Clint Posted 11 May , 2020 Share Posted 11 May , 2020 Hello, Currently on ebay at: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW1-Royal-Flying-Corps-RAF-R-E-8-Bomber-crew-Scotsman-Australian-1918-Photo/392794422032?hash=item5b745f3b10:g:xwgAAOSwKW5euDaX There is a photo of an R.E.8 serial C2926 which has the name High Spen. Having checked I see that at the time High Spen was a mining village in County Durham. Does anyone know why the aircraft was named after High Spen? Regards, Clint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fovant Posted 12 May , 2020 Share Posted 12 May , 2020 It is not one of the serial numbers for RE8 official presentation aircraft, so most likely a crew connection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyacinth1326 Posted 12 May , 2020 Share Posted 12 May , 2020 High Spen is close to where I live. Lt Douglas does not feature on the War Memorial. Gateshead Local Studies Library section (which is truly excellent with regard to Great War research) may be able to trace a Douglas family connection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint Posted 12 May , 2020 Author Share Posted 12 May , 2020 Hello, Thank you both for your replies. Given that High Spen had a colliery at the time of the Great War, I wondered if the aircraft might have been donated by the owners, but then you say Fovant, that C2926 was not a donated aircraft, so that would appear to rule that out. Is there a central list of donated aircraft which I can view? I will await further responses from forum users, but it may be that as you suggest Hyacinth1326 that I need to contact Gateshead Local Studies Library. Thanks, Clint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fovant Posted 12 May , 2020 Share Posted 12 May , 2020 A list of presentation aircraft can be found on this site http://www.airhistory.org.uk/rfc/aircraft.html Scroll down the page to the presentation section and the .csv file can be downloaded, which can be opened as a spreadsheet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRG Posted 26 May , 2020 Share Posted 26 May , 2020 The photograph of the aircraft R.E.8 serial C2926 of No 5 Squadron RAF 1918 is here. The third photograph shows the same officers in a different aircraft. I am researching it and the crew and will post more information when known. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint Posted 26 May , 2020 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2020 (edited) Hello JRG, Thanks very much for the response. I really look forward to reading the results of your research. Regards, Clint Edited 26 May , 2020 by Clint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 26 May , 2020 Share Posted 26 May , 2020 Dear All, Is the RE offr Pilot the Scotsman and the RA offr Obs the Australian or vice versa? Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRG Posted 26 May , 2020 Share Posted 26 May , 2020 From the information to hand at the moment the Pilot is Lieutenant Archie Douglas (Scottish) who is not identified and his badged regiment/corps are as yet unknown. The Observer is 2nd Lieutenant E G W Coward, Royal Field Artillery (Australian). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 26 May , 2020 Share Posted 26 May , 2020 Dear JRG, Thanks for that. The excellent photograph is remarkably well-documented, and the combination of Scot and Australian is heartening!. Lt Douglas seems to have a Royal Engineers cap badge... Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRG Posted 27 May , 2020 Share Posted 27 May , 2020 Thank you Kim, It is indeed a superb and well detailed photograph. There is still much research to do on the aircraft and crew. Hopefully I will be able to provide more information soon. Best wishes John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 27 May , 2020 Share Posted 27 May , 2020 What a great photo. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRG Posted 27 May , 2020 Share Posted 27 May , 2020 My pleasure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrT Posted 30 March , 2022 Share Posted 30 March , 2022 Has any further information regards Archie Douglas been forthcoming? I believe he was in ATC in WW2. Regards Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nils d Posted 8 April , 2022 Share Posted 8 April , 2022 On 12/05/2020 at 08:32, Fovant said: It is not one of the serial numbers for RE8 official presentation aircraft, so most likely a crew connection There are a number of cases of names being allocated to planes yet failing to appear in lists of presentation aircraft. lve seen a few announcements in local newspapers that aren't confirmed by other records . So 'High Spen ' could be a genuine case. If so, l bet the pitmen raised the funds , not exclusively the colliery owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierssc Posted 8 April , 2022 Share Posted 8 April , 2022 Thanks to the British Newspaper archive..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toontraveller Posted 29 May , 2022 Share Posted 29 May , 2022 Just seen this post and was also intrigued about “ High Spen” . Look forward to the eventual update. pierssc, Thanks for unearthing the page from the newspaper “The Consett Guardian “ didn’t know it was in the British Newspaper archives, will have a look as it covers the area from where I was originally from. I think you have clearly answered the question from the first post. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tawhiri Posted 30 May , 2022 Share Posted 30 May , 2022 (edited) Personnel records for both the pilot and observer can be found in the AIR 76 series at the National Archives. Archie Douglas is Archibald Douglas, born 21 May 1899, with a home address in Elgin, Scotland. According to his record he was employed as a estate clerk and surveyor draughtsman from 1 September 1913 to 3 July 1917. Nothing in his personnel record to indicate prior service with an Army regiment, the first entry is dated 18 September 1917, arriving at 5 squadron on 27 September 1918. Record also shows service with the ATC in WW2, so definitely the right man based on what has been said above. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8255158 https://www.casualtyforms.org/form/5853 His first mention in the London Gazette is as a cadet being promoted to a probationary 2nd Lieutenant on 2 February 1918. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30515/supplement/1808 His observer, Edwin Gordon Whitaker Coward arrived at 5 squadron on 3 September 1918. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8249708 https://www.casualtyforms.org/form/4278 Edited 30 May , 2022 by Tawhiri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 30 May , 2022 Share Posted 30 May , 2022 18 hours ago, Toontraveller said: Just seen this post and was also intrigued about “ High Spen” . Look forward to the eventual update. pierssc, Thanks for unearthing the page from the newspaper “The Consett Guardian “ didn’t know it was in the British Newspaper archives, will have a look as it covers the area from where I was originally from. I think you have clearly answered the question from the first post. Well done. The Consett Guardian is handy to have online access to (that is where I'm from originally). Came in handy regarding the DLI. It's the first time I've heard of 'War Weapons Week' or that plane named after Consett. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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