pearsonica Posted 20 November , 2008 Share Posted 20 November , 2008 I have a picture of my Grandfather and it is funny that my mates call me Bigs or Biggles. Seeing him in this Long scarf He must be the original Biggles. Would he be in front of the Hangers in Birmingham where he learnt to fly? Could some one also let me know if this crashed aircraft is a newport I can't quite read the number on the tail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlight Posted 23 November , 2008 Share Posted 23 November , 2008 I'm no expert but didn't the Nieuports with square section fuselages have 'V' struts, not the parrallel ones as shown in the photo? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Roberts Posted 23 November , 2008 Share Posted 23 November , 2008 The twin bays (i.e two sets of struts between the wings) and the single skid between the wheels suggest this is an Avro 504. The pale fuselage colour (unpainted doped linen) suggests this is from early in the war, though that is a generalization and its difficult to be certain of colour shades in black and white photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 23 November , 2008 Share Posted 23 November , 2008 I agree with Adrian - it looks like an Avro 504 with a non-standard proportions fuselage roundel. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlight Posted 23 November , 2008 Share Posted 23 November , 2008 I agree with Adrian - it looks like an Avro 504 with a non-standard proportions fuselage roundel. Gareth Gareth, I just happened to notice a picture of a crashed 504 in an old C&C journal (1973) that had an identical roundel (both in diameter and position). It was from 52 Training Squadron - but I don't have a date on it. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 23 November , 2008 Share Posted 23 November , 2008 Steve I've seen a few photos of Avros 504s with 'French-style' proportioned roundels, ie 4/7/10 or the modern RAF 1/2/3 rather than the standard RFC/RNAS 1/3/5 (where the first number is the red inner, the second the white circle and the third the blue. It obviously took a while to get things standardised. Cheers Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearsonica Posted 6 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 6 February , 2020 I have just found a better picture of this crashed Aircraft in my Grandfathers trunk we have found in my father's House. It looks like he once flew this aircraft its an Avro 504 not sure of the Mark but the photo was taken end of August 1915 when he was with 20 Squadron at Netheravon when he was getting some advance flying training. It was certainly advanced compared to the Maurice Farman he flew at Castle Bromwich at the begging of August 1915. You can see the tail section better which is definatly an Avro 504. The Number I believe is A760. The A being obliterated by the ground. I attach a copy of his log book showing that the instructor was Captain C. W. Wilson (Any body got a photo of the Chap or info on him?) Regards Ian Pearson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travers61 Posted 6 February , 2020 Share Posted 6 February , 2020 The only C.W. Wilson I could see in the Royal Aero Club certificate records was Lt Christopher William WILSON, HM Army who passed his test in 1912. His medal index card shows he was Seaforth Highlanders (attached RFC) and ended the war as a LT-Col in the RAF. Disembarked in France 16th August 1914. By 1915 with three years flying experience, and possibly flying on the Western Front from August 1914, seems just the type to have been an advanced training instructor. both images courtesy of ancestry.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travers61 Posted 6 February , 2020 Share Posted 6 February , 2020 A fatal crash at Farnborough in 1914, which Wilson survived is mentioned in this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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