'X' Flight RFC, Arabia 1918

[Biggles]

Hello everyone,

 

I'd like some info on the above flight.  What aircraft did they operate?  What was their role and where were they based? I understand X Flight was made up of aircrew from both 14 sqn RFC and 1 sqn AFC. Any photos and information would be much appreciated.

 

Tally-ho,

Caleb 

[nieuport11]

They seem to have operated from late 1917 to at least October 1918 and operated a whole host of aircraft, including BE2, Martinsyde, Nieuports, Bristol Fighter, BE12 and DH2

At 31st May they had 2 Martinsyde, 1 BE2e and 2 Nieuports and were at Akaba

On 31st October 1918 they had 2 BE2e and 2 BE12 and were at Suez

Establishment was 1 Flt Commander, 5 Flying Officers, 4 Observers and one 3rd Class Equipment Officer

Officers at May were Capt VD Siddons, Lt AD Makins, Lt HR Junor, Lt RJ Divers, 2Lt KJ Oldfield, 2Lt F Latham, 2Lt DR Grant,2Lt HE Hounsell (obs), and 2Lt JC Rowell (AEO3 Stores)

By October they comprised Siddons, Junor, Divers, Latham, Grant, Lt CRR Sefi, 2Lt KJ Oldfield and Rowell with Hon Lt DM Davies

Edited 15 October , 2017 by nieuport11
Adding Brisfit

[Biggles]

Thanks mate.  Great info on aircrew who participated.

 

In T E Lawrence's book, 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom', he states that he had 4 Bristol F2.b's, 1 DH.9 and a Handley Page in late 1918.  Whether this was 'X' Flight or not, I don't know.  Lawrence doesn't say.

Lt. Junor flew a BE.12 in a daring fight against Turkish aircraft, but wrecked it. That's when they got the above aircraft.

 

I'd like to know wether it's 'X' flight Lawrence is talking about.

 

Kind regards,

Caleb

[nieuport11]

A summary of 'X' Flight operations appears in AIR 1/477/15/312/230 and a misc corro file in AIR 1/2054/204/409/21

 

The Handley Page should be a clue - from memory the only one in Egypt at this time was C9681 with 1AFC, and this machine and the Brisfits of 1AFC certainly helped Lawrence.

 

Lawrence is known to have thumbed a lift in HP D5439 of 58Sq from France to Egypt in May 1919. He was injured when the aircraft crashed at Centocelle

[MikeMeech]

13 hours ago, Biggles said:

Hello everyone,

 

I'd like some info on the above flight.  What aircraft did they operate?  What was their role and where were they based? I understand X Flight was made up of aircrew from both 14 sqn RFC and 1 sqn AFC. Any photos and information would be much appreciated.

 

Tally-ho,

Caleb 

Hi

If you require a fair bit of information I would suggest the Cross and Cockade publication 'Lawrence of Arabia & Middle East Air Power', 2016.  This has a number chapters including one by Peter Wright 'The 'X' Factor: Special Duty Flight, 14 Squadron RFC'.  Another of the chapters is 'Lawrence's Air Force:  Arabian Detachment, 14 Squadron RFC' by Peter Wright/Roger Bragger.  These have quite a few photos included and other references.

 

Mike

[Biggles]

Thank you for that info.

I have been to a site called Roger's study, but that is mainly about the Hejaz Expedition in 1916/1917. I thought I read somewhere that X flight was made up of two flights, one from 14 sqn with RE.8's and the other flight from 1 sqn AFC with their Brisfits. 

I will have a dekko at Lawrence of Arabia and Middle East Air Power.

 

Cheers,

Caleb 

Edited 15 October , 2017 by Biggles

[Guest]

Mate,

 

You can check the net and look for details on the 3rd Ottoman Sqn (Tayyare Boluk (Aircraft Company) which fought this unit during the war.

 

This is a small bit on that unit

 

3rd Sqn - formed (5x Pfalz A2) at Istambul 6-16 to (3x Pfalz A2) Damascus 7-16 to Medina 10-16 shown (4x Albatros B1 & 4x Rumpler B3 + 2x unknown) at Maan 12-16 to (5x Albatross C3 + 1x Pfalz A2) 3-17 to (4x Albatross C3 + 1x Pfalz A2 + 2x Rumpler C1) (1x Albatross remain Medina) at Maan 8-17

 

Most of the Sqn had moved to Maan by the time X Flight was started but for a few aircraft that remained in Medina.

 

At Maan and later at Amman the Ottoman's built up a force there of there own Sqn's  including;

 

14th Sqn (Recee) - formed (7x AEG C4) 3-18 att 4th Army at Amman Palestine 5-18 , and

 

4th Sqn - formed at Mersina (Silifke) Gulf of Alexandretta 5-16 shown (1x Albatros B1 & 1x Albatros C3) at Silifke 12-16 to Maan Palestine 9-17 to (1x Albatross C3 + 4x AEG C4) at Amman 1-18 shown (7x AEG C4) 3-18

S.B