Photo Sopwith

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

You are quite right Stig, 2 distinct designations. Odd that Derwin's War Graves certificate has 32 TDS but maybe just not up-dated.
Thanks for the explanation.
Nick

No worries Nick

Nothing I know by heart, just by checking my sources.

I have no idea why the War Graves states what they do. To me it is more important that even the obscure individuals are actually remembered.

To be honest, I doubt neither Derwin nor his relatives bother about which unit he belonged to....

I have the utmost respect for your knowledge Nick, no doubt about that!

All the Best
Stig

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay are two photos of a Sopwith Dolphin of the Machine Gun School,with (too myself at least) an unusual removal of the front of the engine cowling :


https://www.ebay.com/itm/35373575959...UAAOSwD~phcalm


https://www.ebay.com/itm/35371875923...QAAOSwa~lhVgAu


Regards,


Clint

[Buckeye30]

Clint it's the first prototype Dolphin before the cowling was re-designed ( I don't think it had a serial marked on).



Nick

[musec04]

Hi Nick,


Thanks for the information. So did the prototype go on to serve with the Machine Gun School or is the photo caption incorrect?


Regards,


Clint

[Buckeye30]

The RFC Machine Gun School was disbanded 13 Sept. 1916 to become the "School of Aerial Gunnery" at Dymchurch; on 1 Jan. 1917 re-designated as " No.1 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery".
The prototype was tested at Martlesham Heath in early June then flown to St. Omer on the 13th by Henry Tizard. Looks like the photos were taken sometime in June, the stamp says MG School but by then that was named as above ( I suspect it was just a change of name). Possibly taken on the S. coast before going to France for further evaluation.
To add to the mix, the "Advanced Air Firing School" was formed within No.1 on Jan. 1 1917.
Nick

[Buckeye30]

Just a thought. At St. Omer the Dolphin was evaluated against 56 Sqn's SE5s , there's one parked next to it.
Nick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Nick

According to Cross & Cockade the Dolphin photo was taken at Kingston.
There is a similar photo in their Dolphin book with the same building in the background.
My guess is that the School just issued prints from negatives they got from somewhere. Seems they didn't bother much about the name change either since they kept their stamp....

Air Britain claims the School of Aerial Gunnery and No.1 (Auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery were all at Hythe. From where does Dymchurch come from?

Cheers
Stig
PS: The C & C book does not give any Dolphins as ever used by any Gunnery Schools

[Buckeye30]

Hi Stig. No I don't think they were, the prototype must have gone to St. Omer from Martlesham. There was too short a time period for it to have any gunnery training ( or need really).
Hythe and Dymchurch were names for the the same location (the ranges were at Hythe); also called "Palmarsh" in some Kent County records which was a part of Hythe.
I've got relatives at Kingston-on-Thames probably near the old Sopwith factory.


Regards
Nick

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of the Sopwith L.R.T.Tr Triplane at:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/37376962063...oAAOSwgLxheBtT


Regards,


Clint

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin C.3905 of 79 Squadron at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/194548389890...kAAOSwDuFho3gF


Regards,


Clint