12 Sqn RFC casualty

[lionboxer]

This is my first foray into the Air War not having had any of my men with the RFC being killed. I'm looking for further information about the life and death of Lt Duncan Flower Cunningham Reid killed in action 19/12/15 while serving with 12 Sqn. His brother Alec or Alex also served in the RFC and won the DFC.

Lionboxer

[Dolphin]

Lionboxer

2Lt D F Cunningham-Reid (formerly 29th Lancers, Indian Army) was the observer in BE 2c 2074 of No 12 Sqn RFC, flown by 2Lt Norman Gordon-Smith (formerly Highland Light Infantry), when they were killed in action on 19 December 1915. The airmen were providing the escort to another aeroplane when they were engaged in combat over Bruges before being shot down near Oostcamp by Ltn Otto Parschau of Kampfgeschwader Nr 1 who was flying a Fokker Eindekker; it was the second of Parschau's eventual 8 victories before he died of wounds on 21 July 1916.

There is an account of the end of 2074 in Norman Franks' Sharks Among Minnows, ISBN 1 902304 92 6.

2Lt D F Cunningham-Reid was the brother of Captain Alec Stratford Cunningham-Reid DFC, who was credited with 7 victories when flying with No 85 Sqn RAF in 1918.

I hope that this is useful.

Gareth

[lionboxer]

Thank you Gareth. There is apparently a memorial tablet to Cunningham Reid at Stratford upon Avon and reads as though he was flying. "For half an hour surrounded by German planes one of which he brought down". "The enemy sent words of admiration for his most gallant fight and buried him with military honours". No mention of Gordon Smith. Have you any further details please?

Lionboxer

[fetubi]

This image of a downed aviator's headstone formed from the tail of their crashed aircraft has appeared in a number of books and journals over the years and occasionally surfaces on the Net. According to Cross and Cockade Journal, who published two images of the cross in 1982-83, it is the rear fuselage of BE2c 2074 and stands over the grave of Gordon Smith and Cunningham Reid. The location is uncertain.

Regards,

Trevor

[Dolphin]

Lionboxer

I don't have much else, but Airmen Died says that 2Lt N Gordon-Smith was 22 when he was killed.

German airmen dropped a note over the British side of the lines, which read: "Today, 19 December 1915, at 11.00 am, the English (sic) aeroplane AVRO (sic) 2074 was shot down by us near Oostcamp, south of Bruges. The English occupants, Pilot Norman Gordon-Smith RFC, Observer Lt Cunningham-Reid, 20th Lancers, were brought down after a gallant fight both being killed by shots through the head. The valuables which were found on the deceased will be handed to the relatives through the medium of the German War Office. Both killed pilots will be buried with military honours near Oostcamp, and in about a week's time a photograph of their grave will be dropped at the same place. Fleiger-Abteilung Ostend."

The memorial tablet might be alluding to 2Lt Cunningham-Reid's role as the defender of the BE 2c, as he was the crew member who wielded the aircraft's Lewis gun, even though the observer occupied the front cockpit of the aeroplane. There was no way of firing through the propeller, so fighting from a BE 2c was no easy task. In case you're not familiar with the type, I've posted a photograph below.

The claim that 2Lt Cunningham-Reid brought down a German aeroplane might be wishful thinking

I hope that this is useful.

Gareth

[lionboxer]

Wow!! This is impressive stuff. Thankyou very much Gareth and Trevor. Interestingly the CWGC gives Cunningham-Reids unit as 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) but his MIC states his unit as Interpretor and Indian Army, no mention whatsoever of Lancer's or RFC.

Lionboxer