Information on RFC/AFC Markings

I'm interested in finding out a bit of info on 2 Sqn AFC DH5 markings. The only photograph I have been able to find which shows a serial no and a code number is one in the Australian War Memorial collection (E1444). This photo shows Ser No A.9449 Code No '1' belonging to B Flight's commander Capt G C Wilson. This photo also shows the aircraft has flight commander's pennant on the starboard aft wing strut. I forget when the photo was taken but I suspect in about Oct 1917.

Question 1. At what point did the RFC take to repeating the Code No on the upper mainplane. In other words would this aircraft have had a '1' on the wing.
Question 2. Could someone give me information on the flight commander's pennant? Were they made in a standard manner? What colour were they? Were they attached on both sides? Any other information of interest?

Just a couple of observations as well!
The balloon ace list on this site has Capt A Cobby of 4 Sqn AFC with 5 balloon kills. The book Military Aircraft of Australia 1909-1918 by Keith Isaacs (Published AWM 1971) shows Cobby with thirteen (13) balloon kills!

An interesting piece of trivia; The first Australian pilot to score a victory flying for an Australian Squadron was Lt Fred G Huxley of 68 (Australian) Sqn (2Sqn AFC) on 22 November 1917. While flying DH5 A.9461 Code No '4' he destroyed an Albatross D.V over Boulon Wood. He eventually got 2 more victories (destroyed) flying the same DH5 and scored the squadron's first victory on SE5as. After that victory (his 4th) he never made another kill!

P.S. What ever became of Fred Huxley? I know he was a Captain and a flight commander when he made his last kill and a squadron summary of achievements at the AWM shows he flew 56 operational hours but did he survive the war?

>I'm interested in finding out a bit of info on 2 Sqn AFC DH5 markings. The only photograph I have been<

For AFC info you cant go past the Australian Flying Corps Website at :

http://members.xoom.com/PointCook/in...r /> <br /> In the profiles section there are profiles of two DH5's, Stan Muirs A9197 and G.C Wilsons A9449. The picture of Wilsons DH5 was dated November 1917. The DH5's were void of marking until they got to France, then their squdron marking became a thin white band at the rear fo the fuselage. They wore that until they received SE5a's, the marking then became the white boomerang.

IIRC Stan Muir had a horrendous crash at Harlaxton and was killed, I think I have seen a picture of his crashed DH5, it is as flat as a pancake and no parts can be made out. Muir didnt get to France.



>The book Military Aircraft of Australia 1909-1918 by Keith Isaacs (Published AWM 1971) shows Cobby with thirteen (13) balloon kills! <

Cobby's book "High Adventure" lists him with 24 DES, 5 OOC and 13 Balloons. Above the Trenches and "Australiian Air Aces" both list Cobby with 29 victories. Above the Trenches is the most recent in research and probably the most reliable.



cam

Thanks Cam, that's your site isn't it?
I've seen it and think it's fantastic!
I specially like the artwork.

G'day Gordon,
From my research, Fred Huxley survived the war and went back to Tassie after it.

Regards,
Andrew.