IWM Bristol Fighter

[PeterL]

Can anybody help with a history of the IWM's Bristol F2B? Which squadron, if any, did it see active service with? How did it get into the IWM collection? Stuff like that.

[jado]

Peter:

I know Capt. Andrew McKeever of 11 Squadron scored all of his 31 victories in the F2A and F2bs' making him top "Bisfit" ace.

The F2Bs' were so successful that they served in the R.A.F. until 1932, with 3,101 being built up to 1918.

Peter

E2581 which is preserved at Duxford is an original aircraft (sadly now not airworthy) Ir flew with 39 (home defence) squadron at North Weald, then with various communication and headquarters flights. It amde its last flight during April 1920.

The partially uncovered Bristol fighter at the RAF museum Hendon is made up from bits of 6 F2b aircraft, it has been restored to represent E2466 an F2b flown by Captain W.F.J. Harvey of 22 Squadron.

Hope this helps.

Best Wishes

Old Bill

[PeterL]

Peter

* * * E2581 which is preserved at Duxford is an original aircraft (sadly now not airworthy) Ir flew with 39 (home defence) squadron at North Weald, then with various communication and headquarters flights. It amde its last flight during April 1920.

* * *The partially uncovered Bristol fighter at the RAF museum Hendon is made up from bits of 6 F2b aircraft, it has been restored to represent E2466 an F2b flown by Captain W.F.J. Harvey of 22 Squadron.

* * *Hope this helps.

* * * * Best Wishes

* * * * * * *Old Bill *

Thank's Bill. Two for the price of one 8)

[PeterL]

Thanks once again "Old Bill". I have put a page together athttp://www.wwimodeler.com/esc/biff.html

[Lufbery]

Thanks once again "Old Bill". I have put a page together athttp://www.wwimodeler.com/esc/biff.html

Peter,

What a wonderful page!

It seems from the photos that the observer had two seats: the sling for when he was facing rearwards, and then another seat for sitting facing forwards. I've read here that the other seat actually folded down. Is that right?

Regards,

[Ginger.]

Well done old bean,take over A Flight in the morning.:

[PeterL]

Lufbery: "I've read here that the other seat actually folded down. Is that right?"




Such drawings as I have show a small square folding seat attached to the fuselage uprights immediately behind the cockpit. You can just see it in this shot where it appears to have a canvas back. But until I saw Nick's photo's I had never noticed the sling before. Not exactly club class is it?

Ginger: "Well done old bean,take over A Flight in the morning."

Smoke me a kipper. I'll be home in time for breakfast.

[Boom]

The sling seat is fastened to the Scarff ring. IOW it moves with the ring as the gun is trained. The mechanism for releasing the gun to traverse, ie, spin the entire ring, is a lever which the gunner pushed in with his back. (elevation was unlocked with another lever on the left side of the frame by the machinegun.) I would guess that gunners rarely used the seat, but would stand to maintain better control of the gun. For simple travel, the fold down seat was probably the more comfortable.

Had a good look at the Bristol at Hendon researching for Duel Over Douai. Some of the above is guesses based on how the Scarff ring works. DH-4 ,DH-9 and RE-8 gunners positions are all similiar.

Also note the spelling and capitilization of Scarff. A word spell-check loves. An engineer in the RFC named Scarff invented the swivelable mouinting.

cheers, Boom

[PeterL]

Great insight Boom. I firmly beleive that understanding how things work helps a good deal when modelling them. Thanks a lot.