stevenbecker Posted 17 May , 2005 Share Posted 17 May , 2005 Mates Can you give any details of the death of this officer and 1/AM Nelson in Basara Iraq in 1918. Also if you know how he won the MC and what sqn's other then 63 Sqn RFC did he serve in? Cheers S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 17 May , 2005 Share Posted 17 May , 2005 Steve Lt Charles Allan Parker MC, from Tasmania, and formerly Royal Field Artillery, was flying RE 8 B5875 of No 63 Sqn RFC, with AMI John Nelson on 19 February 1918, when they were killed in a flying accident. The airmen are buried in Basra, Iraq. Lt Parker was awarded the MC for his Western Front action on 22 April 1917 when flying FE 2b A820 of No 11 Sqn RFC with 2Lt James Ernest Bytheway Hesketh as observer. The citation from The Gazette of 18 July 1917 is below. 2Lt Hesketh died of wounds. A victory was credited to Ltn Karl Schaefer of Jasta 11; it was the 21st of his eventual 30 victories before he was killed in action on 5 June 1917. I hope this helps. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenbecker Posted 17 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2005 Thanks mate, Can you give any details on 63 Sqn as I couldn't find it in the book "Above the Trenches" Was it formed in and operated all the time in Iraq. Cheers S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 17 May , 2005 Share Posted 17 May , 2005 Steve No 63 Sqn was formed as a day bomber squadron at Stirling in July or August 1916, and was equipped with DH 4s in June 1917 so as to serve on the Western Front. However, plans were changed, and the unit went to Mesopotamia as a Corps Reconnaisance unit with RE 8s and a fighter flight with Bristol Scouts and SPAD VIIs, arriving in Basra on 13 August 1917. The fighters were withdrawn after arrival in Mesopotamia and No 63 Sqn then operated as a reconnaisance unit from 10 September 1917 until the Armistice. The squadron was disbanded at Baghdad on 29 February 1920. I hope this is what you want. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenbecker Posted 17 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2005 Mate. Perfect Thanks S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinky Manchesters Posted 15 December , 2007 Share Posted 15 December , 2007 Steve Are you aware of any links 63 Sqn had in Batum on the Black Sea aroun Dec 1917 or early 1918? My Grandfather served on this Unit and was always thought to have visited White Russia. My Father recalls his talks of Batum and travelling on the Black Sea. He was transferred from 19 Manchester Regt to RFC around April 1917 then travelled via Cape Town to Mesopotamia. Brgds John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 15 December , 2007 Share Posted 15 December , 2007 John Two RAF squadrons operated from Batum in 1918-1919. A detachment from No 17 Sqn went there in October 1918, and No 221 Sqn came in January 1919. Both units were equipped with the DH 9 two-seat day bomber. I hope that this is useful. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickdavis Posted 16 December , 2007 Share Posted 16 December , 2007 There seems to be some misunderstanding about 63 Squadron's formative period. Fuller details below. Although a December 1916 listing stated that it would mobilise as a light day bomber unit with BHP-engined DH4s, that plan was abandoned and revised plans had it as a Corps squadron and as such it received some RE8s for training at Cramlington. It's initial operational equipment was delivered new and crated to Mespot. 63 SQUADRON RFC Bases Formed at Raploch in 19th Wing 5.7.1916 with nucleus from 43 and 61 Squadrons. To Cramlington 31.10.1916. Establishment at 23.12.1916 set at BE2/AW + BE12 + Avro. Intended as a light day bombing unit with BHP DH4s. Mobilised as a Corps squadron and embarked for Middle East 23.7.1917. Served in Mesopotamia and disbanded there 29.2.1920. Commanding Officers Major AC Boddam-Whetham from 11.8.1916 until 4.1917. Major JC Quinnell from 27.4.1917 until 21.10.1917. Representative Aeroplanes (* shipped to Basra, Mesopotamia, in packing cases for use by the unit) Airco DH2 7866. Avro 504A 2914, 7727, 7728, 7957, 7967, 7980, 7981, A514, A515, A526, A544, A555, A557, A559, A1998, A1999, A2638, AW FK3 5512, 5514, 5517, 5526, 5544, A1496. Bristol Scout D 7055, 7056. RAF BE2b 2780. RAF BE2c 2113, 2483, 2486, 2487, 2663, 4218, 5416. RAF BE2d 6246, 6247, 6773. RAF BE2e 7229, 7230, 7244, A1317, A1318, A1321, A1322, A1779, A1879, A1880. RAF BE12 A4014, A4015, A4041. RAF BE12a A572, A6315. RAF RE8 A3461, A3500, A3556, A3557, A3558, A3567, A3568, A3570, A4334*, A4335*, A4336*, A4337*, A4338*, A4339*, A4340*, A4341*, A4342*, A4343*, A4344*, A4345*, A4346*, A4347*, A4348*, A4349*, A4350*, A4351*, A4352*, A4353*, A4354*, A4355*, A4356*, A4357*, A4601. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 16 December , 2007 Share Posted 16 December , 2007 27066 AMI John M Nelson joined the RFC in 1916, as he died before the formation of the RAF, he might not have an RAF record in AIR 79. His RFC records would have been standard army records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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