American pilots and the DH2...

Brad · 6 April 2005, 07:04 AM

Just a question for the gurus on here... were there any American pilots (obviously serving in another service) who flew the DH2 in combat? If not, what other early types (other than the Nieuports) did they fly?

Brad

MikeW · 6 April 2005, 10:12 AM

Brad,

how early is early? if 1917 is OK then Oliver Le Boutilier flew Sopwith Pups and Triplanes in Naval 9.

Mike

Graeme · 6 April 2005, 11:05 AM

Brad

Fred Libby served as an observer in Nos 23 and 11 Squadrons RFC (FE2b, July to October 1916) and as a pilot in Nos 43 and 25 Squadrons (Strutter and DH4 respectively, May to August 1917). He claimed 14 victories in this period.

Clive Warman claimed 12 victories on Spads in No 23 Squadron between July and August 1917.

Wilfred Beaver scored three of his eventual 19 victories in 1917 with No 20 Squadron (Bristol Fighter).

Harold Hartney (was he American or Canadian?) began scoring with No 20 Squadron (FE2b) in July 1916.

Graeme

Brad · 6 April 2005, 11:57 AM

Ooohhhh... an American flew the Tripehound? Hmmmm...

Brad

Lufbery · 6 April 2005, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graeme

Fred Libby served as an observer in Nos 23 and 11 Squadrons RFC (FE2b, July to October 1916) and as a pilot in Nos 43 and 25 Squadrons (Strutter and DH4 respectively, May to August 1917). He claimed 14 victories in this period.

Of course, technically, Libby was a Canadian at that point. He had gone to Canada to make his fortune. When the war started, he and a buddy signed up with a Canadian transportation unit. At some point while he was still in basic training he American citizenship was revoked because America was trying to stay neutral. So, by the time he got to France, he was Canadian.

Hartney was Canadian too.

Regards,

alex_revell · 7 April 2005, 04:37 AM

Lt G H Bonnell served with 32 Sqdn in 1916 seated in a DH2. There is a very good photo of Bonnell in the cockpit of a DH2 published in my Osprey booklet. However, I would be grateful if anyone can establish if he definitely was an American. So many Americans joined the RFC as Canadians that it's difficult to seperate them. My good friend and tremendous researcher, Ola Sater, always reckoned that they were very unfairly overshadowed by the, in his opinion, over blown publicity given to the people in the Lafayette Escadrille. There were certainly many good American pilots in the RFC/RAF who hardly get a mention. Johnny Speaks and Larry Bowen who were in 56 Sqdn in 1918 are two which spring to mind.

7 April 2005, 06:34 AM

As for Amis, Collishaw reports an American killed while he was flying with Naval 3???, I think?

I'll try to find it.

F=MA

Wind In The Wires · 10 April 2005, 05:25 AM

http://www.arcadepub.com/Book/index....55970100529030

IIRC Libby first served as the gunner in a two seat pusher and mentions the difficulty of hanging on while the pilot performed evasive manuevers-gunners didn't have seat belts.

A good read with a lot of the substance hidden between the lines.