Buffnut453 Posted 28 July , 2018 Share Posted 28 July , 2018 (edited) I recently came across a couple of photos which have some association with a relative who served as a Fitter/Turner in the RFC. Sadly, I have no details of where my relative served prior to September 1917 so I'm wondering if these photos might provide some clues regarding his service locations. The first is clearly labelled Arborfield Cross, with The Bull Inn visible in the background (according to Google the pub is still there!). The presence of the very young recruit being held by the Sergeant is intriguing but I'm more interested in any association Arborfield Cross had with the RFC. The second image shows a wrecked pusher aircraft in a rather soggy condition. My aircraft identification skills are failing me but I'm wondering if the experts here on GWF might know more about the type, the event and the location. Any suggestions or pointers would be most gratefully received. Many thanks, Mark Edited 28 July , 2018 by Buffnut453 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 28 July , 2018 Share Posted 28 July , 2018 (edited) Mark Possibly an outing from No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Coley Park about 7 miles away. Using the Forum Search you will find some threads about the school and airfield. Dave Edited 28 July , 2018 by HERITAGE PLUS Typo correction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMeech Posted 28 July , 2018 Share Posted 28 July , 2018 8 hours ago, Buffnut453 said: I recently came across a couple of photos which have some association with a relative who served as a Fitter/Turner in the RFC. Sadly, I have no details of where my relative served prior to September 1917 so I'm wondering if these photos might provide some clues regarding his service locations. The first is clearly labelled Arborfield Cross, with The Bull Inn visible in the background (according to Google the pub is still there!). The presence of the very young recruit being held by the Sergeant is intriguing but I'm more interested in any association Arborfield Cross had with the RFC. The second image shows a wrecked pusher aircraft in a rather soggy condition. My aircraft identification skills are failing me but I'm wondering if the experts here on GWF might know more about the type, the event and the location. Any suggestions or pointers would be most gratefully received. Many thanks, Mark Hi Appears to be a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b, ID possibly A55?? (even A555?), however, not enough detail to match photo with info in the Cross & Cockade Monograph on type, others may have better results. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete-c Posted 28 July , 2018 Share Posted 28 July , 2018 24 minutes ago, MikeMeech said: Hi Appears to be a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b, ID possibly A55?? (even A555?), however, not enough detail to match photo with info in the Cross & Cockade Monograph on type, others may have better results. Mike One interesting point is that there doesn't appear to be a propeller on this machine. A clue perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMeech Posted 28 July , 2018 Share Posted 28 July , 2018 1 hour ago, pete-c said: One interesting point is that there doesn't appear to be a propeller on this machine. A clue perhaps? Hi The ground crew may have removed it to put their ladder up of course? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete-c Posted 28 July , 2018 Share Posted 28 July , 2018 2 hours ago, MikeMeech said: Hi The ground crew may have removed it to put their ladder up of course? Mike That did cross my mind Mike but removal of the prop just to position a ladder? And presumably the man on the tail is there to attach a line ready to pull the machine back on an even keel to be recovered? Seeing as the machine is partially inverted, I hope the crew got out OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 28 July , 2018 Author Share Posted 28 July , 2018 5 hours ago, HERITAGE PLUS said: Mark Possibly an outing from No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Coley Park about 7 miles away. Using the Forum Search you will find some threads about the school and airfield. Dave Dave, That's a fantastic suggestion. My relative attended No.1 School of Aeronautics (his service record identifies it as "School of Military Aeronautics") from 24 Nov 1917 until 21 Jan 1918 which would jive with the heavy coats everyone is wearing in the photo. I'm still not sure about the "APRFC" reference - perhaps a reference to Apprentice Pilots? Regardless, you've helped me hone in on a timeframe for the photo and a direct association with my relative's known military service. Many thanks, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 28 July , 2018 Author Share Posted 28 July , 2018 4 hours ago, MikeMeech said: Hi Appears to be a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b, ID possibly A55?? (even A555?), however, not enough detail to match photo with info in the Cross & Cockade Monograph on type, others may have better results. Mike Thanks Mike. I was really struggling to identify it for some reason. It is, indeed, a Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b. 'Fraid I don't know enough about WW1 aircraft serials to help. My relative did become a pilot but there's no record of FE2s in his logbook so I'm guessing this photo dates from his time as a Fitter/Turner...which covers any period from Feb 1915 to Nov 1917 (unhelpful, I know!). I agree with other comments. I'm guessing they're trying to attach a rope to the tail and then haul the aircraft back upright. It's certainly an interesting photo and I hope the collective brains on GWF can help shed a little more light on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 28 July , 2018 Share Posted 28 July , 2018 (edited) If it's of interest, the vehicle in the first photo is a Crossley, workhorse of the RFC: Edited 28 July , 2018 by Andrew Upton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 28 July , 2018 Author Share Posted 28 July , 2018 7 minutes ago, Andrew Upton said: If it's of interest, the vehicle in the first photo is a Crossley, workhorse of the RFC: Thanks Andrew. That's another useful detail to add to the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 24 August , 2019 Author Share Posted 24 August , 2019 Just resurrecting this thread in case anyone has suggestions about the "APRFC" acronym on the first image. Any suggestions/pointers would be most welcome. Many thanks, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Errol Martyn Posted 25 August , 2019 Share Posted 25 August , 2019 Aircraft Park? Errol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 25 August , 2019 Author Share Posted 25 August , 2019 7 hours ago, Errol Martyn said: Aircraft Park? Errol Yes, that's what I was thinking. Earlier in the thread, someone suggested that the event might be an outing from No1 School of Aeronautics. However, my relative went there in late 1917 at the rank of Sgt. I recently obtained a better-quality version of the photo and he clearly has no rank insignia on his sleeve. I have no details of the units he served in prior to commencing pilot training in 1917. I have seen some vague references to an Aircraft Park at Arborfield Cross. I'm now wondering if he served there, probably in the timeframe prior to 1 July 1916 which is when he was appointed A/Cpl rank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 25 August , 2019 Share Posted 25 August , 2019 Pub has been extended a bit but reckon the first post was taken about here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 25 August , 2019 Share Posted 25 August , 2019 Probably from the Airfield at Woodley now almost subsumed into reading. There were weekly columns on ‘Aviation Notes and Incidents’, including the many crashes, both close by (mainly around Farnborough) and on the Continent. Germany was claiming records for flights in ‘dirigibles’, of which the Zeppelin was an example. In June, a well-known French aviator held an air display in a field in Woodley, which later became an aerodrome in its own right. The Lee family who later took over Newland Farm in Arborfield had a connection with Woodley; they sold ‘100-Acre Field’ to the aerodrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 25 August , 2019 Author Share Posted 25 August , 2019 3 hours ago, 303man said: Pub has been extended a bit but reckon the first post was taken about here. Yep...perhaps where that telegraph pole is located on the left side of the street. Certainly the right place. 3 hours ago, 303man said: Probably from the Airfield at Woodley now almost subsumed into reading. There were weekly columns on ‘Aviation Notes and Incidents’, including the many crashes, both close by (mainly around Farnborough) and on the Continent. Germany was claiming records for flights in ‘dirigibles’, of which the Zeppelin was an example. In June, a well-known French aviator held an air display in a field in Woodley, which later became an aerodrome in its own right. The Lee family who later took over Newland Farm in Arborfield had a connection with Woodley; they sold ‘100-Acre Field’ to the aerodrome. Woodley is certainly a possibility, although I wonder why it didn't say "Woodley APRFC"? I've asked a few questions around the bazaars to see if there are any other ideas out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Bentley Posted 26 August , 2019 Share Posted 26 August , 2019 This part of Woodley was in the hands of the Palmer family until the estate broke up . The 100 acre field continued in arable use before being acquired as an aerodrome in late 1928. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 26 August , 2019 Author Share Posted 26 August , 2019 23 minutes ago, Alan Bentley said: This part of Woodley was in the hands of the Palmer family until the estate broke up . The 100 acre field continued in arable use before being acquired as an aerodrome in late 1928. Ok...probably not Woodley, then. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 26 August , 2019 Share Posted 26 August , 2019 (edited) Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Bader Way, Woodley (To go of topic, Douglas Bader crashed at Woodley Airfield in 1913 1931, losing his legs.) Moonraker Edited 26 August , 2019 by Moonraker corrected transposition in date Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 26 August , 2019 Author Share Posted 26 August , 2019 49 minutes ago, Moonraker said: Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Bader Way, Woodley (To go of topic, Douglas Bader crashed at Woodley Airfield in 1913, losing his legs.) Moonraker Methinks 1933brather than 1913, but that's me being persnickety. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 26 August , 2019 Share Posted 26 August , 2019 Oops, my careless transposition, actually 1931. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Bentley Posted 27 August , 2019 Share Posted 27 August , 2019 I was luckier, I had five passenger flights from Woodley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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