On this Day (WWI aviation news), Vol. 2

[PJ Fisher]

Furious Fail
Coupled with this week's story of France's Farman 'Goliath' that just missed seeing service in the Great War, today we learn of the crash of Britain's sole Felixstowe F.4 Fury.  Also known as the Porte Super-Baby, this five-engined triplane was the largest seaplane in the world when it first flew on the same day the Armistice was signed.  Its 123-foot wingspan made it just three feet shorter than the Handley Page V/1500.

Following upon recent record long-distance flights of large multi-engined machines such the Curtiss NC-4 (headlined here in December 2022: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?action=search2), and the Vickers Vimy (name dropped here: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg255401#msg255401), the Fury was intended to trek to South Africa.  Alas, on the day its journey was to commence, it never made it out of its namesake port.  "...the aircraft side-slipped at low altitude and crashed at 90 mph shortly after take-off, breaking up on impact. The accident... was witnessed by large crowds of holiday makers" (via wikipedia).  One of its seven-man crew drowned.

(from the Abergavenny Chronicle, 15 August 1919; and the Illustrated London News, 16 August 1919):


(image via http://torikai.starfree.jp/)

To get an idea of the imposing nature of the triplane, have a look at forum member Bluesfan's pair of 1/72nd-scale Felixstowe F.5's (the hull of one can be seen in the image above) by Roden: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=9913.msg180305#msg180305

[PJ Fisher]

Flying Boats Fight
It is reported today that Austria's Gottfried Freiherr von Banfield, the 'Eagle of Trieste', scored two victories over the Italian Regia Marina in his Lohner M (L-16) flying boat.  His Italian opponents were both manning Franco-British Aviation (FBA) types.  Banfield's victories have headlined here twice before: for downing a Caproni bomber: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=12930.msg250215#msg250215, and for defeating an airship: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg255777#msg255777
(from the Cambria Daily Leader, 17 August 1916):


(image via irishtimes.com)


(images: depicting similar Lohner and FBA examples; respectively via wikipedia and militaer-wissen.de)


Get a glimpse of a 1/72 FBA flying boat mixed in with other models built by forum member JamesAPrattIII: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=7946.0.  It would be great to see some closeups of these birds.

[PJ Fisher]

Spotlight: Edmond Thieffry
Belgium's third-ranked ace of the Great War made news here just last month: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg257124#msg257124.  Today's story further explores the aviator's adventures.
(from the Daily Star-Mirror, 18 August 1917):



Have a look at forum member Kalt's 1/48th-scale Nieuport 23 as flown by Thieffry https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=7110.msg130859#msg130859

[PJ Fisher]

Anti-Aircraft Guns Again
This early-war picture story, showing a Bleriot getting blown up, appeared here last August in a post titled "Archibald? Certainly Not!": https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=12930.msg247089#msg247089.  It was published by a Kansas, US newspaper captioning how anti-aircraft guns would 'doom' the effectiveness of 'rival forces' aircraft.  Today's version was printed by a German-language paper from Minnesota, US.  Here the wording significantly differs.  Loosely translated:

"The German army is prepared for all eventualities of modern warfare and has at its disposal a large number of specially designed artillery pieces designed to defeat enemy aircraft.  The guns are the invention of a German flying officer and have proven themselves admirably in the tests carried out. Their range is between three and five miles."

Quite a different story!  This may explain why it's a Bleriot in the crosshairs and not a Taube....  Perhaps someone can identify the guns types in this picture?
(from the Der Nordstern, 19 August 1914):

[PJ Fisher]

Operation 'Red Trek'
Only fifteen days after the Great War's conclusion, Britain launched a Baltic campaign as part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War.  One facet of this operation was the August 1919 'Scooter Raid' - an attack by Royal Navy coastal motor boats and Royal Air Force aircraft on the Bolshevik Baltic Fleet at its home base.  This news that a 'machine was damaged' could relate to a Port Victoria Grain Griffin based on the recently commissioned aircraft carrier HMS Vindictive that fell into the water. 
(from the Cambria Daily Leader, 20 August 1919):



(image via wikipedia)

The Griffin was an offshoot of the Sopwith B.1 Cuckoo (which made news here back in April: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg254474#msg254474)

[PJ Fisher]

Flying Accidents
This list of random air calamities within one week reminds us of the high casualty rate of airmen in non-combat flying. Plane types unknown.
(from the Cambria Daily Leader, 21 August 1917):

12

And this was just a partial list.  Here's an accounting of aviators lost on just this one day (via wingsofwar.org)

An extract from The London Gazette, dated 17 October 1917, records the following:
16 AIRMEN HAVE FALLEN ON MONDAY AUGUST 20TH 1917

Lt. Bamford, J.L. (Joseph Lamont) 17 Squadron RFC
Flt Off. (Prob) Code, L. (Lawrence) Cranwell Central Depot and Training Establishment RNAS
Sgt. Colwill, R.W. (Reginald Wilfred) 31 Squadron RFC
Flt. Sub Lt. Cook, C.B. (Cecil Barnaby) Dover Naval Air Station RNAS
AM 2 Edmonds, A. (Albert) RFC
Sgt. Findlay, C. (Charles) 59 Training Squadron RFC
Sgt. Handley, E. (Ernest) Wireless and Observers School RFC
Flt. Lt. Hunt, A.S. (Alfred Stanley) RFC
2nd Lt. Jordan, H.S.L. (Hugh Stewart Latimer) RFC
2nd Lt. Payne, C.B. (Cecil Brannon) 21 Squadron RFC
Lt. Purgold, L.J. (Louis Joseph) RFC
Sgt. Rodgman, A.G.B. (Arthur George Banfield) 43 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Turner, H.D. (Herbert Deacon) 70 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Winser, F.E. (Frank Edward) 43 Squadron RC
AM 2 Winstone, A.E. (Alfred Edwin) 6 Squadron attached 18th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
2nd Lt. Young, H.F. (Harold Farquhar) 43 Squadron RFC

[PJ Fisher]

Perry & Parfitt
Because flying was still a fledgling endeavor during the First World War, much of the news reported here involves various aviation 'firsts'.  Following yesterday's report on the high non-combat casualty rate among Britain's Royal Flying Corps, here are a few more 'firsts' - from an early-war incident involving a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 (serial number 625).

Via greatwarlondon.wordpress.com: "The British Expeditionary Force arrived in France in mid-August 1914. Part of the force was the first overseas wartime contingent of the Royal Flying Corps. Sadly, two of London’s first Great War casualties were among these airmen: E.W.C. Perry and H.E. Parfitt. Their deaths on 16 August was later part of a major controversy over the attitude of the RFC to its pilots’ safety....  When the BEF set out to France, the RFC actually set out ahead of them, beginning their journey and assembly on 13 August. The serviceable aircraft of 2, 3, 4 and 5 Squadrons set out form (sic) the south of England – also not without incident as Lieutenant R.R. Skene and Air Mechanic R.K Barlow were killed taking off near Dover. The aircraft that did make it to France gathered at Amiens.... Perry and Parfitt were among the last to take off from Amiens on 16 August. As they took off in their BE8 (number 625), the aeroplane stalled at about 150 feet from the ground – losing speed from climbing too quickly or with too little power. The aircraft turned over on its side and fell to the ground, where it caught fire. Both men were killed. They were the first British airmen ever to die in a theatre of war; Perry was also the first British officer fatality of the war....

The sad deaths of these two young men came to a kind of prominence two years later when Noel Pemberton Billing... used their case as an example to attack the Government. Billing had served in the RNAS early in the war, including in a raid on a Zeppelin base in 1914, but resigned his commission in order to publicly criticise the conduct of the air war... he accused the authorities of ‘criminal negligence’ over a series of accidents and incidents that had caused the deaths of air crew. He was particularly critical of Royal Aircraft Company aeroplanes..." (read this interesting story in full here: https://greatwarlondon.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/londons-first-casualties-in-france-august-1914/.

(respectively from the Denbighshire Free Press and the London Times, 22/27 August 1914):




Today Perry & Parfitt's crash site is an otherwise generic traffic roundabout, save for a small stone plaque flanked by flags.  Alas, the airplane depicted on the plaque is misidentified as a B.E.2c:



About twenty years back I scratch-built a 1/72-scale model of Parry & Parfitt's machine.  It was tough finding a 3-view drawing of it back then, and I didn't get the nose contours quite right.  I recall applying the unusual early camouflage using brushed pastel chalk... not particularly successful, though it was a fun learning experience.  My notes from this old build over on the WWI Modeling Page:

"The B.E.8 was the fourth and final rotary-powered Bleriot Experimental tractor plane to be developed by the Royal Aircraft Factory. The prototype first flew in August 1913, and limited production began soon thereafter.

Built by Vickers and originally intended for the Central Flying School at Sitapur, India, BE.8 625 was impressed to the Royal Flying Corps upon the outbreak of war. It received a hastily painted camouflage on 8 August 1914, and was among the first British planes sent to France, arriving with 3 Squadron at Amiens on 14 August. 625 was also among the first British planes to be 'struck off charge', when on 16 August it stalled at 150 feet, crashed and caught fire- killing Lieutenant Evelyn Walter Copland Perry and Air Mechanic H.E. Parfitt. Perry, an experienced test-pilot and aircraft designer who personally trained Air Marshall Hugh Montague Trenchard how to fly, earned the unfortunate distinction of being the first British officer killed on active service in France. The last B.E.8 was withdrawn from front-line service by end of June 1915, though the type lingered on a few months more in various training units.

This scratch-built model incorporates wings, wheels and seats from Roseparts, with the engine and propeller by Aeroclub. Primary reference: J.M. Bruce, The B.E.8 and B.E.8a, Air Pictorial, Vol. 24 #11, Rolls House Publishing Co. Ltd., 1962."

[PJ Fisher]

'Aeronautical Ambition' Model Competition Inhibition
This week's theme on the high attrition rate of aircraft in non-combat incidents continues on the home front in the US.  Today's disaster struck multiple model aircraft on Long Island, NY, on an Hempstead Plains Field... later known as Hazelhurst Field... later known as Roosevelt Field... and later partly known as Curtiss Field.  This forgotten airfield made the news here in July 2022, regarding another real-life non-combat wartime mishap: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=12930.msg245945#msg245945.  Alas, all aviation activity there ceased in 1951.  Evidently one of the disused hangars became a nightclub in the 1960s.  Today the site is home to 'Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall' and has been enveloped by chain stores. 
(from the New-York Tribune, 23 August 1915):

[PJ Fisher]

Backseat Driver
Wish I knew more about this thrilling incident that earned Dudley Charles Eglington the Military Cross.  He was flying as observer in this unidentified British two seater.  Guessing it was likely an Airco DH.4, a Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 or a Bristol F.2b?
(from the Abergavenny Chronicle, 24 August 1917):



Let's look back at forum member LT1962's 1/32 WNW Bristol Fighter: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=10966.msg202084;topicseen#msg202084

[PJ Fisher]

Seasick Schneider
Yet another non-combat casualty this week - this time it was a sputtering Sopwith Schneider (serial #3726) flown by Flight Sub-Lieutenant John McLarty of the Royal Naval Air Service.  Unlike our recent story of the free-falling Frenchman who lived to tell his tale (https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg257929#msg257929), this nosedive proved fatal. 

This veteran plane is referenced in F. Mason's The British Fighter since 1912, Putnam: "Early Schneiders had a triangular fin, as witness this revealing view. No. 3726 {image below} with warping wings, an early Sopwith Schneider at Calshot in 1915. Note the triangular fin, the absence of ailerons and the upward-firing Lewis gun fitted in an aperture in the top wing." The incident occurred at Southampton Water near Calshot Castle, which was the scene of another seaplane crash in June: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg255697#msg255697.  Though McLarty did not survive the fall his Sopwith was retrieved, repaired and returned to service. 
(from the Cambria Daily Leader, 25 August 1915):


(images respectively via inverclydeww1.org and flyingmachines.ru)

Calshot's Schneider Hangar exists today and is home to a paddle-board retailer.


(image from advertiserandtimes.co.uk)

Checkout forum member Bughunter's build log of his 1/48 Sopwith Schneider by Special Honny: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=10756.msg197677;topicseen#msg197677

[PJ Fisher]

Three's a Crowd
This retrospectively naive picture story from the first month of the Great War provides perspective on how Europe's militaries envisioned the role of the airplanes. 
(from the Illustrated War News, 26 August 1914):



(image via wikipedia)

That looks to be an early Breguet; similar to the surviving R.U1 in the Musée des Arts et Métiers, Paris (shown above).  While those two observers seem to enduring a tight fit in the front cockpit, Breguet himself managed to squeeze eleven passengers in one of his planes for a pre-war record:

[PJ Fisher]

Aviators at War
Here's a discussion of the progress of Italian aviation during the first two years of the war, including a critique of the Fokker monoplane, mention of the death of pioneer aviator Marcel-Georges Brindejonc des Moulinai, and commentary on French aces.  Loosely translated:

"No weapon of war has progressed so far as the airplane, since we talk about war.  Italian aviation has made itself and will be honored thanks to the powerful flying machines that the industry of our country offers. What we record is the most convincing demonstration of our assertion.  At the Mirafiori airfield the pilot Antonnaci of the S.I.T. (Italian Transaerea Society Turin) established the other day the Italian height record with two passengers, carrying on board the eng. G. Marsaglia and the mechanic Ressi. Antonacci, a well-known and much appreciated aviator piloting a military series S.I.T. biplane, equipped with an Isotta-Fraschini 150 HP engine. Coming out of the workshops of the old and well-known Isotta-Fraschini factory in Milan, creator of the first Italian aviation engine, it reached a height of 5850 meters, employing to perform this splendid performance, which returns to the great honor and pride of our aviation, the time of one hour and twenty-eight minutes.

This apparatus, which for some time had already won the admiration of the technicians, was equipped with the unsurpassed Zenith carburetor, of which Eng. Corbetta of Milan with a branch in Turin, and which greatly contributed to the need for the new record. But Antonacci's performance also established the triumph for a new Italian propeller, the Italia brand, manufactured in the S.I.T..  In this brilliant test of our aviation, the engineer Gualtiero Cattaneo, who is responsible for the new and appreciated Italian aviation engine, and Mr. Alberto Triaca, technical director of S.I.T., which by establishing the new Italian height record with two passengers with one of its biplanes, certainly couldn't have better celebrated the 4th anniversary of its foundation, which fell on Saturday 19 August. Finally, by presenting our congratulations to the Turin company, we will say that even in the official communiqués, Generalisimo Cadorna repeatedly mentioned the Voisin-Sit biplanes for the marvelous flights performed by numerous squadrons over the enemy.

The German press has repeatedly proclaimed the excellence and superiority of the Fokker. It is but a very exact copy of the French monoplane Morane-Saulnier, copy made in Geris, near Schwerin, by a builder of Dutch origin, who gave his name to the apparatus. Since the beginning of the war, the Fokker has undergone only minor modifications, which consist in an increase in width, and in the opening drilled in the planes to allow the pilot vertical views. The engine used on the Fokker is like the actual apparatus and an even more complete reproduction of a French type, the. Gnome.  These engines were manufactured by the Oberrurso company! (Hesse Nassau), The German builder copied everything from «Gnome» - even the arrangement of the plate bearing the brand, the factory and the Greek serial letter 'Delta'. The Fokkers can climb up to 4,000 meters, therefore less than the Aviatiks. The only German monoplanes, which easily reach 5600 meters they are still copies of the Morane and known in Germany and at the front under their French name.

The French airmen whose names have often appeared in official communiqués for their exploits in this war are different. All of them have distinguished themselves in difficult actions shooting down, after fierce duels, German aircraft and are adorned with the War Cross with the Palm, the Military Medal and the Legion of honor.  Here are the names of those who have shot down at least 5 machines:
Second Lieutenant Guynemer: 14
Second Lieutenant Navarre: 12
Second Lieutenant Nungesser: 8
Sergeant Chainat: 8
Adjutant Lenoir: 7
Second Lieutenant Chaput: 6
Sergeant De Rochefort: 6
Second Lieutenant Heurbeaug: 5"
(from L'Illustrazione della guerra e La Stampa Sportiva, 27 August 1916):




Have a look at Tim Mixon's 1/72-scale Blue-Rider vacuform kit of an Italian-licensed Farman:
 https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13272.msg247062#msg247062

[PJ Fisher]

Shot to Pieces Approaching Paris
(from the Rock Island Argus, 28 August 1915):



(image via historyextra.com)

[PJ Fisher]

Balloon Buster Burns
His flying career lasted only nine days.  But from his first fight until his fiery death, Louis Bennett Jr., an American Ivy Leaguer fighting with Britain's No. 40 Squadron, RAF, became an ace twice over.  His first victory, on his initial day of combat, was against a formidable Fokker DVII.  Like his countryman Frank Luke (who first headlined here in November 2022: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=12930.msg249952;topicseen#msg249952), Bennett was a born 'balloon buster' - destroying nine Drachen kite balloons (including four in just one day).  On 24 August, after destroying two balloons during his final flight, Bennett's S.E.5a (Serial no. E3947) burst into flames when it was hit by ground fire.  He survived the fall but died of his injuries soon after being rescued from the wreckage.  Bennett never received any medals for his actions. 
(respectively from the Wheeling Intelligencer and the West Virginian, 29 August 1918):



(images via news.lib.wvu.edu)

Bennett's mother commissioned multiple memorials in his name, several of which can be seen here: https://ww1sacrifice.com/2016/02/09/lieutenant-louis-bennett/. Another is a renowned artwork installed at Westminster Abbey.  "In 1922 a stained glass window was unveiled... to members of the Royal Flying Corps who died during the 1914-1918 war. It was given by Mrs Louis Bennett of West Virginia USA, especially in memory of her son, Lt. Louis Bennett junior. He was born in Weston in 1894 and was killed on 24th August 1918 while serving with no. 40 squadron of the Corps in France. The window overlooks the grave of the Unknown Warrior in the nave and is by the artist Harry Grylls (1873-1953).  The theme of the window is flying men and wings, illustrated by passages from the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel. At the top is a figure of St Michael, patron saint of airmen, trampling the devil angel."

(text and image via westminster-abbey.org)

In the summer of 1927, just weeks after returning from his famous solo Atlantic flight, Charles Lindbergh visited my family's home town of Wheeling, West Virginia and publicly laid a wreath on Bennett's memorial there (footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6-oBgarmOU&t=4s).  More on Bennett's story can be read on this 2017 forum thread:  https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=8818.msg161337#msg161337.  And to see an S.E.5a in action here's forum member gisbod's 1/4th scale flying model: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=7210.msg132828#msg132828

[PJ Fisher]

Spotlight: Billy Bishop
It's been a while since Britain's leading Great-War ace headlined here (https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=12930.msg247867;topicseen#msg247867), so here's a quick update on the Canadian lone-wolf 'birdman'.
(from the Tacoma Times, 30 August 1917):



If you've ever been to Billy Bishop airport in Toronto, Canada, this replica of his Nieuport greets you as you ascend the escalator.  Here's a model of this machine by forum member jeff shreve: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=3326.msg56037#msg56037.
And, as I discovered two days ago, while you're waiting to take off you can also enjoy a cold can of 'Billy Bishop Brown' ale (lest we forget).