Photos Royal Aircraft Factory Aircraft

[Stig Jarlevik]

Even more odd Clint

None of my sources mention any gift aircraft from that village.
Perhaps someone with No 5 Squadron had his origins from stated place?

From what I can recall that would also be very unusual since personal markings was not common, was it?

Cheers
Stig

[musec04]

Hi Stig,


I wonder if the owners of the mine also donated aircraft named after other colleries that they owned? You mention sources, any indication that any other RFC/RAF aircraft named after mining villages at all? Purest supposition on my part and there may be nothing to it. But given the social background of the people from High Spen at the time would it be likely any would become a pilot?


Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Difficult to say without going through all of them.

Checking those donated from Great Britain, there were some that certainly came from cities/towns and so on.

If I had been an expert on smaller villages and the like in UK, I would have been in a much better position to evaluate all the names for you, but sorry, I am not

Also the aircraft itself C2926 is not listed as a presentation aircraft!

Although social background was (and still is) important if you wanted to be an officer, RFC and later RAF needed far more pilots than the upper classes could produce. I have not studied the subject, but surely there must have been a large number from, should we say, the working classes who became pilots?

Cheers
Stig

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay another named example of a 5 Squadron R.E.8 C2731 East Grinstead at:


ttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-R-E-8-WWI-Biplane-Black-White-Photographic-PRINT-East-Grinstead-rare/202990168451?hash=item2f43282983:g:TzEAAOSw8-5evDRp


Regards,


Clint

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b B487 at:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/30356801887...AAAOSwwu5eveZF


Also shown is a Handley Page in civilian markings.


Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Nice shots Clint

The FE2b typifies what is basically known about it....nothing (well almost)

It was allocated to the units in France 30.10.1917.
However that allotment was cancelled 24.11.1917 and the aircraft was handed over to something called E1 Repair Section. After that...nothing....

The Handley Page must be G-EASO which was registered in April 1920 and was last heard of trying to make a first return flight from India to UK in May. The flight was cancelled and the aircraft was dismantled. It probably never even went to India. Officially its registration was canx in April 1921, but I doubt the aircraft "lived" that long.

Cheers
Stig

[musec04]

Hi Stig,


Thanks. So two barely used aircraft in fact. How strange that they should both turn up in the same collection.


With regard to B487 and more generally, do I correctly deduce from your text that aircraft were first transferred to a centre in France and only subsequently assigned to a squadron?


Regards,


Clint