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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Confusion over 11 Sqn Brisfit markings


Buffnut453

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I'm trying to get a better handle on the markings worn by 11 Sqn Bristol F2b Fighters in the period September 1918 thru July 1919.  Naturally, photographic evidence is slim but even the available photos are somewhat contradictory.  

 

According to Les Rogers' bible "British Aviation Squadron Markings of WW1", flight colours and individual aircraft letters/numbers were assigned as follows:

 

A Flt:  White, 1 thru 6

B Flt:  Red, A thru G

C Flt:  Blue, U thru Z

 

However, the photographic evidence seems to contradict this pattern over time.  The following photographs appear in the book but some of them don't match the above flight descriptions.  I've added the approximate timeframe based on whether the aircraft has the Squadron's 2-bar markings on the fuselage:  

 

A7130 '3' (Pre-March 1918), light-toned wheel covers - this matches the A Flt description

A7131 '5' (Pre-March 1918), light-toned wheel covers - this matches the A Flt description

C4846 '6' (Pre-March 1918), light-toned wheel covers - this matches the A Flt description

E2428 'Y' (Post-March 1918), light-toned wheel covers - this does not match the above flight descriptions

E2586 '6' (Post-March 1918), dark-toned wheel covers - this does not match the above flight descriptions 

Serial Not Known 'W' (Post-March 1918), light-toned wheel covers - this does not match the above flight descriptions

 

In addition to the above, online googling has revealed the following additional pics:

 

F6206 'X' (Post-March 1918), light-toned wheel covers - this does not match the above flight descriptions

 

Finally, there are well-known depictions of McKeever's Brisfit A7288 with '7' on the fuselage in pre-March 1918 markings and dark-toned wheel covers which, again, doesn't align with the markings descriptions in Les Rogers' book.  

 

Do any of the experts out there have knowledge, or even ideas, as to why there's so much variation in these markings?  

 

Many thanks,

Mark

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