British Air Forces 1914 - 1918, Images of War

[dinomartino1]

British officer and his dog at the Wavans War Cemetery where Major James McCudden VC is buried, 13 July 1918.

Bristol Fighter of No. 22 Squadron flying over the aerodrome at Vert Galand Farm, seen in background, 1 April 1918.

Sopwith Camels of No. 32 Squadron at Humieres aerodrome, near St. Pol, 6 April 1918.

The fuselage of an S.E.5a arriving at the aircraft repair depot near Rang du Fliers, 12 July 1918.

An Observer, who has jumped from a Caquot kite balloon, nearing the ground after his parachute descent. Near Metz, 25 January 1918

Pigs reared by a Kite Balloon Section RFC at Biefvillers, 1 February 1918.

Side view of an Handley Page O/400 twin engined bomber, showing position of the front observer and the pilot, and the two swivel Lewis gun mountings in the cockpit for the rear gunner. Former RNAS aerodrome, near Dunkirk, 20 April 1918.

 

[ausreenactor]

View attachment 21326
Bristol Fighter of No. 22 Squadron flying over the aerodrome at Vert Galand Farm, seen in background, 1 April 1918.

Manoeuvres that close to the ground are fraught with 'fraughtness'. Our IPs teach contact drills at 5000 ft so there is less risk of the students rolling the aircraft into the deck....like the MD530s do (with monotonous regularity).

 

[dinomartino1]

S. E. 5 fighter biplane flying over a Caquot kite balloon, set on fire by enemy attack near Boyelles, 3 February 1918.

Two observer officers in the basket of a kite balloon. Note the telephones, map rest, parachute and parachute harness. Photograph taken in Gosnay, 2 May 1918

Pilots and observers studying maps in front of an Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.8. Poperinghe Aerodrome, 12 April 1918.

Pilots and observers studying maps in front of an Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.8. Poperinghe Aerodrome, 12 April 1918.

The commander of No. 22 Squadron talking to the squadron's parrot mascot perched on the propeller of a Bristol Fighter. Serny aerodrome, 17 June 1918.

Airco DH.2 (De Havilland 2) single-seater "pusher" biplane, of the type used successfully against the Fokker biplane early in 1916, taking off at Beauval Aerodrome (Fourth Amy aircraft park). Note flag on strut on right of plane, indicating Flight Commander's machine.

Adjusting the compass of a Sopwith Camel on a revolving table at Rang du Fliers aerodrome, 12 July 1918

 

[B-Man2]

Enjoyed it...
Thanks Dino

 

[dinomartino1]

A British Caquot kite balloon falling down in flames after having been attacked by an enemy aircraft. Boyelles, 3 February 1918

Brigadier General Tom Ince Webb-Bowen presents RAF officers to the King George V at Nieppe Chateau on 6th August 1918. With the King is General Herbert Plumer. Amongst these 2nd Brigade RAF officers was Captain James Jones, who that morning had brought down two enemy machines, making his total score 37.

Testing a Rolls-Royce Eagle engine from a damaged plane at the aircraft repair depot near Rang du Fliers, 12 July 1918.


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Captain Gordon Duff at Le Crotoy aerodrome with a dog wearing the new RAF cap, 2 July 1918.

The basket of a kite balloon, showing the observer's parachute attached to it, and the parachute harness attached to the officer. Photograph taken on 2 May 1918, Gosnay

 

[ausreenactor]

King George... true moustache advocate who sported a 'corker'.

 

[dinomartino1]

Observers and pilots of No. 22 Squadron at Vert Galand aerodrome, 1 April 1918. Each of them had brought down at least three German aircraft. Note the flying kit. Left to right: Lieutenant W.S. Hilltout; Second Lieutenant G.N. Traunweiser; Captain S.H. Wallage; Lieutenant B.C. Budd; Lieutenant G.S. Hayward; Lieutenant Hunter; Lieutenant R. Critchley; Captain W.F.J. Harvey; Lieutenant Moore; Captain H.F. Davison; Captain J.E. Gurdon, Major J.E. McKelvie; Lieutenant Berington; Captain R.S.P. Boby; Lieutenant Harrison and Captain D.M. McGoun

The observer in a Bristol Fighter of No. 22 Squadron at Vert Galand aerodrome. On the fuselage are two of the Squadron's dogs, 1st April 1918.

Photographic plates being handed to an Observer of an Airco DH.4 day bomber to enable him to photograph results obtained by the bombs dropped. Serny aerodrome, 17 February 1918

Pilots of the 149th Squadron RAF constructing a map at the aerodrome near St. Omer, 18 July 1918. This form of 'jigsaw puzzle' was intended to make the pilots of this Night Bombing Squadron familiar with the country.

Pilots of No. 32 Squadron. An American, Canadian, New Zealander, Englishman and South African, respectively; Green, Lawson, Leese, McBean, Hooper. Humieres aerodrome, near St. Pol, 15 May 1918

A Bristol Fighter of No. 22 Squadron, Vert Galand aerodrome, 1 April 1918

 

[B-Man2]

I see that the guys in the basket had one rope connecting them to the shroud lines of their chutes. A wild ride no doubt but better than the alternative..

 

[dinomartino1]

Because of their importance as observation platforms balloons were defended by anti-aircraft guns, because balloons flew at a known altitude AA guns ringing them were extremely accurate, groups of machine guns for low altitude defence and patrolling fighter aircraft. Attacking a balloon was a risky venture.The most successful balloon aces included Belgium's Willy Coppens, Germany's Friedrich Ritter von Röth, America's Frank Luke and the Frenchmen Léon Bourjade, Michel Coiffard and Maurice Boyau.

Observation balloons were an enduring threat from the moment they went up until the moment they went down. Artillery observers sat in them and reported troops positions and movements to their artillery. Some of the top fighter pilots of World War I had few wins against planes but a dozen or more against balloons.
Coppens only shot down two enemy planes in his career but he took down 35 enemy balloons. The next highest scoring pilot was Frenchman Leon Bourjade with 27.

Pilots with the balls and skill to attack these balloons were known as balloon busters and ones that had shot down more than five of the balloons were known as balloon aces. And yes, shooting down a balloon counted as a "kill" as such attacks were considered an especially hazardous undertaking
Many expert balloon busters were careful not to go below 1,000 feet (300 m) in order to avoid exposure to anti-aircraft guns and machine-guns.
The balloons where filled with hydrogen so when set alight they had a tendency to go out in massive fireballs, this was a huge threat to the fighters attacking it.
It also meant that fighters had one advantage though, incendiary rounds were very effective against the balloons but incendiary rounds didn't stay hot forever, generally traveling only 300 to 400 yards while still burning. You did not want to be 300 yards from an exploding balloon and still flying towards it as you would have to be to effectively shoot at it.



World War I observation crews were the first to use parachutes, long before they were adopted by fixed wing aircrews. These were a primitive type, where the main part was in a bag suspended from the balloon, with the pilot only wearing a simple body harness around his waist, with lines from the harness attached to the main parachute in the bag. When the balloonist jumped, the main part of the parachute was pulled from the bag, with the shroud lines first, followed by the main canopy. This type of parachute was first adopted by the Germans and then later by the British and French for their observation balloon crews

The idiom "The balloon's going up!" as an expression for impending battle is derived from the very fact that an observation balloon's ascent likely signaled a preparatory bombardment for an offensive.

 

[Pilot]

Amazing....
Thx for sharing.

 

[ausreenactor]

Amazing....
Thx for sharing.

Ditto.

 

[B-Man2]

View attachment 21370
A British Caquot kite balloon falling down in flames after having been attacked by an enemy aircraft. Boyelles, 3 February 1918

View attachment 21371

Brigadier General Tom Ince Webb-Bowen presents RAF officers to the King George V at Nieppe Chateau on 6th August 1918. With the King is General Herbert Plumer. Amongst these 2nd Brigade RAF officers was Captain James Jones, who that morning had brought down two enemy machines, making his total score 37.

View attachment 21372
Testing a Rolls-Royce Eagle engine from a damaged plane at the aircraft repair depot near Rang du Fliers, 12 July 1918.


.View attachment 21374
Captain Gordon Duff at Le Crotoy aerodrome with a dog wearing the new RAF cap, 2 July 1918.

View attachment 21375

The basket of a kite balloon, showing the observer's parachute attached to it, and the parachute harness attached to the officer. Photograph taken on 2 May 1918, Gosnay

Am I seeing this right? The parachute harness was simply a rope tied around the guys upper torso?? That takes a set of eggs to jump with that set up. But then again if its either that or smashing into the ground at 32 ft/p/sec 2...…………...I'd take option #1

 

[ausreenactor]

As long as you check the knots you are GTG! It just a snazzier harness these days.

 

[B-Man2]

As long as you check the knots you are GTG! It just a snazzier harness these days.

When that canopy popped open I bet those groin ropes would be a bitch!

 

[dinomartino1]

 

[ausreenactor]

With a bit over a week to go here we are starting to draw down. Got back in daylight yesterday, which was nice. Keep them coming!

 

[dinomartino1]

War graves of airmen near Hesdin. In several cases damaged four bladed propellers are used as headstones, 14 July 1918.

Pilots of No. 207 Squadron in flying kit outside a Nissen hut at Ligescourt Aerodrome, 25 August 1918.

A pilot of an S.E.5a of No. 1 Squadron firing the Lewis Gun on the upper plane of his machine. Clairmarais aerodrome, near St. Omer, 3 July 1918.

Pilot (possibly Captain Wendell W. Rogers of No. 1 Squadron RFC) in the cockpit of a Nieuport Scout biplane at Bailleul Aerodrome, 27 December 1917. Note a Lewis machine gun on upper plane.

Pilots and observers studying maps in front of an Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.8. Poperinghe Aerodrome, 12 April 1918.

A Bristol Fighter of No. 22 Squadron; the "flank guard" in the formation. Taken from another machine. Serny aerodrome 17 June 1918.

 

[dinomartino1]

The Pilot of an S.E.5a of No. 1 Squadron putting a fresh double drum of ammunition on the Lewis Gun on the upper plane of his machine. Clairmarais aerodrome, 3 July 1918.

Issuing Lewis guns with Lewis and Vickers ammunition to observers and pilots of No. 22 Squadron at the aerodrome at Vert Galand, 1 April 1918

Officers and S.E.5a Scouts of No. 1 Squadron at Clairmarais aerodrome near St. Omer, 3rd July 1918

King George V watching mechanics at work on a wrecked plane at No. 4 Squadron aerodrome near Cassel, 6 July 1917. This had crashed down out of control only a quarter of an hour previously, having had its controls shot through by two enemy machines. Although landing at a speed of 80 miles an hour, neither the Pilot (Lieutenant Longton) nor the Observer were injured beyond having a very severe shaking

An observer in a Bristol Fighter of the No. 22 Squadron with his dog. Vert Galland, 1 April 1918. Note Scarff mounting capable of carrying either a single or twin Lewis gun.

Testing engines in repaired Airco DH.4 fuselages at aircraft repair depot near Rang du Fliers, 12 July 1918.

Three pilots of No. 1 Squadron, RFC, studying maps by an S.E.5a at Clairmarais aerodrome, 3 July 1918.

 

[ausreenactor]

When that canopy popped open I bet those groin ropes would be a bitch!

Nuts on the 'inside' boys.

 

[B-Man2]

Nuts on the 'inside' boys.

Good one!!