Major Lanoe Hawker's Bristol Scout

[Starlight]

I'm trying to find out the fate of the Bristol scout in which Hawker won his VC. Though this action was on the 25th July 1915, "The Sky Their Battlefield" mentions it (Number 1611) on the 19th October 1915, still with Number 6 squadron and flown by a Lt Kinnear. Can anyone tell me any later details of the aircraft and when it was struck off charge?

[mickdavis]

1611 : 80-hp Gnome 3924/WD1380. 6 Sqn Abeele by 23.6.1915, in combat 25.7.1915 (Capt LG Hawker in VC action that result in 3[?] EA crashed), 31.7.1915 (Capt LG Hawker), 9.8.1915 (Capt LG Hawker), 7.9.1915 (Capt Hawker sent an EA down OOC) and 19.10.1915 (Lt Kinnear). 12 Sqn St Omer dd 6.11.1915 as 'school machine' and crashed 20.2.1916 (2Lt CM Gibson).

[Starlight]

Thanks Mick, exactly what I needed. It's interesting to note that Lt Gibson learnt from the crash and went on to fly other Bristol Scouts for 11 squadron as a full lieutenant, eventually getting promoted to captain in March 1917.

Steve

[Starlight]

1611 : 80-hp Gnome 3924/WD1380. 6 Sqn Abeele by 23.6.1915, in combat 25.7.1915 (Capt LG Hawker in VC action that result in 3[?] EA crashed), 31.7.1915 (Capt LG Hawker), 9.8.1915 (Capt LG Hawker), 7.9.1915 (Capt Hawker sent an EA down OOC) and 19.10.1915 (Lt Kinnear). 12 Sqn St Omer dd 6.11.1915 as 'school machine' and crashed 20.2.1916 (2Lt CM Gibson).

Mick, I see that Bristol Scout Number 4680 apparently replaced 1611 in Number 6 squadron (it gets a mention in TSTB on 14th December 1915). Can you tell me if it arrived before the old one was taken back to St Omer?

Regards

Steve

[mickdavis]

What I have on 4680 is :-

4680 : 1 AP St Omer dd by air 15.10.1915. 6 Sqn Abeele (80-hp Gnome 4721) dd 22.10.1915 and in combat 14.12.1915 (Capt Kinnear) and 28.12.1916 (2Lt EHP Cave) and damaged in combat 17.1.1916 (2Lt EHP Cave WIA).

The last mention I have for 1611 on 6 Sqn is 19 October, so it's possible that 4680 was its replacement. I have AD records for this period (somewhere) and will check out to see when 1611 was returned.

[Starlight]

I'd say you were right that 1611 was replaced by 4680 (it must have passed its 'best use-by date'). I've just checked the squadron records and there was only a single Bristol Scout listed as being on charge between the months of November 1915 and June 1916 (apart from one week at the end of January when there were two).

[mickdavis]

The other 6 Sqn Bristol Scouts I have are :-

1609 : 80-hp le Rhone 562. 1 AP St Omer. 6 Sqn Abeele dd ex 1 AP 3.6.1915 (Capt LG Hawker), in combat 7.6.1915 (Capt LG Hawker with EA nr Ypres) and in further combats 12.6.1915 (Capt LG Hawker), 20.6.1915 (Capt LG Hawker sent down an EA C type) and 22.6.1915 (Capt Hawker overturned landing). AP St Omer by 30.6.1915. 7 Sqn Bailleul by 19.9.1915 and wrecked 2.10.1915.

5299 : 1 AD St Omer dd engine-less in case. 6 Sqn Abeele dd 25.1.1916, in combat 9.2.1916 (2Lt NA Bolton) and on charge until @ 13.2.1916.

5311 : Delivered engine-less. 6 Sqn Abeele and in combat 29.5.1916 (Capt NA Bolton sent an Aviatik possibly OOC).

[Starlight]

That makes sense. The period of overlap at the end of January 1916 where there were two Bristol Scouts in the squadron, the aircraft would have been 4680 (Hawker's replacement scout) and 5299.

One of the dates you have provided is very interesting. I remember reading in a Cross and Cockade journal that Hawker had three engagements in 1609 on the day of his crash (22/06/15), ran low on fuel and was forced to land, overturning the aircraft after he ran into a wire fence. As 1609 was badly damaged Hawker was worried that they would not trust him with another scout but his Wing Commander Col Burke arranged for a new Bristol Scout 'C' - 1611 - to be given to him, and from the date in one of your responses, it must have arrived on the very next day (23/06/15). As single seat scouts were hard to come by at that time, he must have had friends in high places. A month later Hawker won his VC whilst flying 1611.