RAF airplane "Punjab No. 37 Chambra"

[Leendert]

Dutch newspapers reported the emergency landing of a British military airplane in the first days of January 1919. This was in the south of Limburg province (Amstenrade).

In an article it says the airplane had the title "Punjab 37 Chambra".

I did find a Be 2C with that name, but this one appears to have been shot down on 20 June 1916 over France (Lt Paterson KIA, Lt Cooke DOW). RFC No. 8 Squadron.

Was there a later No. 37 Chambra and if so, which one?

There are pictures of "Punjab 22 Simla Hills" (R.E. 8 C2281), so perhaps the new No. 37 was also of this type?

In general: did No. 8 Squadron name its a/c "Punjab etc?

Thanks for any info.

Regards,

Leendert

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

The term "Punjab" refers to aircraft presented by the residents of the Punjab. The name you mention, Punjab No.37 'Chambra', was applied to the following aircraft:- BE2c's 2488 & 2525; Elephant A6287*; DH5 A9518 and Camel C8357.

See:
The Gifts of War
Boot,Henry & Ray Sturtivant.
Tonbridge:Air-Britain(Historians),2005.
pp.438-9

* You can eliminate No.27 Sqn Martinsyde Elephant A6287, that was lost on 16 September, 1917 (2Lt N. W. Goodwin +).

Col.

[Leendert]

Thanks Col.

Given the year 1919, I opt for the last one (Camel) to be involved in this emergency landing...

Regards,

Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Leendert

With the collected evidence, yes it must be Camel C8357.
It was reported to be in France on 18.1.1919 (no unit listed) and crashed 19.3.1919, still in France, when in use by HQ Comm Sqd.

Standard procedure in WW 1 was that an aircraft kept its gift's name until SOC for whatever reason. If the situation warranted it, a new aircraft received the same name even if no payment had actually been done. It was a sort of honorary procedure.

So if the date was Jan 1919, yes it must have been C8357

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Chas Bowyer's Sopwith Camel king of combat has C8357 "Punjab 37".
The Camel File has "C8357 - Punjab No.37. Chambra".
Was 37 Sqdn . Cancelled 25-9-18.
In France by 18-1-19; HQ Com Sqdn, crashed St. Andre-aux-Bois aerodrome 19-3-19.
Brigadier General E.R.Ludlow-Hewitt D.S.O, M.C.
So he must have been the pilot .
It seems he had two other crashes, C72 and D9439 on earlier occasions.
Alex

Edited : Chambra not Chamber thanks Col. Tablet has a mind of its own.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Re: Ludlow-Hewitt.

Http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Ludlow-Hewitt.htm

Camel C8357 was "Punjab No.37 Chambra", not CHAMBER. Chambra was a district in The Punjab, India (now in Pakistan).

Col

[Leendert]

Thanks for all additional info, much appreciated.

Just for the record, the SOC in France is not in any way related to the emergency landing in Amstenrade, Limburg province, NL. This was on 2 January 1919 and a/c took off on 5 January again. Name of pilot not disclosed.
According to newspaper reports the biplane had flipped over when the pilot had attempted to take off earlier when he saw people approach.

Regards,

Leendert