Fl. Lt. Denis Murray, RNAS

[stevem]

Hi

Please could someone tell me what type of plane Denis Murray was flying when he was shot down. He was involved on an attack on the Ostende - Zeebrugge - Bruges area on 16 February 1915. He managed to get his plane down and drifted with the tide into the mouth of the River Scheldt and was rescued by a Dutch naval vessel.

Thanks very much

Steve

[Terry Denham]

He was flying White & Thompson No.3 Flying Boat serial number 1199. No.1 Sqdn.

Hit by AA and force landed in Wester Schelde.

Reference works give date as 17.02.15 and F/L D.G.Murray was interned.

The aircraft went to the Netherlands Navy as serial number G1

[Terry Denham]

Picture of a White & Thompson No.3

Photo courtesy of IWM

[stevem]

Hi Terry

Thanks very much for the photo and the information about the plane.

I think the date of 16 February for his capture is correct as I have a postcard he sent home dated 17 February in which he writes "the brutes got me first shot yesterday". I also have a letter in which he mentions he was resuced at 8.00 pm.

Murray's service papers state he was mentioned in dispatches for meritorious work in air attacks on Ostend - Zeebrugge and Bruges on 11, 12 and 16 February.

Regards

Steve

[Terry Denham]

Steve

The date discrepancy is probably a paperwork glitch.

The authoritative 'Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911-1919' by Sturtivant and Page uses original sources at the RAF Museum and FAA Museum and is usually correct. However, they can only work with what the bored and overworked clerks wrote at the time!