![]() |
|
Pre-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation Please use this forum to discuss Military and Naval Aviation before the Second World War. |
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
British aircraft on Russian Northern (Arkhangelsk) Front 1919
The British Intervention Forces in Northerm Russian (Severnaya Dvina and Arkhangelsk) apparently left a number of aircraft behind at withdrawal in late 1919.
The Russian Baltic Sea air units is known to have used a number of ex-British aircraft against anti-bolshevik opposition forces in Kronstadt in March 1921; including - Fairey III, following code numbers are known: N2233, N2247 and N9249 (photos exist). N9230 and N9241 are mentioned in archival documents. - furthermore Short 184 (photo of N9193 exists) and Norman-Thomson NT.2b are mentioned in documents. So far I have not been able fo find any British sources for these aircraft - can someone help me? Last edited by Carl-Fredrik Geust; 5th July 2025 at 11:01. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Re: British aircraft on Russian Northern (Arkhangelsk) Front 1919
The Air-Britain book "Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911-1919" (1992) says:
N2233 - captured and used by Bolsheviks N2247 - no known fate N9230 - captured and used by Bolsheviks N9241 - HMS Nairana (North Russia) 18.5.19-17.9.19 N9249 - shot down near Advanced Bolshevik Gunboats, crashed in enemy lines 14.7.19 (crew POW) N9193 - HMS Nairana (North Russia) 27.8.19-23.9.19 |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Re: British aircraft on Russian Northern (Arkhangelsk) Front 1919
Approximately 26 Fairey F.IIIs, 5 Fairey Campanias, 2 Sopwith Babys, 19 Sopwith Camels, 12 Sopwith Snipes, 8 DH 4s, 21 DH 9s, 12 DH 9As, 18 Avro 504Ks, 14 RE 8s and 24 Short 184s served with the RAF in North Russia in 1918 and 1919. I found confirmation in Russian documents (s/ns) for 6 Fairey F.IIIs, 1 RE 8, 1 Camel, 1 DH 9 and 5 Short 184s taken over. From my notes:
Fairey F.III N2233 taken over 27.8.20 Petrograd, 9.21 4th GO, 1.12.21 1st RGO, 1.6.23 N2247 taken over 27.8.20 Petrograd N9230 taken over 27.8.20 Petrograd, 15.11.20 and 3.21 1st GO N9241 taken over 27.8.20 Petrograd, 1.12.20 5th GO, 3.21 1st GO, 11.21 3rd GO, 1.22 N9249 captured 14.7.19, 3.21 1st GO, 9.21 4th GO, 1.12.21 1st RGO Short 184 N9193 taken over 27.8.20 Petrograd, 1.12.20 5th GO, 9.21 3rd GO, 3.21 and 1.12.21 1 RGO |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Re: British aircraft on Russian Northern (Arkhangelsk) Front 1919
Hello AndyMa and Lennart,
thank you for your responses, which confirm my observations. Do you know how, when and where the British aircraft were captured - war booty in combat, or simply "left behind" when the British forces were withdrawn from Northern Russia? Carl Last edited by Carl-Fredrik Geust; 6th July 2025 at 11:49. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Re: British aircraft on Russian Northern (Arkhangelsk) Front 1919
I would guess that most were found left behind and repaired.
|