Photo: Captured Sopwith Camel "R"

Logan · 12 December 2005, 11:06 AM

From airliners.net. I've asked the owner of the photo what the serial number is and I will post it here if he replies.

Craig · 12 December 2005, 11:12 AM

Are those actual bullet holes on the deck, fuselage roundel and LR wing?

They are almost never visible on photos of downed A/C.

Logan · 12 December 2005, 11:14 AM

Good question. Here is a larger version of the image from airliners.net.

MikeW · 12 December 2005, 01:12 PM

46 Squadron.

MikeW · 12 December 2005, 01:33 PM

Ignore my last utterance.

It's B2458 of 65 Squadron. 2Lt TP Morgan shot down near St Marguerite, south of Comines on 15th November 1917.

46 Squadron took over the marking of the long white horizonal stripe in March 1918.

Mike

Logan · 12 December 2005, 02:53 PM

I found this on the "internets" from the WWI mailing list.

Quote:

Camel Squadron's book for this A/C states:

"B2458 'R' of 2/Lt. T P Morgan. During an offensive patrol over
Dadizeele-Quesnoy, Morgan was shot down by Vzfw. O Esswein of Jasta 27 near
St Maeguerite south of Cmines on November 15, 1917 and made POW."

The Camel File states further that this was a 65 Sqdn. machine and was
credited to Jasta 24!

Brad

Graeme · 12 December 2005, 02:59 PM

Damn! Beaten to it by a "naval bod"!

Sorry Logan, your post crept in while I was still typing.

Still, explains why I had no joy finding anything in 46 Squadron's casualty listing - wrong squadron and wrong time-frame. Apart from that I was doing quite well

I reckon this might have been

Otto Esswein's first victory - he claimed a Sopwith at 09:55 (British time) near Comines which ties in quite nicely with the details of Morgan's loss.

I've got Esswein as being in Jasta 26?

Graeme

Logan · 13 December 2005, 11:19 AM

Quote:

I've got Esswein as being in Jasta 26?

Graeme

Everything I see mentions Esswein being in Jasta 26. Looks like your source beats my source. Moving back two spaces.

EdStevens · 13 December 2005, 03:34 PM

So I guess judging by the top wing that it ground-looped on landing? Overall it seems in pretty good nick, but that top wing is seriously warped! Funny that the vertical stablizer and rudder don't appear damaged, though.

13 December 2005, 03:50 PM

Main spar looks busted in the upper wing, perhaps shot away.

F=MA