British Air Forces 1914 - 1918, Images of War

[dinomartino1]

Morane-Saulnier BB two-seat reconnaissance biplane. Note the spare wheel under the port wing.

Sopwith Triplane single-seat fighting scout

Handley Page V/1500 night heavy bomber.

Sopwith Camel 2F.1 single-seat shipboard fighter aircraft. Early experiments with arrester gear. Note the airscrew protector.

Sopwith Snark Mk I single-seat fighter triplane.

General arrangement drawing of Bristol F.2B Fighter biplane - side view

De Havilland DH.10C, Amiens Mark III.C bomber biplane (Type NC). Serial number F8441.

Nieuport Triplane experimental single-seat fighter with a Le Rhone engine. Serial number: A6686.

Short S.184 (Type B) two seat bombing and torpedo carrying seaplane. Built by Mann, Egerton & Co Ltd.

Blériot XI Series 2 two-seat training monoplane.

 

[Bombing IP]

View attachment 22513

Blériot XI Series 2 two-seat training monoplane.
[/QUOTE]
How far we have come in a hundred years from this ,bicycle wheels linen dope and wood made up by carpenters .

BIP Jeff

 

[dinomartino1]

Blackburn Blackburd single-seat prototype torpedo bomber. Serial number N113.

Sopwith LRTTr triplane.

Workers installing engines in aeroplanes in one of the Wolseley factories, probably February 1918.

Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe single-seat experimental fighter biplane. This aircraft was the forerunner of the Dragon.

Aerial camera mounted for oblique photography in the nose of an FE2 aircraft.

Supermarine Nighthawk P.B.31E anti-Zeppelin fighter quadruplane.

Corner of instruction room No. 4 in the RFC training facility in Toronto. Officer running a class on attacking maneuvers aircraft can perform.

Sopwith single-seat fighting scout triplane

Cockpit of Sopwith Dolphin biplane with view of twin Vickers machine guns and Aldis sight.

 

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Sopwith F.1 Camel single seat fighter scout biplane. N7136.

Norman Thompson N.T.4a patrol flying boat biplane. Note the large gun mounted over the cockpit.

Information board with layout of a Bristol F.2B Fighter cockpit.

Williamson L Type camera (serial number L 708) externally mounted on the fuselage of an RAF BE2C aircraft.

Airco DH.10A heavy bomber biplane.

Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin single-seat fighting scout. Serial number: D5263.

Vickers F.B.26 A Vampire single-seat pusher biplane fighter. 230 h.p. Bentley B.R.2 engine. Serial number 148.

Airco DH.10 three-seat heavy bomber. This is the first DH.10 with Liberty engines. Serial number C8860.

Sopwith 2FR.2 Bulldog two-seat prototype fighter/reconnaissance biplane. The second machine with two-bay wings. Serial number X3.

Short Landplane Bomber two-seat long-range reconnaissance aircraft (serial number: 9340) and Port Victoria P.V.8 Eastchurch Kitten prototype fighter aircraft.

 

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Pair of aerial cameras on the Mackenzie stereo fitting mounted on a scarff ring.

Norman Thompson N.T.2B two seat trainer flying boat biplane.

Aircraft in various stages of construction in the erecting shop of the Standard Motor Company, Coventry.

Sopwith TF.2 Salamander single-seat ground attack biplane.

Westland Wagtail single-seat prototype fighter biplane.

 

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Major Andrew Edward McKeever, DSO, MC & Bar, Croix de Guerre.
Andrew Edward McKeever DSO, MC & Bar, DFC (21 August 1894 – 25 December 1919) was a Canadian World War I two-seater flying ace who, in conjunction with his gunners, was credited with 31 victories. He was the highest scoring pilot on Bristol F.2 Fighter.
McKeever joined the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, a militia unit, as a private. He remained with them until November, 1916, when he was accepted into the Royal Flying Corps. He sailed for England for training on 25 November 1916. He was commissioned a probationary lieutenant on 5 December.

Following training, he was assigned on 28 May 1917 to No. 11 Squadron, which was flying obsolete F.E.2s. They re-equipped shortly thereafter with Bristol F.2A fighters, sometimes referred to as the Brisfit. Among McKeever's tasks were photographic reconnaissance, with his observer wielding a hand-held camera and taking the photos. Although the Brisfit could do this job well, it was as fast as the Fokkers that opposed it, as well as maneuverable enough to be flown like a single-seater.

McKeever began his career as an ace by destroying a D.V on 26 June 1917 and sending down another out of control. On 7 July, he and Powell knocked down three more, with one destroyed and two falling uncontrollably out of the battle. McKeever would repeat this feat of triple victories on three more occasions, on 5 August, 23 September, and 31 October 1917.

On 3 October, when his score reached 20, Lieutenant McKeever was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross he had gained a month prior.

On 30 November 1917, while flying Brisfit A7288, he ended his career by attacking two German two-seaters protected by a flight of seven Albatros D.Vs. The D.Vs paid dearly for their protective role, as McKeever and Powell destroyed four of them, one of which burned. When Powell's gun failed, McKeever feigned being shot down and dived out the battle. He leveled off at only 25 feet altitude and, hidden from enemy planes by a shield of fog, hightailed for home. The remaining Germans broke off contact. This epic battle earned the Distinguished Service Order for Captain McKeever.

McKeever would score all 31 of his victories while flying the two-seater fighter, becoming one of the RFC/RAF's leading two-seater fighter pilot ace. All but two of those triumphs were over German Albatros D.V fighters. Seven different gunners/observers shared his victories. One of these, Lieutenant Leslie Powell, became an ace in his own right, with 19 successes, 18 of which were in tandem with McKeever.

Mckeever and his gunners's 31-claim tally consisted of 18 destroyed and 13 'out of control'.

Military cross
"2nd Lt Andrew Edward McKeever, R.F.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, particularly when on offensive patrol. He attacked eight enemy aircraft single-handed at close range, and by his splendid dash and determination destroyed one and drove five down completely out of control. He had previously shown exceptional fearlessness in attacking the enemy when in superior numbers, and in the space of three weeks he destroyed eight hostile machines, setting a very fine example to his squadron.
Bar to Military cross
"Lt. Andrew Edward McKeever, M.C., R.F.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial combats. He has recently destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and driven down six out of control. On one occasion he encountered five enemy scouts, and drove down two out of control. Later, while leading a patrol, he engaged nine enemy scouts. He destroyed two, drove down one out of control, and dispersed the remainder. His dash and determination have been a fine example to his squadron."
DSO
"2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) Andrew Edward McKeever, M.C., R.F.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on patrol by himself over the enemy's lines in very bad weather he encountered two enemy two-seater machines and seven scouts. By skilful maneuvering he engaged one and destroyed it. As he turned to get back to the lines five of the enemy dived on his tail and his observer engaged and destroyed two of them. After an indecisive combat with two others, he attacked and destroyed one of the enemy which had overshot him. He continued the fight with the remainder until he was within twenty feet of the ground, when the enemy machines climbed and left him. He has recently destroyed ten enemy machines and has shown great courage and initiative

PV4 two-seat fighter seaplane.

Vickers F.B.16a single seat fighting scout biplane

General arrangement drawing of Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe biplane - chassis, steel tube design.

Blackburn Twin Blackburn (TB) anti-Zeppelin seaplane. Serial number 1517.

 

[dinomartino1]

A wounded British airman being given a drink by a German officer in a German field dressing station.

De Havilland 10.A three seat day bomber. Serial number F1869.

Vickers F.B.24C two-seat fighter biplane.

Sopwith patrol seaplane biplane.

Vickers F.B.16a single seat fighting scout biplane.

HM Airship C.8 at Kingsnorth Airship Station.

Airco DH.5 single-seat fighter biplane. Serial number A9363.

Lieutenant Alan Jerrard VC as an officer of the 5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
Jerrard volunteered for the British Army and served with the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, where he trained as a fighter pilot.
From mid-1917, he served in No. 19 Squadron RFC in France, but he was injured in an air crash on 5 August 1917, flying a SPAD VII. From 22 February 1918, he served in No. 66 Squadron RFC in Italy, as a lieutenant, flying Sopwith Camels. Between 27 February and 21 March he scored four aerial victories, including one balloon.

Jerrard was awarded the VC for the following deed:

On 30 March 1918 near Mansuè, Italy, Lieutenant Jerrard, with two other officers, Peter Carpenter and Harold Ross Eycott-Martin, on offensive patrol, shot down one of five enemy aircraft. Then flying at 50 ft. he attacked an aerodrome with some 19 machines either landing or attempting to take off. After destroying one of these he was attacked by more enemy aircraft but, seeing a brother-officer in difficulties, went to assist him, destroying a third enemy machine, then continued his attacks, only retreating, with five machines in pursuit, on the orders of the patrol leader. Even then, he repeatedly turned to beat off the enemy until finally forced down.

After the war records revealed that the Camel's opponents were four Austrian Albatros D.III (Oef) fighters, one of which was damaged and had to land, while another pilot was injured by a bullet. Jerrard was shot down by the ace Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg from Flik 51/J, and became a prisoner of war. Although the RFC credited Jerrard with 3 claims on this date, Jerrard himself did not claim to destroy any planes in that skirmish, only that he claimed to shoot one up. He was the only Camel pilot to be awarded a VC.

Jerrard remained a prisoner until the end of 1918, when he managed to escape and reach Allied lines. He later served in Russia in 1919 and achieved the rank of flight lieutenant.

 

[PADDY_M]

As some know one of my interests is in the British air forces in WWI and so I thought I'd start a thread of images of the men, uniforms, flying kit and machines from the Great War. With regards to WWI my main interest is in the RFC, RAF and AFC but I invite anyone with images of the RNAS to add to the thread to build a small, but hopefully interesting and enjoyable, documentation of these men and their equipment from the first war.

I have a lot of images, especially of men from scout squadrons of the RFC and RAF on the Western Front but they will need to be scanned so this thread will no doubt be a constant work in progress.

But let's get the ball rolling...

Here's probably one of my favourite squadron portraits from any war, 2 Sqn, Australian Flying Corps at Savy, France on the 25th March 1918. Three pilots are wearing the very first generation Sidcot suits including 2 Sqn's leading ace Francis Ryan Smith (2nd from right in the front row). It's also a wonderful image as there's several chaps in the front row wearing Boots, Knee, Temporary 1914 pattern flying boots, the precursor and immediate ancestor to the iconic 1936 Pattern flying boot.

Always my favourite chum!

 

[ausreenactor]

Second to None..

 

[dinomartino1]

Bristol Braemar Mk. I heavy bomber triplane.

Mounting for Lewis gun on the rear cockpit of a R.E.8.

Sopwith 1½ Strutter two-seat general purpose biplane. Serial number A1924.

A German soldier guarding a shot down British Handley Page O/400 bomber, September 1918.

Camera gun on a De-Havilland DH.9 bomber aircraft.

War work at the Wolseley factories - installing engines in aeroplanes.

 

[dinomartino1]

Sopwith T1 Cuckoo, single-seat torpedo bomber. Serial number: N74

Short Shirl single seat torpedo bomber biplane.

Sopwith 8F.1 Snail single-seat prototype fighter biplane. Serial number C4288. Second version with monococque fuselage and positive stagger.

Sopwith 8F.1 Snail single-seat prototype fighter biplane. Serial number C4288. Second version with monococque fuselage and positive stagger.

Front view of Airco DH.5 single-seat fighter biplane. Serial number A9363.

Wireless Morse transmitter inside Curtis Jenny biplane at Camp Borden, Canada

Vickers F.B.26 A Vampire single-seat pusher biplane fighter. 230 h.p. Bentley B.R.2 engine. Serial number 148.

Lewis gun and its position in Airco DH-9 biplane.

Unidentified aircraft of the First World War.

War graves in the chateau park at Sailly-Saillisel, 8 November 1917.

 

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Short Type 827 two-seat reconnaissance floatplane. East Africa.

Vickers F.B.24E two-seat fighter aircraft. Powered with Hispano-Suiza engine.

De Havilland DH.10A, Amiens Mark III.A bomber biplane (Type N). Serial number F.8421.

Reproduction of Blue Print - Diagram of aircraft. Side elevation of D.H.4.

General arrangement drawing of Vickers F.B.9 biplane - side elevation.

Workers erecting aeroplanes at one of the Wolseley factories, probably February 1918.

RAF mechanics fixing a detonator to a bomb in position under an aeroplane in readiness for a night raid. Saint-Omer Aerodrome, 18 July 1918.

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 (early version) two-seat general purpose biplane of the No. 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Montrose. Scotland.
This aircraft was built at the Royal Aircraft Factory in June 1912 and was rebuilt with new wings in August 1912. In May 1913 it was on the strength of No. 2 Squadron RFC in Montrose. On the 27th May 1913 the upper wing collapsed in flight resulting in the aircraft crashing, killing the pilot, Lieutenant Desmond Arthur.

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c biplane of the RFC flying over the mill at Franvillers, 25 August 1916. Troops of the Royal Engineers with piled arms in the foreground.

 

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The Spandau machine guns from the wreckage of Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen's Fokker Triplane being examined by officers of No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps at Bertangles, 22nd April 1918.

Parnall N.2A two-seat reconnaissance biplane. Prototype for the Parnall Panther. Serial number N.91.

 

[dinomartino1]

Proccy
Andrew Frederick Weatherby (Anthony) Beauchamp-Proctor, VC, DSO, MC & Bar, DFC (4 September 1894 – 21 June 1921) was a South African airman and a recipient of the Victoria Crossthe enemy that can be awarded to British and He was South Africa's leading ace of the First World War, being credited with 54 aerial victories.

He was born on 4 September 1894 in Mossel Bay, South Africa, and was studying engineering at the University of Cape Town when war broke out. He joined the Union of South Africa Army – the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles and took part in the German South West Africa campaign, before being demobilised in August 1915 with an honorable discharge. He promptly went to work with the South African Field Telegraph and re-enrolled in university. He managed to complete his third year of college before re-enlisting again, this time with the Royal Flying Corps (he was one of “The Thousand” – the first South Africans to go to England for combat service on the Western Front).
He was accepted as an Air Mechanic Third Class. From there, he passed on to pilot training at the School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford in England, where he was also commissioned. He managed to learn to fly despite his wiry stature of five feet two inches. His aircraft was altered to accommodate him; his seat was raised so he could have a better view from the cockpit and so he could reach controls. Blocks of wood were also fastened on his rudder bar so he could reach it.

He was not particularly esteemed as a flier, but was a deadly shot.
Beauchamp-Proctor's piloting skills can be judged by the fact he had three landing accidents before he ever shot down an enemy plane. He continued to fly the SE5 with the aforementioned modifications to the aircraft's seat and controls, something his Philadelphia-born American squadron mate, Joseph "Child Yank" Boudwin, who stood only two inches taller and who would himself eventually be posted to the USAAS's 25th Aero Squadron just days before the Armistice, also had to use. The alterations to relatively primitive controls could have contributed to Beauchamp-Proctor's poor airmanship.

On 8 October, he was hit by ground fire and wounded in the arm, ending his front line service.

Beauchamp-Proctor's victory total was 54; two (and one shared) captured enemy aircraft, 13 (and three shared) balloons destroyed, 15 (and one shared) aircraft destroyed, and 15 (and one shared) aircraft 'out of control'.His 16 balloons downed made him the leading British Empire balloon buster.

MC
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on offensive patrol he observed an enemy two-seater plane attempting to cross our lines. He engaged it and opened fire, with the result that it fell over on its side and crashed to earth. On a later occasion, when on patrol, he observed three enemy scouts attacking one of our bombing machines. He attacked one of these, and after firing 100 rounds in it, it fell over on its back and was seen to descend in that position from 5,000 feet. He then attacked another group of hostile scouts, one of which he shot down completely out of control, and another crumpled up and crashed to earth. In addition to these, he has destroyed another hostile machine, and shot down three completely out of control. He has at all times displayed the utmost dash and initiative, and is a patrol leader of great merit and resource.

DFC
A brilliant and fearless leader of our offensive patrols. His formation has destroyed thirteen enemy machines and brought down thirteen more out of control in a period of a few months. On a recent morning his patrol of five aeroplanes attacked an enemy formation of thirty machines and was successful in destroying two of them. In the evening he again attacked an enemy formation with great dash, destroying one machine and forcing two others to collide, resulting in their destruction.

DSO
A fighting pilot of great skill, and a splendid leader. He rendered brilliant service on 22 August, when his Flight was detailed to neutralise hostile balloons. Having shot down one balloon in flames, he attacked the occupants of five others in succession with machine-gun fire, compelling the occupants in each case to take to parachutes. He then drove down another balloon to within fifty feet of the ground, when it burst into flames. In all he has accounted for thirty-three enemy machines and seven balloons

VC
Between 8 August 1918, and 8 October 1918, this officer proved himself victor in twenty-six decisive combats, destroying twelve enemy kite balloons, ten enemy aircraft, and driving down four other enemy aircraft completely out of control. Between 1 October 1918, and 5 October 1918, he destroyed two enemy scouts, burnt three enemy kite balloons, and drove down one enemy scout completely out of control.
On 1 October 1918, in a general engagement with about twenty-eight machines, he crashed one Fokker biplane near Fontaine and a second near Ramicourt; on 2 October he burnt a hostile balloon near Selvjgny; on 3 October he drove down, completely out of control, an enemy scout near Mont d'Origny, and burnt a hostile balloon; on 5 October, the third hostile balloon near Bohain.
On 8 October 1918, while flying home at a low altitude, after destroying an enemy two-seater near Maretz, he was painfully wounded in the arm by machine-gun fire, but, continuing, he landed safely at his-aerodrome, and after making his report was admitted to hospital.
In all he has proved himself conqueror over fifty-four foes, destroying twenty-two enemy machines, sixteen enemy kite balloons, and driving down sixteen enemy aircraft completely out of control.
Captain Beauchamp-Proctor's work in attacking enemy troops on the ground and in reconnaissance during the withdrawal following on the Battle of St. Quentin from 21 March 1918, and during the victorious advance of our Armies commencing on 8 August, has been almost unsurpassed in its Brilliancy, and. as such has made an impression on those serving in his squadron and those around him that will not be easily forgotten.

 

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Workers fitting centre and tails to aeroplanes in one of the Wolseley factories, probably February 1918.

The torpedo carrier underneath the fuselage of a Short Shirl torpedo bomber biplane

Aeroplane woodworking shop at the Austin Works.

Workers installing engines in aeroplanes in one of the Wolseley factories, probably February 1918.

Lewis gun and its position in Airco DH-9 biplane.

 

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Short Type 827 two-seat reconnaissance floatplane. East Africa.

RAF mechanics fixing a detonator to a bomb in position under an aeroplane in readiness for a night raid. Saint-Omer Aerodrome, 18 July 1918

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c biplane of the RFC flying over the mill at Franvillers, 25 August 1916. Troops of the Royal Engineers with piled arms in the foreground.

Armistice Day parade of officers and men at Duxford on Armistice Day, November 1918

Air mechanics bringing up a "nurse" balloon to fill the big observation balloon with gas. Near Meaulte, on the Bray-Albert road, 7 August 1916.

 

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Control panel of a Bristol F.2B Fighter biplane.

 

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Air mechanics filling a Caquot kite balloon with gas from a 'nurse" balloon. Note screens on right end gas cylinders in the foreground. Near Meaulte, on the Bray-Albert road, 7th August 1916.

Air mechanics dismantling an Albatros C.III two-seat biplane (J7) brought down during the Battle of the Somme at the 9th Wing RFC HQ at Fienvillers.

First Battle of Bapaume. Air mechanics bringing in the fuselage of a Fokker Triplane to be towed away. Near Albert, 25th March 1918

First Battle of Bapaume. Major Walker, the Officer of Command of 15th Squadron, outside his office with pilots handing in reports after flying over the enemy's lines. The air mechanic on the right is A.M.F. Jackson. Near Albert, 25th March 1918.

Sopwith 1½ Strutter two-seat general purpose biplane.

Fairey Campania two-seat patrol and reconnaissance biplane

 

[dinomartino1]

Beardmore S.B.3D single-seat carrier-based fighter biplane.

Sopwith Camel 2F.1 single-seat fighter biplane.

Fairey F.17 Campania two-seat patrol and reconnaissance biplane.

Fairey F.17 Campania two-seat patrol and reconnaissance biplane.

Short Admiralty Type 184 two-seat reconnaissance and torpedo-bomber seaplane.

Felixstowe F.2a patrol and fighter seaplane.

Short Admiralty Type 184 two-seat reconnaissance and torpedo-bomber seaplane
.

Sopwith Camel 2F.1 single-seat fighter biplane.

Short Admiralty Type 320 two-seat reconnaissance and torpedo-bomber seaplane.

Short Admiralty Type 320 two-seat reconnaissance and torpedo-bomber seaplane.

 

[dinomartino1]

Beardmore S.B.3D single-seat carrier-based fighter biplane.

British and New Zealand medical officers hunting for souvenirs among the wreckage of the German Zeppelin LZ.85 in the marshes at the mouth of the River Vardar on 6 May 1916, the day after the airship was brought down by gunfire from HMS AGAMEMNON. In the foreground are two
ofthe airship's fuel tanks

PARTS OF GERMAN NAVAL AIRSHIP L.33, SHOT DOWN NEAR LITTLE WIGBOROUGH, ESSEX
Shot down by Lt. A. de B. Brandon, No. 39 Home Defence Squadron R.F.C., using a B.E. 2c Biplane. Kapitan-leutnant Bocker and crew suivived and were made prisoners.

Royal Air Force Sports Day at Rang du Fliers, 25 August 1918. The winning tug-of-war team of the Red Cross women ambulance drivers which beat the team of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps

A Caquot kite balloon about to ascend in the Carnoy Valley, September 1916. Note tents and hutments, lorries, 8-inch howitzers on travelling carriages in the background.

A British airman dropping a bomb.

Sopwith Baby single-seat tractor seaplane, Blackburn-built.