Tally Ho! ...............

[brindlerp]

"Farman Experimental 2

Initially used for reconnaissance, the Farman Experimental 2 two-seater biplane ended the "Fokker Scourge" over the Somme. Like the single-seat D.H.2, it was a "pusher" and items floating about in the nacelle inevitably ended up being swept back into the propeller, sometimes with disastrous results. Armed with two or three Lewis guns and a camera, the observer sat far forward in the nacelle, directly in front of the pilot. Vulnerable to attacks from rear, the F.E.2 was frequently shot down. During the summer of 1916, the Germans captured one of the first F.E.2d's when a British pilot inadvertently landed his new aircraft at an enemy aerodrome. The introduction of more advanced aircraft made the F.E.2 an ineffective fighter and by 1917 it was primarily used for bombing missions."

Check out http://members.lycos.co.uk/Biggles266/fe2.html

This site has a nice summary with pictures/photographs of military aircraft [ http://members.lycos.co.uk/Biggles266/plane.htm ]

regards

Richard

[MikeW]

Oh dear, the perils of uniformed internet content!

I suspect whoever composed the web site was actually thinking of the DH2 single seat scout when they wrote about the "FE" ending the Fokker Scourge.

The FE2 was never an effective fighter, in any of its variants - in its time it was relatively effective when flown defensively and co-operatively. A defensive ring of FE2s was once likened to a hedgehog!

The FE2 was a large aeroplane, it handled like a pig, and was best suited to reconnnaissance and photographic missions - by 1917 usually accompanied by several flights of scouts to stop them being blasted out of the sky by the defenders.

[Dolphin]

Despite the shortcomings of the type, it was the crew of an FE2, specifically an FE2d (the nearest relative of the well known FE2b) who were the only airmen to shoot down Manfred von Richthofen in air to air combat. No mean feat!

On 6 July 1917, Captain Donald Charles Cunnell (formerly Hampshire Regiment) and 2Lt Albert Edward Woodbridge, flying FE2d A6512 of No 20 Sqn RFC were part of a six aircraft patrol when attacked by a number of Albatros D.Vs from Jasta 11. During the combat, von Richthofen was wounded in the head and forced to land near Wervicq. Although not certain, the victory was credited to the crew of A6512.

[MartinWills]

I have a feeling that the Germans managed to reciprocate the gesture by delivering one of their new aircraft directly to a British Aerodrome! No doubt some wise soul will be able to give us chapter & verse!

[MikeW]

Despite the shortcomings of the type, it was the crew of an FE2, specifically an FE2d (the nearest relative of the well known FE2b) who were the only airmen to shoot down Manfred von Richthofen in air to air combat. No mean feat!

There's a well publicised theory that MVR was too far away to have been shot down by Cunnell & Woodbridge, but was most probably downed by "friendly fire" as one of his own men cleared their guns prior to attack. If I recall correctly Cunnell and Woodbridge did not actually submit a claim for MVR.

When Naval 10 (who were also involved in the dogfight) arrived on the scene, the red Albatros fighters were trying to attack the FE2 defensive hedgehog, a dangerous proposition and not at all MVR's preferred method of attack.

I would suggest that the FEs greatest feat was not giving MVR a new parting in his hair (maybe), but the undisputed downing of Max Immelman on the 18th June 1916 - 2Lt GR McCubbin and Cpl JH Waller taking the honours. If Immelman was the Fokker Scourge then I agree, the FE2 finished it - however, there were lots more Fokkers about!

We can all dredge up remarkable feats carried out by the crews of some of these terrible Royal Aircraft Factory 2-seaters, be they BE, FE or RE series, but it doesn't disguise the fact that the machinery was dire.

[cameldriver]

I would suggest that the FEs greatest feat was not giving MVR a new parting in his hair (maybe), but the undisputed downing of Max Immelman on the 18th June 1916 - 2Lt GR McCubbin and Cpl JH Waller taking the honours. If Immelman was the Fokker Scourge then I agree, the FE2 finished it - however, there were lots more Fokkers about!

There is some doubt that McCubbin and Waller actually got Immelman. Many subscribe to the theory put out by the Germans that Immelman shot his own prop off as the result of a malfunctioning synchronizer.

[Guest Biplane pilot]

One of the v. Richthofen books has a photo of Manfred's helmet from the July '17 event, and it's pretty clear that the round came more from behind than the front. Would that be a Red versus Red casualty?

[Dolphin]

Martin

The delivery of a new German type to a British aerodrome doesn't ring a bell at the moment. The two best known instances of new types arriving on the wrong side of the lines are the abovementioned FE2d incident (aircraft A5 landed at Haubourdin on 1 June 1916) and the arrival on the Western Front of 1463, the third production Handley Page 0/100, nicknamed "L'Amazon". After two attempts to fly across to the RNAS at Dunkerque in December 1916, the crerw had another try on foggy 1 January 1917, only to become lost and end up landing at Chalandry, near Laon, the aerodrome of Flieger Abteilung (A) 308.

The prevailing westerly wind clearly didn't help lost pilots.

Cheers