Ten Most Famous Aircraft of the AFC

[Vin]

Can you find room for Roby (Robey ?) Manuel's SE5A ? *Its claim to fame is that a replica, bearing Roby's colours and 2AFC markings, is still flying round the paddocks of Kerang, piloted by Roby's grandson of the same name. *So a Roby Manuel patrols the skies in a red SE5A. *Mind you, our Roby isn't travelling too well at the moment.


Cheers


Vin


http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/09/...1115884791.html

Vin,

>So a Roby Manuel patrols the skies in a red SE5A.

From the Sun 1975;

World War I Aces Dies

World War I aces Mr Roby Manuel died in Pyramid Hill Hospital, 265 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, on Saturday.

Mr Manuel who won the DFC and bar was 80. He was in the air battle in which the German ace Baron von Richthofen was shot down.

Mr Manuel was a farmer in the Normanville District, near Kerrang, until two years ago when he retired to Kerrang.

His son, Mr Kevin Manuel, said yesterday his father was credited with 14 "kills" in World War I and often flew against the Red Baron.

Mr Manuel sen. once flew under a Thames bridge during World War I.

Mr Manuel owned airplanes most of his life including a Gipsy Moth, Toger Moth and Cessna 172, and was possibly Australia's first flying farmer

He held a license until last year.

He leaves a wife, five daughters and two sons.

Mr Manuels funeral service will be at 2 p.m. today in Kerang Presbyterian Church.

The cortege will then move to Kerrang Cemetary, where the Mid-Murray Flying Club will stage a fly past.

by Peter Johnston





cam

[jonathon]

The AFC seems to have kept excellent records of their respective squadrons,they were also involved in the battle of Cambrai in November 1917 particularly No 2 Squadron but Lt H.Taylor of 68 squadron had his aircraft hit and landed in No Mans land. refernce communique 115. My father Lt D.W.Lane had the same experience on the same dayflying an aircore DH5 from No 32 squadron,he was also wounded.and was rescued and got back to the lines.The point I am making is that there are no records and no othermember of that squadron has offered any comminiques or details ,is there anyone around who has any details of that Squadron based at Gerbrandt during November???

Johnathon,

>Lt H.Taylor of 68 squadron had his aircraft hit and
>landed in No Mans land. refernce communique 115.

An article on Harry Taylors episode;

http://www.australianflyingcorps.org...rrytaylor.html

and some more information on 2 Sqn AFC's Battle of Cambrai,

http://www.australianflyingcorps.org...e/feature.html



>The point I am making is that there are no
>records

Have you tried the PRO ( Public Records Office ) in Kew Gardens, England for information. The squadrons kept detailed recordings of the day to day operations. As 32 Sqn RFC was in the British Forces the main repository for their information would most likely be the PRO.


cam

[Vin]

From the Sun 1975;

World War I Aces Dies

World War I aces Mr Roby Manuel died in Pyramid Hill Hospital, 265 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, on Saturday.

Mr Manuel who won the DFC and bar was 80. He was in the air battle in which the German ace Baron von Richthofen was shot down.

Not according to Cutlack. *2AFC were not involved in that action.

His son, Mr Kevin Manuel, said yesterday his father was credited with 14 "kills" in World War I and often flew against the Red Baron.

This site, Cam’s and a number of others give Roby 12. *Hard to believe that a family member’s views might not be reliable.


Vin