vervos Posted 4 March , 2006 Share Posted 4 March , 2006 Since you have all been so helpful, I wondered if anyone had any ideas about this photograph of two FE2b pilots probably from 100 or 101 Night-Bombing Squadrons who were stationed on the same aerodrome as 53 Squadron in 1917 or 18. Cheers Vervos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Roberts Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 Just some snippets: the chap on the right has an Observer's badge (one wing), so he is probably going to fly with the pilot. The Pilot is pulling on a Sidcot one-peice flying suit, invented by Australian pilot Sidney Cotton who refused to profit from his wartime invention. It was one of the few peices of British kit that the Germans were not above using if they captured one. The Observer seems to be making do with full-length leather great-coat and leggings. The picture does look deliberately posed. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveBrigg Posted 6 March , 2006 Share Posted 6 March , 2006 Can we suppose, from the neat layout (unworn?) of the gloves and armaments on the aircraft behind, that these men are getting dressed for a raid, rather than undressing afterwards? Dave (excuse me for my ignorance, but to an untrained eye, the aircraft in the background does not appear to have been finished. Were they really going to take off in that??) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 6 March , 2006 Share Posted 6 March , 2006 (excuse me for my ignorance, but to an untrained eye, the aircraft in the background does not appear to have been finished. Were they really going to take off in that??) Dave They certainly were. It's an FE 2b in allover black night bombing markings; this was the RAF's standard short range night bomber in 1918. After the FE 2b became obsolete for daylight operations in mid 1917, the type found a new lease of life as a night bomber/intruder. A photograph of an FE 2b is below. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan Posted 13 March , 2006 Share Posted 13 March , 2006 Dave They certainly were. It's an FE 2b in allover black night bombing markings; this was the RAF's standard short range night bomber in 1918. After the FE 2b became obsolete for daylight operations in mid 1917, the type found a new lease of life as a night bomber/intruder. A photograph of an FE 2b is below. Regards Gareth I don't think the take off would be too immediate as they're still inside the hanger. Though the presence of the single bomb(?) is unusual. It could have carried 8 this size. Also it is definitely not the standard 25lb cooper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 13 March , 2006 Share Posted 13 March , 2006 Hello, FE2b of 100 Sqn Regards, Cnock See previous post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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