R T T Waring 54 Squadron 1918/Camel B7407

[tomdtwaring]

Someone has been most kind and informed me that my grandfather

R.T.T. Waring flew with No 54 Sqn and while with that unit crashed on landing in Camel B7407 on 22 April 1918. He was unhurt and after repair thatCamel went to the 17th US Aero Squadron.

I am keen to learn anything more I can about his war service. I was referred to some biographical information at RootsWeb: DORSET-L [DOR] Sherborne School (King's School) but that Mr Armstrong has moved/no longer has his email address so that lead has gone cold.

I am very keen to find out about where 54 Squadron was based in France in 1918 and if there are any other records of 2nd Lieut R.T.T. Waring. I am also keen to find either a photograph (ideally) or the markings that would have been accurate for Camel B7407 which he flew (crashed!). Any 54 Squadron photos from France in 1918 would also be of huge interest.

Final snippet, he also crashed (reportedly) at Croydon aerodrome. I have no information about that event....

Thank you in advance to anyone who could find the time to provide any further information,

kind regards Tom

[Dolphin]

Tom

On 22 April 1918, No 54 Sqn RAF was based at Clairmarais North aerodrome; it had moved there from Conteville on 7 April, and stayed until 29 April, when it moved to Caffiers.

B7407 was a remarkable aeroplane, in that it was used by three separate air services. First by No 4 Sqn Australian Flying Corps, then No 54 Sqn RAF, then the 17th Aero Sqn USAS.

No 54 Sqn's marking from late January 1918 was a thin white vertical bar on the fuselage side ahead of the roundel, located where the wooden decking on the fuselage top ends - the rear of the bar continued the line of the decking, and the front of the bar was just behind the trailing edge of the lower wing. The squadron was ordered to change to a sloping 'N" after the roundel during the re-allocation of unit markings on 22 March 1918, but for some reason this didn't occur, and the vertical bar was used until June. The individual number of the aircraft ('A' Flight used 1-6; 'B' Flight used 7-12; and 'C' Flight used 13-18) was painted in white to the rear of the roundel.

I hope that this helps you.

Gareth

[tomdtwaring]

Tom

On 22 April 1918, No 54 Sqn RAF was based at Clairmarais North aerodrome; it had moved there from Conteville on 7 April, and stayed until 29 April, when it moved to Caffiers.

B7407 was a remarkable aeroplane, in that it was used by three separate air services. First by No 4 Sqn Australian Flying Corps, then No 54 Sqn RAF, then the 17th Aero Sqn USAS.

No 54 Sqn's marking from late January 1918 was a thin white vertical bar on the fuselage side ahead of the roundel, located where the wooden decking on the fuselage top ends - the rear of the bar continued the line of the decking, and the front of the bar was just behind the trailing edge of the lower wing. The squadron was ordered to change to a sloping 'N" after the roundel during the re-allocation of unit markings on 22 March 1918, but for some reason this didn't occur, and the vertical bar was used until June. The individual number of the aircraft ('A' Flight used 1-6; 'B' Flight used 7-12; and 'C' Flight used 13-18) was painted in white to the rear of the roundel.

I hope that this helps you.

Gareth

Thanks Gareth, that is hugely helpful!! Any ideas how I might find some details about his crash? I assume it would have been at Clairmarais but not sure....

Also, does anyone have any photos of either the accident or 54 Squadron personnel at that time?

Any further information about RTT Waring from anyone would be really gratefully received!

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Have you looked for his RAF service record at the UK National Archives, Kew? These are on microfilm and Waring's should be in AIR 76/530. They are not online, but you can request an estimate for a print or digital copy by clicking 'request this' below:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalog...;accessmethod=5

[tomdtwaring]

Have you looked for his RAF service record at the UK National Archives, Kew? These are on microfilm and Waring's should be in AIR 76/530. They are not online, but you can request an estimate for a print or digital copy by clicking 'request this' below:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalog...;accessmethod=5

I have tried Kew via an online enquiry, but they say my request will take too long and I have to hire a researcher.....

I will try and go there when I am back in England in December, thanks.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Alternatively you could post a look up request on the relevant sub forum.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

The RAF Museum may have a crash card for him.

[fetubi]

Regarding the Cas Card at Hendon do go ahead and ask, but I suspect they don't. I looked up my listings the other day to see if I had anything but there was nothing for a Waring. Sounds like he walked away from the Camel crash and he probably did likewise at Croydon. But it's a good suggestion and worth a try.

Trevor

[tomdtwaring]

Thanks all for your help.

Was 54 Squadron's mascot a monkey, by any chance? When I was a small boy I remember my father told me my grandfather had a monkey during WW1.....

Any help with finding any 54 Squadron photos would be very much appreciated also! Thanks again

[john-g]

Tom,

His Air 76 is in the post.

john_g

www.66squadron.co.uk

[tomdtwaring]

Tom,

His Air 76 is in the post.

john_g

www.66squadron.co.uk

Thank you so much!

I now have his original flight logbook and am trying to de-cipher his terrible writing!

[Russell Smith]

Thank you so much!

I now have his original flight logbook and am trying to de-cipher his terrible writing!

Excellent!

[tomdtwaring]

Dear Friends,

I have scanned my grandfather's logbook and it's all beginning to come together now!

From reading his log book, it seems he went through the usual training/courses before ending up being sent out from 40 Reserve Squadron posted to France to 54 Squadron and he arrived with his Camel to 54 Squadron on 17th April 1918 having got lost in mist on his way and having overnighted with 98 Squadron! They broke him in it seems by getting him to fly 'Defensive Patrol for Huns, 2 sent off' Hazenbroch to Pojor on 23rd April as well as participating in a scrap with Lockwood and another with Cuffe. (I am guessing, but were the older aces making a habit of assessing the new joiners/putting them through their paces?). On 1/5 he was learning the new aerodrome (not sure which) and then the next 12 entries between 1/5 and 11/5 get very interesting as there's no comments, record of heights or other details except 'Camel' and entry for flight duration. I am guessing that there must have been a reason for no details - that he was in action rather than the previous training and build up flying entries that had preceeded these flights. The last flight was on 11/5 and years later there has been a note added 'Crashed - shot down'.

I cannot find any Squadron Record Book for this period as it’s missing from Kew. I'd obviously like to find out more about what happened on 11/5/18 for 54 Squadron (and my grandfather RTT Waring). Anyone got any ideas/help me in the right direction. I have all the Air Combat reports for 54 Squadron in 1918 but the only one missing from Kew in May 1918! Just my luck!

Prior to being active with 54 in France from 18th April 1918 his logbook shows he had had 16 hours dual instruction, 36 hours solo and just 7 hours prior in a Camel....

After he was ‘shot down’ on May 11th he had a gap from flying for 4 weeks and next entries are for Old Sarum with 11 TDS. He then did flying on a number of types at Old Sarum (mostly Avro’s and DH 6’s) until late August when he was at Turnberry and Stonehenge on DH9’s and BE2E’s Looks like he was instructing at Stonehenge and doing bombing/gunnery practice (?instruction?). Then, at beginning od October !918 he was bck to France, this time as a ferry pilot at Marquise where he did a lot of flying DH9’s and some DH4’s etc. He has one entry in his logbook on 12 11 1918 when he “flew over Paris to see crowds on the Boulevards”

His last flight before being end of his service was a DHP test flight at Marquise where he recorded: “Test OK. Fine bus. Last Trip”

When he stopped he had about 175 hours solo and had flown a number of different types including: Maurice Farman’s (3h 15), Avro (33h 15), Sopwith Pup (11h 25), Sopwith Camel (28h 55), DH4 (6h 15), DH4 Rolls Royce (8h 45), DH6 (4h15 ), DH 9 (29h 50), DH9A (23h 30), Handley Page (6h 10)

I have scanned his logbook and also his RFC Officer Cadet portrait if anyone wants a copy. Any help in unearthing details of 54 Squadron's actions in May 1918 would be very welcome.

kind regards,

Tom

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Now available online:

Name Waring, Rupert Thomas Tremayne

Date 25 May 1899

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=7

[FZ1]

Hi Tom,

I realise that this is an old thread, but I have just bought one of Russell Smith's excellent drawings of your grandfather's Camel.

I like to know some of the history behind the aviation art works that I collect, so I'd love to have a bit more info about your grandfather's service history and a copy of whatever information you've managed to uncover if that is possible please?

I can't send any personal messages on the forum until I have made 5 posts, and being as this one is my first, perhaps you could email me directly? My address is:

fz1fz1 AT hotmail DOT com

Many thanks,

Jon

[FZ1]

Anyone know how I can get hold of Tom please as I have not been able to track him down yet.

Many thanks,

Jon