British Plane Serail No. B 5854

[hanshauprich]

Hello,
I saw an photo with an crashed 2 Seaterplane, Serial-No on the fin is B 5854. Photo was taken by German Navy Ground Troops in Belgian(?) Is it possible to identify the plane?
Thanks for help!
h.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Hans

This is what I have regarding B5854
Aircraft was a R.A.F. R.E.8 and had been built at/around 6 Oct 1917.
It was sent to the Middle East and arrived in Palestine 30 Oct 1917
Delivered to 67 Sq Australian Flying Corps late 1917
Was ordered on a harassing bombing mission and took off from Jenin 4 Jan 1918 07.05H with other aircraft including RE 8s from No 113 Sq.
Attacked by enemy aircraft B5854 reportedly collided with an unknown aircraft from 113 Sq and fell in flames
pilot Lt JDS Potts was killed while his gunner 2/Lt VJ Parkinson survived and became a PoW

B Rgds
Stig

PS: If your photo was taken in Belgium (or Europe) it cannot be B5854

[hanshauprich]

Hello Stig
thanks for the infos. The Searial-No. is clear B 5854!! One crewmember lying dead by the plane, the Lewis-MG for the Observer is removed, plane is broken in middle. The problem is, that the photos from different places are mixed up. I try to get more information.
h.

[Stig Jarlevik]

No worries Hans

There are plenty of British sources claiming B5854 was both transferred to and lost in Palestine.
So if your photo is clear enough, Palestine it is!

B Rgds
Stig

[Leendert]

Confusion about location (which is Palestine indeed) are the German soldiers standing by the plane. See e.g. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C59074

Germany had a contingent in Palestine to help the Ottoman Empire. It was led by General Erich von Falkenhayn.


Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

Some discussion of the photo here:

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/...ircraft-crash/

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Rolland

I rechecked my notes and it is indeed correct the mission was to bomb Jenin and not the other way around.
It should be noted that there are two versions floating around regarding the two losses that day.

Either collision with an EA or with the other RFC aircraft lost that day, an unidentified 113 Sq RE 8.

Cheers
Stig

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Memorandum of Prisoner of War Returning from Turkey to Egypt.
336 Lt (Observer) Vincent John PARKINSON AFC.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2652523
Download - See: pp.34-38 of 65.

and...

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1501147

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=234014

Col.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks for finding that document Colin.

Two things
1) If the memory of Parkinson was reliable enough, his aircraft in fact collided with the German aircraft
and not the other British RE 8!

2) I wonder why it is stated he was with No 1 AFC? All the aircraft details known shows it as handed
over to No 67Sq

Cheers
Stig

[Leendert]

Here's what No. 113 Squadron's website thinks about the collision: http://113squadron.com/id151.htm

Regards,
Leendert