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  #1  
Old 4th July 2025, 19:22
Carl-Fredrik Geust Carl-Fredrik Geust is offline
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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.
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Old 5th July 2025, 15:01
AndyMa AndyMa is offline
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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
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  #3  
Old 5th July 2025, 20:32
Lennart Andersson Lennart Andersson is offline
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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
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Old 6th July 2025, 10:53
Carl-Fredrik Geust Carl-Fredrik Geust is offline
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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.
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Old 6th July 2025, 16:12
Lennart Andersson Lennart Andersson is offline
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Re: British aircraft on Russian Northern (Arkhangelsk) Front 1919

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl-Fredrik Geust View Post
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?
I would guess that most were found left behind and repaired.
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