I want to know more about RAF Planes

[Young_dirk]

So I have these pictures of my great-grandfather (on the left). I knew he was involved with the RAF during WW1, as a Lieutenant and observer, but I know nothing of the planes, the fighting that happened, what kind of division/platoon/brigade (I don't even know the proper term for groups of planes at the time) he may have been in. If anyone knows of sources they could point me to that talk about air combat back then, I would love to see that. I would also greatly appreciate any identification that can come from the pictures below (i.e. the type of plane, what it was used for, what unit it was/could have been attached to, and who the pilot may have been). Many thanks in advance!

 

[hmsk212]

Hi

 

Can you please give us you great-grandfathers name as this will help us determine the squadrons he served with plus where and when he served.

 

Steve

[hmsk212]

Hi

 

I have now looked at your other posts elsewhere on the forum and see that he was Lt Robert Andrews.

 

Robert served in France from 25th August 1918 where he joined 82 Squadron. 

 

The plane in the picture is numbered F636 which was an Armstrong Whitworth FK8 and this was attached to 82 Squadron from October 1918 until January 1919.

 

Steve

[MikeMeech]

7 hours ago, Young_dirk said:

So I have these pictures of my great-grandfather (on the left). I knew he was involved with the RAF during WW1, as a Lieutenant and observer, but I know nothing of the planes, the fighting that happened, what kind of division/platoon/brigade (I don't even know the proper term for groups of planes at the time) he may have been in. If anyone knows of sources they could point me to that talk about air combat back then, I would love to see that. I would also greatly appreciate any identification that can come from the pictures below (i.e. the type of plane, what it was used for, what unit it was/could have been attached to, and who the pilot may have been). Many thanks in advance!

 

Hi

 

There is a two part history of No. 82 Sqn. in 'Cross & Cockade International Journal' Volume 32 No.1 and No. 2.  This includes a list of personnel and a list of aircraft used.  For lt. Robert Andrews it has the date when he joined (25/8/18) the squadron but not when he left, it also mentions his previous regiment as "5/Can Mtd Rifles".

The aircraft is also listed as "F636, From 1ASD by 2Lt W Taylor 17/10/18.  2Lt W M Brewer obs WIA by ground fire 5/10/18 (this is a typo as it is 25/10/18).  To 35 Sqn by Maj J B Solomon 24/01/19.

Trevor Henshaw's 'The Sky their Battlefield II' has some details of the incident on page 239: "F636 A.W.FK8, 82 Sqn. - CAP (Counter Attack Patrol) left 9-30am hit by ground mg fire over KRUISWEG returned 11-40am (2Lt W? Taylor OK/2Lt W M Brewer WIA).

 

During the period in question the squadron was based at the following airfields: QUELMES until 3 Set 18 to DROGLANDT until 20 Sept to PROVEN until 22 Oct to BISSEGHEM until 6 Nov to MENIN to BERTANGLES until 15 Feb 1919 to Shoreham (UK) as cadre.(source Jefford 'RAF Squadrons').

 

ORBATS show No. 82 Sqn. at 8 Aug 18 in the Second (Corps) Wing of RAF II Brigade.  The squadron was commanded by Maj. J B Solomon, MC.  The squadron was supporting X Corps at this time.  At 11 Nov 18 it is with the same Brigade and Wing but supporting II Corps, also the ORBAT states the squadron is at COUCOU, which differs from the previous source (COUCOU is confirmed in the 82 Sqn. history), it is still commanded by Solomon.

 

As indicated this is a Corps squadron that directly supports the Corps level command of the BEF.  They provide Artillery Spotting, Contact and Counter Attack Patrols, photo and visual reconnaissance, ground attack, supply dropping, etc. for the Corps.

 

A group photo in the 82 Sqn History shows Lt R Andrews in a group photo of B Flight (this is probably an image from the RAF Museum).

 

The 'unknown' is the pilot in your photos.

I hope that is of use.

 

Mike

[Airshipped]

Hi, the fifth page (of 114) in his Canadian attestation papers would appear to provide a useful basic outline of his RAF service history. Similarly so with p.52

 

http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B0183-S026

 

With all those gunshot and shrapnel wounds I'm surprised that he made Observer. Then again on p.27 I note that he was injured in the eyeball when playing football in December 1917. Given his Wolverhampton birth I thought 'Stan Cullis ... Andy Gray' but suspect that if it was Canadian companies, and given his American next-of-kin address, then it wouldn't necessarily be a round ball game of football.

 

Ok I digress too much. It'd appear that if he reached France in late April/early May 1918 as a corps observer in the 'Big Ack' he'd have missed the worst of the Spring Offensive. That said, they suffered a steady attrition rate.

 

LKW Barrett would appear to have been a fellow Yank of sorts:

https://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/78087/

Either C.A. Procter or KC Herron will probably match that casualty card:

https://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/79284/

https://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/64349/ 

 

Dyson, Davey and Barlow in June:

https://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/64267/ 

https://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2913623/

https://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/575562/

 

The Cross & Cockade article would undoubtedly enhance your understanding of the work of the squadron at that time, with perhaps references to pilots' memoirs and other sources. 

 

Trevor Henshaw's excellent work would also provide you with some sense of scale in terms of the attrition suffered by corps squadrons in the final months of the war. (I gather that 82 Squadron lost at least 15 pilots or observers as fatalities but there were dozens more wounded or injured, and scores of aircraft struck off the squadron's strength during the period Robert Andrews served with them).