Tonyf Posted 1 March , 2008 Share Posted 1 March , 2008 Records show that he was shot down and killed over Passchendale in August 1917. Can anyone say what type of aircraft he was piloting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 1 March , 2008 Share Posted 1 March , 2008 Sopwith Pup of 66 squadron in action north west of Roulers. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Smith Posted 2 March , 2008 Share Posted 2 March , 2008 Records show that he was shot down and killed over Passchendale in August 1917. Can anyone say what type of aircraft he was piloting. Just to add a bit more to Bob's reply, 2Lt Keast is shown as MIA Died of Wounds in "The Sky Their Battlefield". He was Flying Sopwith Pup B1775, he was with 66 Squadron as Bob mentioned. A claim was made by a Ltn Hess of Ja 28, but it is unsure if he shot Keast down or a Naval 10 Sopwith Triplane as Hess' claim only mentions a Sopwith. Regards, Andrew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 2 March , 2008 Share Posted 2 March , 2008 Just to add a little more to the previous replies, B1775 was built by the Standard Motor Co Ltd at Coventry and was a presentation aeroplane, marked Gold Coast Aborigines No 2. It was delivered to No 66 Sqn on 14 July 1917. Lt W R Keast was last seen diving onto a formation of enemy aircraft north-west of Roulers on 21 August. Ltn Ernst Hess did claim a "Sopwith" at 0950, but Above the Lines identifies the victory as a Sopwith 1½ Strutter of No 45 Sqn, although that unit didn't lose an aeroplane on the day. Hess went on to claim a Sopwith Triplane over Ypres at 1840. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonyf Posted 2 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 2 March , 2008 My thanks to all for the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john-g Posted 4 March , 2008 Share Posted 4 March , 2008 What is your interest in Keast? According to the Record Book, a patrol led by Capt Angus Bell-Irving in B1733, 2/Lt R.A. Steadman who initially took of in B2185 and retuned with engine trouble and departed again in A6183, Lt. E H Lacselles B.2176, Lt L.B. May B1846, 2/Lt P.H. Raney B2177, 2/Lt W. R. Keast B1775 departed at 5.30 p.m.. Pat O'Brien maintained in his book that he saw the Raney going down during the fight. Keast an Australian had served in the Australian Forces Engineering Btn. He was awarded the 1915 Star, served at Gallipoli and was sent to Hospital in Malta. I would be interested in any more in formation. john_g www.66squadron.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonyf Posted 4 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 4 March , 2008 My interest is from an Australian forces mail point of view. I have a cover from Gallipoli that Keast signed as censoring officer. He had left Australia in the Orvieto(A3) as part of the first convoy in October 1914 and suffered gunshot wounds at Gallipoli which put him in hospital in Malta. Returning to Gallipoli via Egypt. At the battle for Pozieres he was twice recommended for an award but there is no record of him receiving one. Thanks for your comments tonyf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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