|
211 Squadron in World War I
No 211 Squadron RAF formed on 1 April 1918 out of No 11 Squadron RNAS, which itself had re-formed as a bomber squadron at Petit Synthe on 10 March 1918 after a brief existence as a RNAS fighter unit from March to August 1917.
211 Squadron RAF ‘A’ Flight Officers and mechanics with DH9 1918
(Norrie Collection, 211 Newbury Squadron ATC)
Most things in Service life have a reason and that includes the apparently simple Squadron numbers, where the old RNAS Squadrons that reappeared in the RAF gained their new numbers by the simple expedient of adding 200 to their original identity.
Movements and equipment
|
Date
|
Remarks
|
|
|
10 March 1918
|
Re-formed as No 11 (Naval) Squadron RNAS
Petit Synthe, Dunkirk
|
|
|
March 1918
|
DH4 (April 1918)
|
|
|
April 1918
|
DH9 (March 1919)
|
|
|
1 April 1918
|
Redesignated as no 211 Squadron RAF
|
|
|
24 October 1918
|
Iris Farm, near Clary
|
|
|
3 December 1918
|
Thuillies, near Charleroi
|
|
|
15 March 1919
|
Wyton
|
|
|
24 June 1919
|
Disbanded
|
|
Operations over Flanders 1918
Summary of operations
|
Item
|
Remarks
|
No
|
|
|
Aircraft: DH9, BHP engine (200hp and 230hp)
|
Number of replacements
|
64
|
|
|
Enemy aircraft
|
Destroyed
|
19
|
|
|
|
Completely out of control
|
16
|
|
|
Weight of bombs dropped
|
Tons
|
150
|
|
|
Reconnaissance
|
Sorties
|
100
|
|
|
Reconnaissance (photographic)
|
Sorties
|
105
|
|
From March to the end of August 1918, the Squadron attacked over 30 objectives in Flanders with its Airco DH9 aircraft, many repeatedly. The bombing raids were directed, for the most part, against the German submarine campaign through repeated attacks on Bruges Docks, on Zeebrugge Mole and Harbour, and on Ostende Docks. While post-war analysis eventually showed that the anti-submarine campaign was nowhere near as successful as first thought in terms of U-boats destroyed, the Germans were put to a great deal of trouble by the incessant attacks upon their port facilities.
9 May 1918
“The weather was fine with considerable haze. 27 tons of bombs were dropped. Enemy aircraft were fairly active in the whole front [...]
Lt W Gillman and 2nd Lt R Lardner, 211 Sqn, whilst returning from a bomb raid encountered an EA Triplane. A few rounds were fired into the EA and it went down in flames over Zeebrugge mole.â€
RAF Communique
19 May 1918
“The weather was fine. 32 tons of bombs were dropped. Enemy aircraft activity was slight on the front[...]
Lt JS Forgie and 2nd Lt JS Muir, 211 Sqn, were attacked by several EA while on a bombing raid over Blanckenburghe. The Observer fire 30 rounds into one EA, which nosed-dived and caught fire on hitting the ground.â€
RAF Communique
13 August 1918
“Weather fine. 21½ tons of bombs were dropped by night and 20½ tons by day. Enemy aircraft active.[...]
A raid was carried out [...] on Varssenaere Aerodrome [...]. 211 Sqn bombed the aerodrome after the low flying attack was over, and demolished the chateau.â€
RAF Communique
These operations were carried out while the Squadron was co-operating with the Royal Navy, and their success drew messages of congratulation from the Vice Admiral, Dover Patrol and later from GOC 5th Group RAF, Brig Gen GL Lambe.
In later operations in support of the Belgian Army, the objectives included aerodromes and associated ammunition and supply dumps. Of the final month of their bombing offensive, conducted from 28 September 1918 without escort, the Squadron’s own narrative history (AIR 1/696/21/20/211) remarked:
“Many large formations of EA [enemy aircraft] were met during this period but the close formation kept by 211 Squadron kept its casualties at the very minimum.â€
From late October 1918, the Squadron operated purely as a reconnaissance and photographic unit, continuing to give a good account of itself against enemy aircraft in carrying out its duties. During a photographic reconnaissance sortie in the final week of the Great War, a formation of 211 Squadron DH9s shot down 3 Fokker biplanes and drove another down out of control.
4 November 1918
“Weather: mist in early morning, fine afterwards. 6½ tons of bombs dropped by night and 29½ tons dropped by day. Considerable enemy aircraft activity.[...]
A formation of 211 Sqn, while on a photographic reconnaissance, was attacked by a formation of EA whose leader was fired on by the pilots and Observers of two machines—2nd Lts CH Dickins (c) and WJ Large, 2nd Lts WG Watson (c) and Sgt C Lamont. This EA went on fire and broke up, the pilot leaving the machine in a parachute which did not open. 2nd Lt Adam, Observer, fired at another of the EA which passed close above him. This machine fell in a spin and was seen by other officers to burst into flames on hitting the ground. 2nd Lt GE Moore, Observer, also destroyed an EA which was seen to crash by two other Observers.â€
RAF Communique
211 Squadron personnel losses 1918
In the course of its work over Flanders from March to November 1918, the Squadron suffered the loss of 45 aircrew. Of these, 22 were killed and 25 taken prisoner or interned (Holland had remained neutral, interning aircraft and men who landed on Dutch territory). A further 18 men were wounded, while two men died of illness.
|
Aircrew
|
Killed or missing in action, died of wounds,
killed on air operations
|
Died of illness
|
Wounded
|
Prisoner,
Germany
|
Interned,
Holland
|
|
|
Pilots
|
8
|
|
8
|
5
|
8
|
|
|
Observers
|
14
|
|
10
|
5
|
7
|
|
|
Other
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
22
|
2
|
18
|
10
|
15
|
|
Source: History of 211 Squadron RAF TNA AIR 1/696 21/20/211 amended from known aircraft and other CWGC records
Honour Roll
As 211 Squadron RAF, their first casualty of the war was 2nd Lt HM Moodie: seconded from the Seaforth Highlanders and flying as an Observer, he died of wounds on 6 April 1918.
With the casual brutality of war, their last loss in action came on the day before the Armistice: 2nd Lt JHR Smith, Observer, died after his aircraft D7362 was hit by enemy fire during a reconnaissance sortie on 10 November 1918.
The Great War had come to an end but that Winter the first, most terrible, influenza epidemic was already spreading and so in the first Spring of peace came the Squadron’s final losses: Charles Forehead and Karl Krall, both aged just 19.
Compiled from material kindly supplied by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, from Sturtivant and Page’s DH4/DH9 File, from unpublished research kindly shared by John Grech and from the 211 Squadron Returns of Casualties to All Ranks (TNA AIR 1/930/204/242/13) and Casualty Reports to Personnel and Machines (AIR 1/1930/204/242/12), this roll now records the loss of 24 men of 211 Squadron RAF in the course of World War.
Eight of the 211 Squadron dead of the Great War lie in Dunkirk Town Cemetery, where 460 Commonwealth men of the First World War rest. Five others are commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial for the nearly 1,000 Commonwealth airmen lost over the Western Front with no known grave. Wherever they lie, all are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
|
Name
|
Rank
|
Duty
|
Age
|
Date
|
Remarks & DH9 serial
|
Cemetery or memorial
|
|
WJ Atkinson
|
AC1
|
Observer
|
|
13 Jul 1918
|
Forced-landed at sea near Nieuport —drowned. B9346
|
Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern
|
|
SJ Bence
|
Cpl
|
Observer
|
20
|
14 Aug 1918
|
KIA, B7614
|
Hoogstade War
|
|
JB Blundell
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
29 Sep 1918
|
KIA, D3093
|
Arras Flying Services Memorial
|
|
CL Bray
|
Lt
|
Observer
|
18
|
19 May 1918
|
KIA, D2784
|
Zeebrugge
|
|
CC Brouncker
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
20
|
4 Nov 1918
|
MIA, F1157
|
Arras Flying Services Memorial
|
|
VA Fair MC
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
20 Sep 1918
|
KIA D565
|
Harlebeke
|
|
CR Forehead
|
2nd Cpl
|
|
19
|
15 Mar 1919
|
Influenza
|
Marcinelle New
|
|
CK Flower *
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
15 May 1918
|
KAO, B7600.
CWGC records 218 Squadron
|
Dunkirk Town
|
|
W Gilman
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
19
|
13 Jul 1918
|
Forced-landed at sea near Nieuport —drowned, missing. B9346
|
Arras Flying Services Memorial
|
|
WJ Johnson
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
27
|
13 October 1918
|
PoW, DoW. E8936
|
Niederzwehren
|
|
K Krall
|
LAC
|
|
30
|
28 Feb 1919
|
Pneumonia
|
Charleroi
|
|
TW Kelly
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
19
|
29 Sep 1918
|
KIA D482
|
Dunkirk Town
|
|
R Lardner
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
26 May 1918
|
KIA, D1693
|
Dunkirk Town
|
|
TF Le Mesurier
DSC & 2 bars
|
Capt
|
Pilot
|
21
|
26 May 1918
|
KIA, D1693
|
Dunkirk Town
|
|
CD Macdonald
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
18
|
4 Nov 1918
|
MIA, F1157
|
Arras Flying Services Memorial
|
|
IAB McTavish*
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
22
|
15 May 1918
|
KAO, B7600.
CWGC records 218 Squadron
|
Dunkirk Town
|
|
HM Moodie
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
6 Apr 1918
|
Died of wounds, B7603
|
Dunkirk Town
|
|
ES Morgan
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
7 Sep 1918
|
KIA, crashed in sea D2918
|
Dunkirk Town
|
|
HM Partridge 317264
|
Sgt
|
Observer
|
18
|
25 Jul 1918
|
Interned but died of wounds, D2781
|
Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern
|
|
R Shephard*
|
Private First class
|
Observer
|
|
25 Jun 1918
|
KIA. CWGC records 211 Squadron but C2176 recorded as a 206 Squadron a/c
|
Arras Flying Services Memorial
|
|
R Simpson
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
19
|
7 Sep 1918
|
KIA, crashed in sea D2918
|
Dunkirk Town
|
|
JHR Smith
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
19
|
10 Nov 1918
|
KIA, D7362
|
Gougnies
|
|
NA Taylerson
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
19 May 1918
|
KIA, D2784
|
Zeebrugge
|
|
AG White
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
23
|
29 Sep 1918
|
KIA, D3093
|
Dadizeele
New British
|
* Discrepancies between the principal published sources are as noted, however, each of these three men appear in the relevant 211 Squadron Return of Casualties on the correct dates (TNA AIR 1/1930 204/242/13 and they may be confidently recorded as Squadron losses.
Prisoners of War and Internees
A partial roll, extracted from Sturtivant and Page’s DH4/DH9 File and partly reconciled with the Squadron Return of Casualties. More entries may follow in time.
|
Name
|
Rank
|
Duty
|
Age
|
Date
|
Remarks & DH9 serial
|
|
WL Bing
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
8 Aug 1918
|
Interned. B7624
|
|
JJ Comerford
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
27 Jun 1918
|
Interned. B7620 ‘A’
|
|
F Daltrey
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
25 Jun 1918
|
PoW. C2176 - 206 Sqn?
|
|
LK Davidson
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
8 Aug 1918
|
Interned. B7624
|
|
JA Dear
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
24 Aug 1918
|
Interned. D7204 ‘J’
|
|
TB Dodwell
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
16 Aug 1918
|
Interned. C6348
|
|
WG Gadd
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
1 Nov 1918
|
PoW. D3241
|
|
JA Gray
|
Capt
|
Pilot
|
|
27 Jun 1918
|
Interned. B7620 ‘A’
|
|
RS Gude
|
Sgt
|
Pilot
|
|
25 Jul 1918
|
Interned. D2781 ‘M’
|
|
DR Harris USAS
|
1 Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
16 Aug 1918
|
Interned. B7623 ‘L’
|
|
NB Harris
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
21 May 1918
|
PoW. B7661
|
|
W Henley-Mooney USAS
|
1 Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
29 Sep 1918
|
Wounded, interned. D565
|
|
WJ Johnson
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
27
|
13 Oct 1918
|
PoW, DoW. E8936 28 Sep 1918
|
|
WE Jones
|
Sgt
|
Observer
|
|
28 Sep 1918
|
PoW. E8936
|
|
RL Kingham
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
24 Sep 1918
|
Interned. D3251
|
|
J Munro
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
16 Aug 1918
|
Interned. B7623 ‘L’
|
|
J Olorenshaw
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
24 Sep 1918
|
Interned. D3251
|
|
HM Partridge 317264
|
Sgt
|
Observer
|
18
|
25 Jul 1918
|
Interned but died of wounds, D2781
|
|
JM Payne
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
1 Nov 1918
|
PoW. D3241
|
|
JFJ Peters
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
24 Aug 1918
|
Interned. D7204 ‘J’
|
|
HE Tansley
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
21 May 1918
|
PoW. B7661
|
|
CH Thomas
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
10 Nov 1918
|
PoW. D7362
|
|
RM Wynne-Eaton
|
Capt
|
Pilot
|
|
16 August
|
Interned. C6348
|
Wounded in action
A partial roll, extracted from Sturtivant and Page’s DH4/DH9 File. More entries will follow in time.
|
Name
|
Rank
|
Duty
|
Age
|
Date
|
Remarks & DH9 serial
|
|
DJ Avery
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
3 October 1918
|
B7626 ‘O’
|
|
GH Baker
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
16 Aug 1918
|
B7679
|
|
NG Breeze
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
17 Jul 1918
|
B7581
|
|
CWT Coleman
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
13 Jul 1918
|
B7624 ‘P’
|
|
W Henley-Mooney USAS
|
1 Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
29 Sep 1918
|
Wounded & interned D565
|
|
H Lindsay
|
Sgt Mech
|
Observer
|
|
7 Oct 1918
|
C1168
|
|
R Loraine
|
Major
|
Observer
|
|
20 Jul 1918
|
Squadron CO. B7624 ‘P’.
|
|
JL McAdam
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
7 Oct 1918
|
C1168
|
|
CH Miller
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
13 Aug 1918
|
B7614
|
|
J Steel Muir
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot?
|
|
7 Oct 1918
|
C1168
|
|
HH Palmer
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
14 Jul 1918
|
??
|
|
VGH Phillips
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
|
5 oct 1918
|
E8672
|
|
DF Taber
|
Lt
|
Observer
|
|
16 Jul 1918
|
D7369
|
|
AF Taylor
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
|
5 October 1918
|
E8872
|
Gallantry Awards
Distinguished Service Order
1st Lt AF Bonnalie (United States)
2nd Lt TB Dodwell
London Gazette 2 November 1918
“On a recent occasion this officer, when acting as Observer, performed a very gallant and meritorious action. In diving to the assistance of another machine, his own machine commenced to fall out of control. Despite this, he continued to engage three enemy machines that were attacking him, and eventually drove them off, an operation that called for great coolness and skill as the shooting platform was most unsteady. Realising that the machine was out of control owing to the loss of lift in the tail plane, half of this being shot away, he left his cockpit, and, climbing along the wing, lay down along the cowling in front of the pilot, enabling the latter to obtain partial control of the machine and head for home. When nearing the ground he climbed back into his cockpit to allow the nose to rise, and the pilot succeeded in safely landing. The presence of mind and cool courage of this officer undoubtedly saved the machine, and deserves the highest praise.â€
Supplement to the London Gazette 2 November 1918 Issue No 30989 p12959.
Major GRM Reid MC
2nd Bar to Distinguished Service Cross
Capt TF Le Mesurier DSC & bar
London Gazette 18 June 1918
For gallantry and consistent good work. He has at all times displayed the utmost gallantry in action and by his determination and skill has set a very fine example to the pilots of his squadron. On the 23rd April 1918, in spite of bad weather conditions, he successfully dropped bombs on the Ostend Docks from a height of 800 feet amidst very intense anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire. He also made valuable observations. He has taken part in many bomb raids and has destroyed or driven down out of control several enemy machines.
Distinguished Flying Cross
Capt H Axford
Lieut CH Dickins
Lieut JF Drake
Capt WD Gairdner
Capt HM Ireland
London Gazette 2 November 1918
“On the 29th August this officer was leader of a large formation detailed for a long distance bombing raid on certain enemy docks. A strong and adverse wind was blowing and thick clouds almost obscured the ground, rendering the task of reaching such a distant object one of great difficulty. Carefully studying the compass and making what he considered due allowance for the wind he led his formation to a point which he judged would be in the vicinity of the objective. A break in the clouds showed that he was correct, and the docks were effectually bombed. During the five months Captain Ireland has been with his present squadron he has led forty-three long distance raids, and the foregoing is only one instance of many in which he has shown judgement, skill and determination of a very exceptional nature.â€
Capt HN Lett
Lieut ES Morgan
Distinguished Flying Medal
222589 Sergeant F Wilkinson
Mentioned in despatches
Major GRM Reid DSO MC
Capt TF Le Mesurier DSC & bar
Commanding Officers
|
Name
|
Rank
|
Dates
|
Remarks
|
|
HG Travers DSC
|
Major
|
6 March 1918 to 28 May 1918
|
|
|
R Loraine DSO MC
|
Major
|
29 May 1918 to 20 July 1918
|
Wounded 20 Jul 1918 B7624 ‘P’
|
|
GRM Reid DSO MC
|
Major
|
25 July 1918 to 9 March 1919
|
Later of 206 and 45 Squadrons, Egypt, AOC Aden 193 to 1941, AOC West Africa. Retired 1946.
|
|
HN Lett
|
Capt
|
10 March 1919 to 24 June 1919
|
|
Flight Commanders
|
Name
|
Rank
|
Service
|
Dates
|
Remarks
|
|
TF Le Mesurier DSC & Bar
|
Capt
|
RNAS
|
10 March 1918 to
26 May 1918
|
Killed in action 26 May 1918. D1693
|
|
PE Beasley
|
Capt
|
RNAS
|
9 March 1918 to
2 July 1918
|
|
|
HM Ireland DFC
|
Capt
|
RNAS
|
7 March 1918
to 6 October 1918
|
Canada
|
|
JA Gray
|
Capt
|
RNAS
|
27 May 1918 to
27 June 1918
|
Interned, Holland 27 June 1918.
B7620 ‘A’
|
|
HN Lett DFC RFC
|
Capt
|
RFC
|
2 July 1918 to
(11 January 1919)
|
|
|
RM Wynne-Eyton MC
|
Capt
|
RFC
|
5 July 1918 to
16 August 1918
|
Interned, Holland 16 August 1918. C6348
|
|
WD Gairdner DFC
|
Capt
|
RNAS
|
17 August 1918 to
(11 January 1919)
|
|
|
H Axford DFC
|
Capt
|
RFC
|
7 October 1918 to
(11 January 1919)
|
Canada
|
Other aircrew
A partial roll, compiled from records immediately to hand, for aircrew other than those already listed.
|
Name
|
|
Duty
|
Known service
|
Remarks, including DH9 serial
|
|
AM Adam RAF
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
August to November 1918
|
B7626. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918
|
|
DA Alexander
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
August 1918
|
|
|
RM Alston
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
October 1918
|
|
|
H Axford
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
July 1918
|
|
|
AB Bedford
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
August 1918
|
|
|
WF Blanchfield
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
November 1918
|
E8880. Fokker DVII 9 November 1918
|
|
AF Bonnalie
|
1st Lt
|
Pilot
|
August 1918
|
United States
|
|
DL Bradley
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
May 1918
|
|
|
CO Carson
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
August 1918
|
Canada
|
|
CH Dickins DFC
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
August 1918
|
Canada. B7626. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918
|
|
JF Drake
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
July to November 1918
|
|
|
JS Forgie
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
May 1918
|
|
|
EG Gaff
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
Nov 1918
|
|
|
WD Gairdner DFC
|
Capt
|
Pilot
|
September 1918
|
Flight Commander
|
|
GC Hope
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
August 1918
|
|
|
PM Keary
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
October 1918
|
|
|
C Lamont
|
Sgt
|
Observer
|
November 1918
|
D551. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918
|
|
WJ Large
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
November 1918
|
E8962. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918
|
|
HW Lett
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
Jun 1918
|
|
|
TR Lole
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
November 1918
|
E8880. Fokker DVII 9 November 1918
|
|
RG Marshall
|
Sgt
|
Observer
|
November 1918
|
|
|
JH McLellan
|
2nd Lt
|
|
November 1918
|
|
|
RFC Metcalfe
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
May 1918
|
|
|
CH Miller
|
Lt
|
Pilot
|
August 1918
|
Wounded 13 August 1918
|
|
GJ Moore
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
November 1918
|
B7581. 1 Fokker destroyed 1 November 1918
|
|
HW Newsham
|
Pvt
|
Observer
|
August 1918
|
|
|
BJ Paget
|
Lt
|
Observer
|
November 1918
|
B7603. 1 Fokker out of control 4 November 1918
|
|
HB Shaw
|
2nd Lt
|
Observer
|
August 1918
|
|
|
PC Silversten
|
Sgt
|
Observer
|
August 1918
|
|
|
WC Snowdon
|
2nd Lt
|
|
November 1918
|
|
|
WG Watson
|
2nd Lt
|
Pilot
|
November 1918
|
Canada. D551. 1/3rd share Fokker destroyed 4 November 1918
|
|
SC Welch
|
1st Lt
|
Pilot
|
August 1918
|
|
|
F Wilkinson
|
Cpl
|
Observer
|
July, August 1918
|
|
Ground Officers
|
Name
|
|
Duty
|
Dates
|
Remarks
|
|
S Hobbs
|
2nd Lt
|
Equipment
|
10 March 1918 to
(11 January 1919)
|
|
|
White
|
2nd Lt
|
Engines
|
9 March 1918 to
2 July 1918
|
|
|
2nd Lt Towler DSM
|
2nd Lt
|
Rigging
|
13 March 1918
to 10 June 1918
|
|
|
WA Herbert
|
Capt
|
Armament
|
13 March 1918
to 25 September 1918
|
|
|
AE Dark
|
Lt
|
Armament
|
26 September 1918 to
(11 January 1919)
|
|
|
Tapper
|
Capt
|
Records
|
13 March 1918 to
24 May 1918
|
|
|
Clapp
|
1st Lt
|
Records
|
25 May 1918 to
26 June 1918
|
United States
|
|
GF Bishop
|
Lt
|
Records
|
7 July 1918 to
(11 January 1919)
|
|
Personnel of 211 Squadron RAF 13 November 1918 (Norrie Collection, 211 Newbury Squadron ATC)
Officers of 211 Squadron RAF 13 November 1918 (Norrie Collection, 211 Newbury Squadron ATC)
Front row: Palmer, Miller, Tyler, Blanchfield, Hope, McClellan, Taber, Axford, Gairdner, Major Reid, Lett, Bishop, Mousley, Drake, Paget, Moore, Large, Norrie.
Back row: Drudge, Thomas, Lole, Bedford, St. Ogger, Dickins, Snowden, Robinson, Keary, Stevenson, Watson, Gill, White, Tyrol, Watts, Adam, Dark.
A print of this same image, held in the collection of Arthur Bernard Bedford (who is fourth from the left, rear), was captioned with these names on the rear. Thanks to John Grech and the Bedford family for this added information.
Airco DH9
Intended as a long-range bomber to replace the Airco DH4 and in part identical in design, the DH9 was hobbled from the start by poor engine selection. Even de-rated to a wholly inadequate 230hp, the untried BHP (later Siddeley Puma) engine was far less reliable than the DH4's 375hp Rolls-Royce Eagle V12.
Engine apart, the main difference in the DH9 design was that instead of being separated by the fuel tank, the pilot’s and Observer’s cockpits were now placed back-to-back and aft of the tank. While this proximity was an advantage in combat and more liked by the crews, it could not compensate for the poor performance in speed and altitude essential against enemy fighters or flak.
Trenchard and de Havilland were unable to convince the Controller of Supplies in the Ministry of Munitions, Sir William Weir PC (later President of the Air Council), to halt large-scale production of an aircraft type known from the outset to be of inferior performance and reliability. Their efforts in attempting to rectify such a poor decision have been well recorded.
Still, of the new design, Jane’s 1918 edition of All the World’s Aircraft remarked with blithe if inaccurate optimism:
“The total weight empty has been reduced by almost 100lb...and the total load carried has been increased by about 500lbs at the cost of a slight loss in speed and climb...â€
But in fact—if it could be coaxed to do so at all— it took a DH9 three times longer than the DH4 to reach 15,000 feet and when it got there, it was fully 30mph slower.
In production, whether as the Galloway BHP, the Siddeley BHP or as the Siddely Puma, no amount of fiddling could wring either better reliability from the engine or raise its power-rating to anything like that originally hoped for or required. In service, the DH9s thus suffered too-frequent engine failure and struggled to reach or exceed 13,000ft bombed-up, at which height they were vulnerable to AA and fighter interception.
Eventually, redesigned to take a 400hp Packard Liberty V12, the aircraft became the robust and justly famous DH9A or "Nine-Ack". But not before RFC and RAF Squadrons were forced to fight and die in their wallowing DH9s over the Western Front in 1918. Fortunately the DH9 crews were able to give a good account of themselves in the right conditions, recording a number of victories.
Specifications
|
General
|
Bomber. Single-engined, two-bay biplane, conventional wire-braced wooden box-girder fuselage construction with ply-clad unbraced forward section, fabric covered
|
|
Crew
|
Pilot and Observer, seated back to back
|
|
Engine
|
230hp Galloway BHP, Siddeley BHP or Siddely Puma (240hp at 1400ft)
|
|
Armament
|
One fixed .303in Vickers machine gun with Constantinesco CC interrupter gear firing forward above the forward fuselage.
One or two .303in Lewis machine guns on Scarff No 2 ring in rear cockpit
2x230lb or 4x112lb or smaller bombs, in the internal bomb-bay or under the fuselage or on wing racks
|
|
Weights
|
Empty 2200lb (DH4 2300lb)
Military load 570lb
Loaded 3670lb (DH4 3470lb)
|
|
Range
|
Endurance 4.5hrs
|
|
Service ceiling
|
15000ft
|
|
Rate of climb
|
20min to 10000ft (DH4 9min)
45min to 15000ft (DH4 17min) (with 2x230lb bombs)
67min to 16500ft (DH4 20min)
|
|
Speed
|
With full bomb load
112mph at 10000ft (DH4 134mph)
97mph at 15000ft (DH4 126mph)
Landing speed: 57 mph (DH4 52mph)
|
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