56 Sqd SE5 colours

[vince14]

I'm re-reading James McCudden's 'Flying Fury' again (after several years!) and on page 151 he relates the following; "...we came across a patrol of S.E.'s of No. 56 Squadron with their machines all painted various colours. One I distinctly remember was stripped red and white and looked like a zebra."

Is there any other evidence (photographic or otherwise) of 56 painting up their aircraft in such a manner? All pics of 56's SE's I've seen are in standard colours.

Vince

[WFS]

Could you give us more info. such as the approximate date of this encounter? It's been a while since I read the entire book. I have a British reprint edition and my page numbers don't match yours. Also, in the edition that I have, McCudden refers to 56 Sqn. as "M" squadron throughout. To my knowledge 56's wartime SEs were all painted PC10 with clear dope on the undersides of the flying surfaces.

Wayne

[EdStevens]

This is a long shot, but 46 Squadron did some custom paintwork during their stay on Home Defence in England ( Arthur Gould Lee's "Chu Chin Chow" being one), which was of course soon overpainted upon returning to the front. Could 56 have done some similar expressions of personal livery during their Home Defence stint? The problem is that they were only stationed in England for a couple of weeks...

[Gregvan]

It has been well documented that 56 Squadron enjoyed a brief period of splendidly decorated SE5a's in the latter half of July 1917 and early August, before 'higher authority' took a dim view of such flamboyance and ordered the markings removed. According to Alex Revell's book High in the Empty Blue (THE bible on 56 Squadron, by THE authority on this famous unit), on pages 93-94: "July 10 was also wet and windy and it was decied to pass the time by painting the SE5s...not to be outdone (by the colorful German fighters opposing them..GVW) 56 Squadron painted its SE5s in a variety of ways. Captain Broadberry's fitter, Len Baker, painted a fearsome crocodile's head, its teeth dripping blood, on the nose of A'8919, repeating the motif with a small crocodile on the rear of the fuselage. Another SE5 carried a painting of a Spanish dancer, and the name 'Conchita';another was 'striped red and white and looked like a zebra'; Maxwell's machine had a bright red nose."

The book has a color profile of Broadberry's SE5a with the crocodile painted in red, based on Baker's description and sketches. On page 125 there is a photo of Wilkinson with his SE5a A4853 at Estree Blanche in late July, and the machine had a red headrest and red,white & blue borders around the cockpit rim.There is a color profile of B'514 flown by Richard Leighton, which had a vertical red band with a yellow zig-zag on it, just ahead of the tailplane. On page 104 there is a small photo of Rhys-Davids' A'4563 on Bailleul aerodrome on July 28. It shows a white wavy line or 'snakeline' painted on the fuselage from cockpit to tail.

Much of the same information, and photos, can be found in Les Rogers' magnificent book on British Aviation Squadron Markings of World War I from Schiffer, or in the same author's book on SE5a Squadron Markings from Albatros Productions. Glen Merrill's Americal decals offers a beautiful set of 56 Squadron decals which includes most of the described aircraft.

Of course, it's also known that the early SE5's (not 5a's) of No. 60 Squadron had their flight colors painted on the engine cowlings, lower wing root fairings, footsteps, fins, and on a diagonal band on the aft fuselage, all outlined in white, resulting in some very colorful aircraft. These markings, too, were very short-lived. The British seemed determined to keep their aircraft pretty dull, much to the frustration of modelers today ! :-[

Greg VanWyngarden

[vince14]

Thanks for the info, Greg. Looks like I'll have to get my credit card out again...

Vince

[alex_revell]

Vince,
Put your credit card away!. If you are interested I have a copy (new of course) of HITEB for sale at £25 plus postage and packing. Let me know if you are interested by emailing me at Alexanderrevell@barclays.net.
Regards
Alex Revell.
Greg, Thanks for the kind words. What news about dear old Neal O'Connor
Alex

Damn 'n' blast, I paid full-whack for my copy!

Never mind, 'twas well worth it.

(8;¬)}

Simba - born in Gosport, Hampshire, UK, where 'the great Smith-Barry taught the world to fly' and No.56 (and many other RFC squadrons) was first formed.