaged in a dogfight with Turkish aircrafts and one of them was shot down. A similar raid was launched again on 4 April and Russian aircrafts bombed the entrance of the Bosphorus and the village of Kilyos before they were engaged by Turkish aircrafts.

On 7 July 1918, five enemy aircrafts dropped bombs on the munitions factory in Zeytinburnu, on the train station in Haydarpaşa as well as the Golden Horn, Selimiye and Davutpaşa Barracks and the Gülhane Gardens. Air raids were a novelty for the inhabitants of Istanbul and instead of going to bunkers, people were going out to the streets to watch the spectacle.6

Consecutive raids on July and August 1918 did not cause much damage in the city either. Meanwhile, the Turks was getting more experienced in air defense. A more effective intelligence network established, which allowed them to be informed about coming enemy planes as early as possible. As the enemy planes approached, the whole city was blackened out and the aircrafts were spotted using projector lights, after which came heavy artillery fire. In addition to the artillery, the Turkish 9th Aircraft Squadron was responsible for chasing and engaging the enemy.

This greater efficiency in air defense bore its fruits during the attack on the night of 27 August 1918, when British aircrafts failed to get close to their objectives and one of them was shot down with the artillery fire and the wounded British pilot was taken prisoner. During that raid, four bombs fell on the front yard of the Ministry of Navy.

The end of the war was nearing, and the Allies had begun to increase the pressure on the capital of the Ottoman Empire. On 13 August, Istanbul Police issued another series of measures to protect the civilian populaiton. People were asked to be especially careful against spies in the city leaking information on strategic targets.

Allied forces launched two raids on 20 and 21 September 1918, with aircrafts taking off from the base on the island of Imbros, in order to break the spirit of the people of Istanbul. During the first wave, the aircrafts did not drop bombs, but the second wave was heavier. One of the aircrafts was shot down by Turkish artillery over Çanakkale, but the rest of the squadron made it to Istanbul. Another aircraft was hit there and had to land on the sea near Kartal, with two British airmen taken prisoner.

The largest air raid on Istanbul came on 18 October 1918. During the first wave in the morning seven enemy aircrafts menaced the city for twenty minutes, dropping their bombs on the most crowded streets. The second wave came in the afternoon, this time with five aircrafts. 70 civilians were killed during these attacks and 200 wounded. Sultan Vahdettin himself had to seek shelter in a mosque since he was caught by the attacks as he was going to the mosque for the Friday prayer.

On 25 October 1918, Istanbul saw the last air attack before the armistice. As information arrived about six British aircrafts approaching the city from the direction of Çanakkale, four aircrafts of the Turkish 9th Squadron took of under the command of Captian Fazıl Bey. The other planes were flown by Lieutenant Vecihi Bey, Austrian pilot Max Souchin and a German pilot. Soon after they had taken off, the German and Austrian pilots fell behind and left the group. After 1.5 hours of searching for the enemy, Vecihi Bey’s plane ran out of fuel and had to return to the base. Captain Fazıl Bey was now left alone. Although he received several bullet wounds he managed to shoot a British observer and return safely to Yeşilköy.

A few days after this incident, the Ottoman Empire was to sign the armistice and Istanbul was soon to be under occupation of the Allied forces.

Notes:
1. Altun, M., 2002. İstanbul Semalarında Düşman Uçakları, in Toplumsal Tarih (108), pp.26-31.
2. Turkish Chief of Staff, 1969. Birinci Dünya Harbinde Türk Hava Harekatı (Official History).
3. Altun, p.26.
4. Selçuk, M., 2005. Hedef Şehir İstanbul: Çanakkale Geçildi mi?, Istanbul: Emre Yayınları, p.139.
5. Altun, p.28.
6. Sabah newspaper, 8 July 1918, quoted by Altun, p.28.