Naval 10's Black Flight

[MikeW]

I am familiar with all the differing written descriptions of the Black Flight's markings, but IMHO none of them can be trusted - even Collishaw himself neglected to mention the large "C" aft of the fuselage cockade and on the top surface of the right stabiliser on Black Maria N533.

Has anyone ever seen a photograph of any of the Black Flight triplanes (apart from N533 of course)? I am not interested in profiles, paintings, replicas etc., but in hard evidence. I need to know if the Black Flight adopted the usual 10(N) system of the time, of having the first letter of the pilots surname (or christian name if someone else had the surname already) marked on the fuselage side. I.e., A, N R, and S for Alexander, Nash, Reid and Sharman respectively.

The circumstantial evidence suggests they did, with Collishaw having "C". Also Shirrif (first name Quintin) flew "Q", why did he do this unless Ted Sharman had already pinched "S"? Has anyone got any hard evidence?

Dear Mike W. Collishaw Was a member of "B" flight attatched to No. 10 squadron. N533 was a two-gun Sopwith,in service July-August 1917. Some-if not all Triplane victories of Collishaw were in N5492,"Maria". No clues about "C" on wing or fuselage. Color Scheme of "B" flight was noted by all black coweling.

[Rod_Filan]

Mike,
Here's what Bob Pearson had to say on the subject:

Black Maria - Collishaw N5490, N5492 and N533 (a two-gun Clayton and Shuttleworth built a/c). At least N533 also carried the letter C on fuselage sides and stabilizer and had a black fin as well

Black Prince - Alexander N5487
Black Sheep - Nash N5376
Black Death - Sharman N6307
Black Roger - Reid N5483

All of these may have also had the pilot's initial added at some point because...

N5358 Q FSL Saunders (letter Q as S was taken by Sharman)
N5357 K FSL Kent
N6292 B FSL Saint


VBR

[MikeW]

Thanks Rod,

I can add "H" N6306 Holcroft to the list.

I know Saunders was shot down in "Q" N5358, but I think it was more normally Quentin Shirrif's machine.

What I don't understand is why there are no photographs, Ray Collishaw must be just about the most photographed man in the RNAS.

VBR

Mike

[Rod_Filan]

Mike,
I can only come up with one explanation for the lack of photographs. British forces in France were not allowed to take photos. Even the possession of a camera was a courts martial offence - unlike the Germans, who seemed to be snapshot crazy and not under any sort of photography restrictions that I'm aware of.
Other than "official" photographs, Brits didn't take photos of anything it seems, and considering the state-of-the-art status the Tripe had, I'm not really that suprised by the lack of pics of it.

Just think... if those sneaky Huns had ever gotten a close look at a Sopwith Triplane they'd have probably built one just like it for themselves. Doh!

VBR