Fitter Evans and Rigger Fowler

[Annette Carson]

Once again I'm hoping to identify people with your help. This photograph shows (L-R) fitter Evans, rigger Fowler and pilot D.V. Armstrong. This would have been almost certainly in No. 78 Squadron, based at Sutton's Farm between January and June 1918. As a long shot it might have been DVA's subsequent squadron, No. 151. Their faces are easily identifiable in the snap and their family members may well recognize them and enjoy seeing this photograph

 

Can anyone please help with the ranks and/or initials of Evans or Fowler? Or are there any records I can search that give details of ground crew?

 

Thanks a stack

Annette

[PRC]

As Suttons Farm, (later RAF Hornchurch) was in the UK and 78 Squadron didn’t go overseas, its unlikely that either man had a Medal Index Card unless they too transferred elsewhere.

 

If they were there in the period January to June 1918 then they may well have transitioned from the Royal Flying Corps to the Royal Air Force when that service came into being on the 1^st April 1918.

 

Significance of that is that there is a day 1 document, the Royal Air Force Muster Roll covering all the other ranks who transferred. With names like Evans and Fowler of course that’s still a bit of a needle in haystack.

 

The Muster Roll has 526 instances of the surname Evans. The Roll is not in in alphabetical order and I can only see it at the moment via a subscription service, although it may be available via the Library subscription to FindMyPast mentioned on the other thread.

 

The enormity of the task can be gauged from the first ten Evans entries that I looked at, six had the trade classification of Fitter. A 60% hit rate on that volume would be a next to impossible task. For example:-

 

401784 Evans, A, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Fitter (Eng), new trade classification, Fitter A.E, was a Corporal, now a Corporal Mechanic, joined 10/1/13, last changed rank 13/3/18

20317 Evans, A, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Fitter (Gen), new trade classification, Fitter (Gen), was a Air Mechanic 1, remained an Air Mechanic 1, joined 4/2/16, last changed rank 1/5/17.

105965 Evans, A, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Fitter (Eng), new trade classification, Fitter (A.E), was a Air Mechanic 2, now an Air Mechanic 3, joined 19/7/16, last changed rank 8/10/17.

39482 Evans, A, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Fitter (Eng), new trade classification, Fitter (A.E), was a Air Mechanic 2, now an Air Mechanic 3, joined 24/7/16, has not changed rank.

209461 Evans, A, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Engineer, new trade classification, Fitter (A.E), was a Leading Mechanic , now a Corporal Mechanic,  joined 1/8/17, has not changed rank.

104918 Evans, A, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Fitter (Eng), new trade classification, Fitter (A.E), was a Air Mechanic 2, now an Air Mechanic 3, joined 2/6/17, last changed rank 16/10/17.

 

The Muster Roll has 110 instances of the surname Fowler. Fortunately Riggers are a much rarer species – there are only 12 matches. So cross-referencing MiC’s, (no matches so all potentially served UK only), and CWGC, (no matches), produces the following.

 

26081 Fowler, A.S, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger, new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Sergeant, now a Sergeant Mechanic, joined 20/6/16, last changed rank 1/8/17.

202203 Fowler, A.W, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger (Aero), new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Petty Officer, now a Sergeant Mechanic, joined 15/12/16. (RNAS?)

3374 Fowler, B, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger, new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Flight Sergeant, now a Chief Mechanic, joined 27/1/15, last changed rank 1/11/17.

32634 Fowler, C, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger, new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Air Mechanic 1, remained an Air Mechanic 1, joined 15/6/16, last changed rank 1/8/17.

30481 Fowler, J.J, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger, new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Air Mechanic 1, remained an Air Mechanic 1, joined 5/6/16, last changed rank 1/4/17.

229958 Fowler, J.J, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger (Aero), new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Air Mechanic 1, remained an Air Mechanic 1, joined 1/6/17. (RNAS?)19760 Fowler, L.R, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger, new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Corporal, now a Corporal Mechanic, joined 30/1/16, last changed rank 1/10/17.

 135460 Fowler, P.J, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger, new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Corporal, now a Corporal Mechanic, joined 9/11/15, last changed rank 1/10/17.

103584 Fowler, R.G, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger, new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Air Mechanic 2, now an Air Mechanic 3, joined 15/6/16, last changed rank 21/8/17.

402513 Fowler, T.D, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger (Aero), new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Air Mechanic 1, remained an Air Mechanic 1, joined 23/2/16, last changed rank 1/11/17. (RNAS?)

44148 Fowler, W, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger (Aero), new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Air Mechanic 1, remained an Air Mechanic 1, joined 18/8/16, last changed rank 1/10/17. (RNAS?)

14270 Fowler, W.N, RFC \ RNAS trade classification Rigger (Aero), new trade classification, Rigger (Aero), was a Air Mechanic 1, remained an Air Mechanic 1, joined 18/12/15, last changed rank 1/9/16. (RNAS?)

 

As there was no mix up, (RFC men stayed with their units, RNAS men with theirs), then as 78 Squadron was ex-RFC, those ex RNAS men can potentially be ruled out.

 

So the next step would be to check the Royal Air Forman airmen service records on FindMyPast.  I’m afraid that’s a few more enquiries next time you’re at the Library.

 

Regards,

Peter

[Annette Carson]

Peter, you have been exceedingly generous spending so much time doing my research for me! I shall follow your lines of logic to aid my further investigations (and report back on any success). I take from this that the word 'Aero' in brackets seems to suggest RNAS rather that RFC, yes?

 

Actually I was wondering how ground crew were deployed within HD units - were they attached to squadrons, or even specific flights ... or, being British-based, were they perhaps attached to aerodromes? I've never considered this before.

 

One last point - I think DVA is wearing the RFC rather than the RAF uniform, and I think I can make out Captain's insignia on his cap, and if so this photo can be dated with confidence to the month of March 1918. I'm attaching a detail cropped from the original photo, which also shows Fowler's cap in case the latter offers any clues as to rank. Sorry it's all so fuzzy.  Perhaps sharper eyes than mine can spot any useful clues?

Many thanks once again

Annette

[PRC]

37 minutes ago, Annette Carson said:

 I take from this that the word 'Aero' in brackets seems to suggest RNAS rather that RFC, yes?

 

Actually I was wondering how ground crew were deployed within HD units - were they attached to squadrons, or even specific flights ... or, being British-based, were they perhaps attached to aerodromes? I've never considered this before.

 

One last point - I think DVA is wearing the RFC rather than the RAF uniform, and I think I can make out Captain's insignia on his cap, and if so this photo can be dated with confidence to the month of March 1918. I'm attaching a detail cropped from the original photo, which also shows Fowler's cap in case the latter offers any clues as to rank.

 

Annette,

 

I'm no expert but I am a keen observer of data. In the case of the Fowlers, it looks to me that those who had an obvious Naval rank, (i.e. Petty Officer A.W Fowler), had a previous trade classification of Rigger (Aero), while those with an obvious Army rank, (i.e. Corporal L.R. Fowler) had a previous trade classification of Rigger. If that holds true for all the other names then would seem a simple way to exclude the ex-RNAS men and concentrate on the ex-RFC men.

 

My understanding is that there would be a small core of ground-crew that would be effectively dedicated to the Squadron, (probably riggers and mechanics as well as batmen), because of their knowledge of the individual crafts and crews, and while they would move with them they weren't strictly on the Squadron roll call. The Stations would then have a larger establishments with trades such as labourer, cook, driver, clerk, steward, and the inevitable "disciplinarian", etc., that were not Squadron specific plus at the stations like Pulham Market where the dirigibles were maintained there would be other specialist tradesmen. Depending on the role of the station there might be a variable number of mechanics, riggers permanently stationed there. For example the air park on Mousehold Heath, Norwich where new planes coming out of the Boulton & Paul Factory were air tested for acceptance, (after their wings were attached and the rigging tautened), would have an entirely permanent establishment.

 

As far as I'm aware there was not a complete "rebranding" exercise on the 1st April. Officers in particular were not forced to replace their kit until the existing stuff wore out. I suspect the roll out of cap badges, etc, was done on a gradual basis. So the presence of RAF Cap Badges would show the picture was taken after the 1st April, but the absence of them doesn't mean the picture has to have been taken before that date.

 

Your post forced me to think about one thing I've not considered before - were signs of rank and trade badges also worn on overalls. The consensus on this thread was that they weren't

I think the cap badge on Rigger Fowler looks more like the RFC one, but its difficult to tell from the angle - I'll leave that to someone with younger eyes than mine :-)

 

One last thought - have you tried The Aerodrome Forum to see if anyone can identify "Doris". If you can identify the machine serial number, which Squadron's it served with and when, it might also provide a clue as to when and where this picture was taken. It certainly to my inexperienced eyes looks like the Sopwith 11/2 Strutters that the 78 Squadron was equipped with at the time rather that the Sopwith Camels that 151 Squadron had when it was formed in June.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopwith_1½_Strutter

 

Hope that's not too many red-herrings and that some of that helps,

 

Peter

 

[Annette Carson]

Thanks again, this is all very interesting and in the near future I shall take time to look at all these shades of possibility. I am concurrently picking the wonderful brains of Frogsmile for clues as to the uniforms worn by all my mystery men, who concurs with you as to the not-inevitable change-over in uniforms in April 1918. Actually, to the extent that I've got to know Captain Armstrong over the past 30-odd years I have the impression that he would have made the uniform change quite promptly, but one requires a bit more than gut feeling for a respectable biography!

 

'Doris' was F.1 Camel C.6713 and is quite well recorded; he flew her from January 1918 until his death. That's one reason I know this photo was taken with No. 78 Squadron, although I have allowed for the VERY remote possibility that it was taken during the days after his posting to No. 151 and before the squadron's departure for France. If so, it might have been a temporary crew readying the aeroplanes while the squadron was forming-up ... however, from the body language of the three men they seem entirely at ease and friendly which suggests a well-worn working relationship. 

 

Frogsmile has also pegged E.V. Smith as a 2nd Lieutenant from his uniform, so that is great headway!

All best, Annette

[RFT]

Hello Annette,

 

Am intrigued to know if you managed to identify rigger Fowler?  

 

Rob

[Annette Carson]

Hi Rob: The quick answer is 'no' - sadly I never did identify Armstrong's fitter and rigger, but I will follow up your PM with what little I discovered. My book has just been published by Pen & Sword as Camel Pilot Supreme: Captain D V Armstrong DFC (mentioned on the GWF 'Classifieds' under Books & Publications). I shall be mortified if I missed identifying Fowler by a whisker, but there could be a chance of rectifying this in later editions.  I had the group photograph digitally enhanced to feature it in the colour plate section so the individuals are rather clearer to see now. I'll continue by PM.

Very best wishes

Annette

 

[RFT]

Thank you Annette for responding.

 

Your topic mentions several airmen named Fowler including 202203, Sgt Arthur William Fowler (Aero Rigger).  Regretfully Sgt Fowler's RAF record is missing (or misplaced) but as of 9th July 1919, he will be found among the names of officers and other ranks, 47 Squadron RAF (South Russia) and where he is twice listed - once as 'Rigger' and the other as 'Aero Rigger'. 

 

While I don't possess a photograph of Sgt Fowler (which I would be delighted to get hold of), I am pleased that I do have his British War Medal & Victory Medal.

 

(Incidentally, RNAS trades differentiated between those who were 'Aero Riggers' and 'Airship Riggers').

 

Delighted to hear about your new book and wishing you every success.

 

Rob