Look for a Rayma L. Andrew RFC/RAF?

[esc201faem]

GOOD EVENING TO ALL
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020!!!

Looking to confirm if an American by the name of Rayma L. Andrew flew in the RFC/RAF during WWI, claimed to have flown the SE5A , later in the USA he was involved with Eddie Stinson with selling some aircraft to Mexico and in 1929 flew with the Mexican federal air service during the Escobar rebellion of that year . Reportedly served in one of the Escuadrillas (flights) that operate near Naco Sonora Mexico. He was reported with the rank of Major.

Any information or sources will be welcomed
thank you in advance
Santiago

[RSwank]

A long article here in two parts:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41306521/el_paso_times/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41306700/el_paso_times/

The story claims he received Aero Club license #78 in 1910. Yet if you look at this collection of licenses, you can see that #26 went to Frank Coffyn in 1911. It is "possible", I suppose, he got the license in 1911 and the newspaper made a mistake on the date.

http://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryServic...M-SI-2005-6005


Another article:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4130...daily_journal/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4130...daily_journal/


During WWI he was apparently a corporal in the Kansas National Guard. (Company A, 3rd Kansas Infantry) He is listed on page 207 of this book:

https://books.google.com/books?id=oc...vision&f=false



Couple of pictures here in this story:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Naco

[esc201faem]

Thank you very much for the information

Happy New year 2020
Santiago

[RSwank]

An article from 1914 regarding radio:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41328838/the_sun/

I have not found any contemporary news stories to suggest Andrews was a pilot in WWI or was flying before 1919/1920. His name appears in the local Coffeyville KS newspaper from time to time (such as the radio story above). There are some mentions of the fact that he was in the KS National Guard stationed in Coffeyville during 1917 before the unit was federalized and went overseas. He gets promoted from Private to Corporal for example. I believe he went overseas with the unit and saw some action in France.

Here is a story about his unit in France (no mention of him, however):
https://www.kshs.org/p/the-story-of-...ld-war-i/12996


There are several one or two line "stories" about him in the local newspaper, his visiting a relative, testifying at a trial, even his being sick. I would think if he were flying a plane between 1910 and 1917 there would be a story or two, but I have not found any.


Here is a story from 1917 showing his interest in photography.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41329050/the_sun/

Another article from May, 1917 about Andrews seeing Joffre (and Teddy Roosevelt) in Chicago.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41329130/the_sun/

[Stig Jarlevik]

Santiago

Don't know a thing about Andrew, but the USAAS/USAAC used the SE.5 during the 1920s as well, so Andrew may have flown the type domestically in USA, and maybe thought it was important at some point to "extend" his CV so to speak and state he had taken part in the Great War.

Can't say when the type was withdrawn but I doubt it was in service by 1930.
Last known (by me) accidents with the type was in 1927.

Cheers
Stig

[Buckeye30]

He is not on the RFC / RAF / RNAS rolls as shown here......

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/rfc/fil...combined_A.txt


The USAS purchased 38 SE5As from Britain in Oct. 1918 the first arrived at Croix-de-Metz early November but a big US contract was cancelled. After the war the 5A was replaced by the Eberhardt SE5E ( mostly for training I think) but the Navy had 2, one on the USS MISSISSIPPI.

Nick

[esc201faem]

Good Morning to all

Thank you for responses on Rayma L Andrews, he will be mentioned in the next book of Helion Press The Latin American @war series,about the Mexican revolutionary period of 1920 to 1940 and I wanted to check about his background and I was not to sure about his WWI background and I had not found anything to indicate service in the RFC/RAF

any additional will be most welcomed

Cheers
Santiago

[Buckeye30]

Stig. I think the SEs with the training and service squadrons were retired after the 3 accidents in 1927; they still had their old USAS serials ( from 1922). They were designated as TYPE XV ( training/ water-cooled engine). These were from the SE5E batch 22-276 - 22-325.
The 2 Navy ones were both SOC in 1920; they had RAF and USN "A" serials.
Nick