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Remembered Today:

RAF in North Russia 1st ops


James A Pratt III

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When did the RAF start flying operations in North Russia during the Allied intervention there? In looking though navalhistory.net I have the seaplane carrier Nairana arriving up in North Russia on 11 July 1918.

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8 hours ago, James A Pratt III said:

When did the RAF start flying operations in North Russia during the Allied intervention there? In looking though navalhistory.net I have the seaplane carrier Nairana arriving up in North Russia on 11 July 1918.

 

My understanding of the situation in this theatre is that air support for the British land forces (Dunsterforce) was provided by 72 Squadron, nominally based at Baghdad.  A Flight was based at Samara with C Flight being based at Marjiana.  B Flight had been operating with the Army against local insurgents and was stationed at Hamadan in North Persia.  In August 1918 two aircraft (Martinsydes) were sent from Hamadan to support British forces in Baku.   It would seem that all RAF personnel were evacuated on September 4th.

The above details are taken from Gone to Russia to Fight - the RAF in South Russia 1918-1920 by John T Smith.   Interestingly Nairana does not feature in the index.

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Pete

 

The question is about North Russia, not South Russia.  The first operational RAF flights over North Russia seem to be two Short 184 seaplanes from HMS Nairana that flew over Archangel towards the end of July 1918.

 

There was a small RAF presence in North Russia after the Armistice, but most operations occurred after the arrival of the North Russia Relief Force in mid-1919. The NRRF was supposed to help the Whites to turn back the Bolshevik advance towards Archangel before withdrawing.  The main air component was the Slavo-British Aviation Corps, with 4 squadrons: 1 Russian and 3 British, equipped with DH9s, DH9As, RE8s and Sopwith Snipes (plus a few other types).  The NRRF left Russia in September 1919.

 

Gareth

 

Edited by Dolphin
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8 hours ago, Dolphin said:

Pete

 

The question is about North Russia, not South Russia.  The first operational RAF flights over North Russia seem to be two Short 184 seaplanes from HMS Nairana that flew over Archangel towards the end of July 1918.

 

There was a small RAF presence in North Russia after the Armistice, but most operations occurred after the arrival of the North Russia Relif Force in mid-1919. The NRRF was supposed to help the Whites to turn back the Bolshevik advance towards Archangel before withdrawing.  The main air component was the Slavo-British Aviation Corps, with 4 squadrons: 1 Russian and 3 British, equipped with DH9s, DH9As, RE8s and Sopwith Snipes (plus a few other types).  The NRRF left Russia in September 1919.

 

Gareth

 

 

Apologies James - should have checked through my response properly before posting.  Thanks for the 'correct' details Gareth.

 

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Seaplanes from Nairana flew operationally before the invasion of Archangel, the first 'shots' fired by British aircraft in North Russia occurred on 19 July 1918.

 

Aircraft from Nairana were next heavily involved in bombing the Red battery on Modyugski Island during the amphibious invasion of Archangel on 2nd August 1918.

 

OC Seaplanes Major Francis Moller, MC (RAF ranks were not adopted until October 1919) was an American, born in Sioux City, Iowa.

 

He was awarded the DFC for his service in North Russia in London Gazette 5th April 1919:

‘A Wing Commander of outstanding merit who, by his fine leadership, personal disregard of danger, and splendid example has, since he took over command of his Wing (composed of one British and two Russian Squadrons) worked marvels in raising its morale and efficiency. His personal influence was very marked on a recent occasion when, owing to heavy casualties, the morale of the pilots had suffered; he took charge, and by his example and leadership restored confidence, and successfully reduced the enemy’s artillery fire.’
 

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