British Air Forces 1914 - 1918, Images of War

[ausreenactor]

Not in the body cavity...


That was the call on my para course. You got them inboard of the leg straps before you cinched them up.

 

[B-Man2]

Well that puts it all in perspective . I’ll take the rope harness anytime ..

 

[Smithy]

Nice selection of photos Dino, the IWM has probably the best online collection of photos available for public viewing on the web for WWI. Making the majority of their collection digital and posting it online and available for the general public to access was one of the best things they ever did.

 

[dinomartino1]

Nice selection of photos Dino, the IWM has probably the best online collection of photos available for public viewing on the web for WWI. Making the majority of their collection digital and posting it online and available for the general public to access was one of the best things they ever did.

Only problem is just about all of their photos to do with US are buy only, at least most of their photos can be downloaded at a reasonable size which is the exception with most museums. The AWM has amazing photos but so bloody tiny they are useless.

 

[dinomartino1]

RAF officers talking to the pilot of a French Letord twin-engined bomber, by his machine on the beach at Le Crotoy, 9 July 1918.

Air mechanics preparing a Bristol Fighter of No. 22 Squadron at Vert Galand aerodrome. On the left a group of pilots and observers in flying kit. Part of the armament was a fixed Vickers gun inside the cowling, firing through the propeller, 1 April 1918

Group of pilots of No. 32 Squadron RFC, Beauval, 1916 (Fourth Army aircraft park). Behind them is an Airco DH.2 (De Havilland Scout) biplane with Monosoupape Rotary Engine

Four Airco DH.2 single-seat fighters of No. 32 Squadron RFC on Beauval aerodrome (Fourth Army aircraft park), 1916.

Pilots of No. 32 Squadron. An American, Canadian, New Zealander, Englishman and South African, respectively; Green, Lawson, Leese, McBean, Hooper. Humieres aerodrome, near St. Pol, 15 May 1918.

RNAS A pilot releasing a pigeon carrying a message for help after his seaplane was forced down onto the water

Lieutenant Stephenson and "Old Bill" with nose art. Royal Flying Corps, First World War

A telescope on a stand improvised from a front wheel of a bicycle on a wooden tripod. Aerodrome at Rang du Fliers, 12 July 1918.

 

[dinomartino1]

Lieutenant Mumford and one other in front of an aircraft labelled "Greta". Royal Flying Corps, First World War.

Lieutenant Mumford, Royal Flying Corps

Mr. Roche Kelly flying an Orville Wright Biplane in Hendon, 1915.

Group of Royal Flying Corps servicemen in front of an aircraft, with dog mascot.

 

[dinomartino1]

Civilians watch the finish of a race between two Farman Biplanes at Hendon, 1915.

DH.9A aircraft (registration F1639) on the ground

An Officer superintending the packing of this parachute before going up in a kite balloon. Gosnay, 2 May 1918

Women's Royal Air Force: A woman motor driver serving with the Royal Flying Corps in the autumn of 1917. Women Legion drivers were attached to the RFC and wore RFC shoulder flash and cap badge

The third contingent of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) arrives at Boulogne from England circa 1918

An aerial view of Duxford under construction in September 1918, viewed from the west, showing the temporary hangars in the foreground. The photograph was taken by DH9 aircraft of No 123 Squadron, based at Duxford.

A rare air to air photograph showing a Royal Flying Corps BE.2C aircraft in flight over trench lines in the Grand Bois area. The aircraft has an aerial camera mounted on its starboard side below the pilot's cockpit. The BE.2C was an ideal photographic platform because of its stability in flight. However it was slow and unmaneouverable, rendering it vulnerable to German attack. At this time, British reconnaissance aircraft were accompanied by at least three fighters on missions over the Western Front and were also forced to carry out their missions at greater altitude.

Captain C. E. Williamson-Jones of No. 59 Squadron RAF examining two Spandau guns (which fire through propeller) on a German Pfalz Scout D.III at Vert Galand Aerodrome, 26th April 1918

 

[dinomartino1]

Officers of No. 59 Squadron RAF examining the fuselage of a German Pfalz Scout D.III at Vert Galand Aerodrome

Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 two-seat reconnaissance and bomber biplane.

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a single-seat fighter biplane

Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b two-seat reconnaissance and night bomber pusher biplane.

Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b two-seat reconnaissance and night bomber pusher biplane.

 

[Smithy]

The AWM has amazing photos but so bloody tiny they are useless.

And they charge an arm and a leg for larger copies. I have a particular interest in 2 Sqn, AFC and wanted an extreme enlargement to see if I could identify the particular aircraft letter for a fellow I'm interested in. The price for the enlargement was bloody ridiculous and needless to say I flagged it.

 

[Bombing IP]

Are these photos from the Imperial War Museum hence the IWM bottom corner .

BIP

 

[Smithy]

Are these photos from the Imperial War Museum hence the IWM bottom corner .

BIP

Jeff, Dino's ones are from the IWM and on earlier pages from the AWM archives which are available online. Most of mine on the first few pages are scanned from books/articles or from originals from my own collection - and there's a couple which I don't think have been ever published online, right click and save chaps!

The IWM has made a huge amount of their collection of photographs available digitally. If you go to the IWM and do a search the world's your oyster - and not just WWI. In terms of WWII, they have some simply brilliant interviews available as well of which I've posted a few links in the film sub section here.

 

[ausreenactor]

'Nose art' and legitimately on the nose. Everything else could be deemed cheek art?

 

[dinomartino1]

I went to the Australian war memorial and the and the imperial war museum in the 80s, at the time the AWM was better but both have changed a lot since then. They are the best war museums bar none in the world.
We have to remember these are not specialised museums for tank or planes etc but are the repository of the history of their nations armed forces.
The amount of online information for both is incredible compared to other countries and only represents a fraction of their collections.

 

[dinomartino1]

Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b two-seat reconnaissance, fighter and bomber pusher biplane

.

Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b two-seat reconnaissance, fighter and bomber pusher biplane.

RFC, RNAS and RAF cap badges of the Other Ranks.

Officers of the WAAC visiting the wreckage of a German Friedrichshafen G.III bomber at Villers-au-Bois, 21 May 1918. Air mechanics of the Royal Air Force salvaging parts of the aircraf

Sopwith Camels

Vickers F.B.27A Vimy II heavy bomber biplane.

Sopwith Camel F.1 single-seat fighter biplane


.

Parnall Panther two-seat spotter and reconnaissance biplane.

 

[dinomartino1]

Four Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe single-seat fighter biplanes of No. 29 Squadron RAF flying over field.

Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin single seat fighting scout biplane

Airco DH.5 single-seat fighter biplane.
.

A De Havilland DH 9A two-seat day bomber, 1918. DH 9As first entered service with No. 110 Squadron, Royal Air Force, in June 1918 and remained in service until 1931.

Telephone exchange of a kite balloon section of the Royal Air Force in a motor lorry. Gosnay, 2 May 1918.

Airco DH.5 single-seat fighter biplane

Vickers EFB.3 Gunbus at Brooklands,1914. A very early machine of this type.

Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard single seat fighter biplane. Serial number D4256

Bristol Scout C single-seat scout/fighter bipla

 

[B-Man2]

Great photos along with the back stories.
Thanks D

 

[ausreenactor]

Parnall Panther? Never heard of it..

Dino? Do you have a job to fill your days?

 

[dinomartino1]

Parnall Panther? Never heard of it..

Dino? Do you have a job to fill your days?

Miner FIFO 8/6 roster, I'm waiting to a new job thats starts next week in the Great Sandy Desert in the Pilbara , have had plenty of to time to kill.

 

[ausreenactor]

Ack.. I have moved into handover phase and giving less mental effort to the task before we bug out in a matter of days. Five and a half months went quick. Some days were overly long but your posts add to the internet experience. Keep em coming..

"Appreciate ya!"

 

[dinomartino1]

Morane-Saulnier BB two-seat observation biplane.

Vickers F.B.5 two-seat fighter biplane

Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe single seat fighter biplane. Two bay version. Serial number B9966

Sopwith Dragon single seat fighter biplane. Serial number J3704

Airco DH.4 two-seat light bomber biplane

Felixtowe F.2A, serial number N 4453, 2x345 h.p. Rolls Royce Eagle VIII. Under construction