R.E. 8 of the 42nd Squadron RFC – info needed

[Lodzermensch]

Hello,

I would like to ask for your help concerning the attached picture. It was taken at Pergine airfield most likely and shows captured R.E.8 from the 42nd Squadron. Last digit of its serial is not clear but looks like "5", so the full serial is probably A 4445. Does anybody have any info about the circumstances? Who flew the plane, when it was lost and who shot it down.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_.../obraz0001.jpg

Thanks in advance

Marek

[gustav_novak]

Servus Marek,

a) Pergine - confirmed
b) A 4445 "O" - confirmed

c) flown by Lt G N Goldie, Lt J D Barnes (both POW)

d) 12 January 1918

e) Following members of FliK 55/J flying Alb D.III (Oef) 153.xx were credited with the "kill":
FP Oblt G Kenzian Edl v Kenzianshausen (his 7th victory),
FP Offstv J Kiss (18th),
FP Zugsf A Kasza (4th)

(Sources: K Meindl, N Macmillan)

Hope, it helps a bit.
No access to scanner till Mo - three pages published by KM.

All the best

Mirko

[Lodzermensch]

Servus Mirko,

That's the information I was looking for. Thank you very much.

Regards

Marek

[fetubi]

This is the information I have now - derived from the RFC crews' Repatriated Prisoner Statements held at the UK NA.

12th January 1918

A4445.O RE8 42Sqn
**Phot attacked by 4-5 Albatros DVs engine hit and cut ftl cr o’t ASIAGO MIA (Lt GN Goldie POW/Lt JD Barnes POW) EAs kept firing at crew on ground, a’c shelled

That is an utterly superb photo, btw.

All the best,

Trevor

[gustav_novak]

Hello Trevor,

do you know from your report the place in A/H where the British crew was kept as POW?

Best regards

Mirko

[fetubi]

I'll have a look. The RPS's aren't in any order at all - over 1100 of them! Very hard to search, but I am happy to have a look. The report should include this information.

Regards,

Trevor

[fetubi]

Managed to find the Reports of both men - unfortunately neither gives the details you are after, although Goldie does mention he passed a full report of his capture, imprisonment and a picture of his captured aircraft given to him by his captors on to 14th Wing RAF Intelligence Section. A quick look at the NA Catalogue shows his log book is actually there!
AIR 1/2417/303/35
I'm wondering if it is with some other material mentioned above - ie his report. A log book at Kew is somewhat unusual.

Trevor

PS Some of the RPS's are 2,3,4 few pages long, with a great deal of information, whilst others can be annoyingly brief!

[gustav_novak]

As mentioned I am adding the copies of the relevant pages from the famous K Meindl´s series on k.u.k. LFT/SFW victories - (the 7th volume - Italian Front, the first half of 1918; this part authored together with J Heubel).

I am very sorry, but I was able to obtain only a copy of the piece. Hence the scanned copies of the published photos resulted into "shadows".
But I think it might give you impression about other available photos relevant to the discussed topic.

Trevor,
Thank you very much for your information, and for your follow-up.
Sometimes you can find a bonanza, sometimes just a few lines....

Mirko

[fetubi]

Mirko,

It was great to see that additional photograph of the crew - with their captors!

Next time I am at Kew I will look at Goldie's log book and I will also hunt for any information about the crew that I can.

Regards,

Trevor

[gustav_novak]

Trevor,

I was able to find the two following places only:
Austro-Hungarian Army - Austro-Hungarian POW-Camps

One relatively close Vienna (Salzerbad), and the second near the borders of Bohemia with Silesia and Lusatia (Jablonné v Podještědí/ Deutschgabel).

But it might be a different location...

All the best and thanks for your support.

Mirko