US Seaplane & Crew

3 November 2002, 03:26 PM

GFather in USMC WW1 dreamed of flying. Appears another Marine friend suceeded after WW1 in this Apr 19,1920 photo (must have reenlisted in USN) Any comments on aircraft, crew composition or WW1 activities of any in photo (Ensign Porter, pilot; Chief Mach Mate Jackson; Electrician Gerhart, radio oper; Mach Mate 1c Logan, Mach Mate 2c Roycroft - former USMC?). *I have many US Southern Calif photos from the air incl. Catalina, hangars with other seaplanes, Balboa Park, submarine base, Wyoming at anchor, etc.[IMG]URL[/IMG]

3 November 2002, 03:43 PM

Here is another photo of same aircraft type, top view.

Dan_San_Abbott · 8 November 2002, 04:45 PM

tcubed1918:
The flying boat is a F5L. They were built by the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia and the Curtiss Aeroplane in Buffalo, N.Y.
The design was derived from the Porte F5 flying Boat Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engine, It was reengineered by the Naval Aircraft Factory to take tw0 330 hp Liberty engines.
The F5L remained in U.S.Navy service until the lat 1920s. THe crew consisted of 4 men.
Wing span:upper 103' 9.25" lower;74' 3.875"
Length:49' 3.68"
Height: 18' 9.25"
Ordance load: bombs; 4 x 230 lb bombs, 920 lbs.
Lewis Machine guns and related equipment = 270 lbs, total ordance load =1190 lbs.
Gross weight: 13000 lbs.
Endurance: at cruising speed; 11.25 hours,
at maximum airspeed; 7.75 hours.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

8 November 2002, 10:46 PM

Right on DanSan, and it looks like the NC's that flew round the world, minus 2 engines and some wing area.

9 November 2002, 02:51 AM

Thanks for the info. It appears that this former Marine (Roycroft) did finally get aloft after the war by joining the Navy. Surprised of the clarity of the photos - must be from specialized recon cameras considering how much I have increased the photo images.

9 November 2002, 03:23 AM

Not sure noticed in the one photo, but there are 5 active seaplanes including the one taking the photo coming in almost all directions from sea and air - early air traffic control appeared to be lacking except at the hangar.

10 November 2002, 10:18 PM

And your point IS ??????? ???

Rod_Filan · 11 November 2002, 11:57 AM

Just to clarify Topgun's observation of the similarity between the F5L and the Nancy boat.

The NC Flying Boats were quite a bit larger:
Wing Span - 126’ Upper, 94’ Lower
Length - 68’ 5.5”
Height - 24' 5"

And certainly his colloquialism "flew round the world" is in reference to NC-4 completing the first transatlantic flight.

Thanks for sharing these photos with us tc.

VBR
Rod

Colin A Owers · 15 November 2002, 06:16 PM

The photos are indeed the F-5-L. They show the post-WWi modifications to the cockpit.

The boat bears no realtion to the NC boats designed by Curtiss & the US Navy. The hHull design of the NC boats was all USN - the F-5-L was Porte design in the UK.

Great Photos.

Colin A Owers

16 November 2002, 02:27 AM

[QUOTE]
*The crew consisted of 4 men.

Thanks for the facts. Are there any additional facts on the composition of the crew (Pilot, Engineer, Radio Operator plus one additional crew member)? Would one of the Machinist Mates release bombs?

Of the radio operators, was there primary role to communicate with surface, other aircraft or both and what typical range would that communication have?