Number on flap

9 November 2006, 06:51 AM

Hello, This is my first posting and a new area of interest to me. I recently found a photograph of what I believe to be a Sopwith Camel that has crashed or been shot down in Austria. At least it is surrounded by Austrian soldiers. The photograph is dated 10/5.1918. The trees in the photo have no leaves so I have to assume this is October 5th rather than May 10th. The upper right wing flap is down and you can read a number there, R4637 E.C.2. An Austrian soldier can be seen in the photo photographing the number. Can anyone tell me what this number means. I thought R4637 would be the plane serial number, but I am coming up blank in the data base search.

Taz · 9 November 2006, 11:32 AM

Beowolf (sp)- Welcome to the Forum. Let me get home tonight and see if there is anything in The Camel File or any of the other Camel books and see if we can figure it out. The 4927 sounds like a SN, but the R is kind of high in the alphabet. Unless, of course, one of our Camel experts wants to jump in and solve the whole problem.

Taz
Terry Phillips

9 November 2006, 01:32 PM

I realized pretty quickly that the R prefix seems too high. I re-examined the photo to make sure I was reading it correctly and it is definitely an R.

Bayo-wolf

Taz · 9 November 2006, 08:10 PM

wolf- Beats me. There was apparently no Camel built with SN 4927, regardless of prefix. I at first though it meant rebuilt, but all the rebuilts were assigned SNs in the F5801-6300 and H6843-7293 ranges. Could have been a manufacturer's number, I guess or even a part number. You need an expert for this.

Are you sure it is a Camel?

Taz
Terry Phillips

9 November 2006, 08:17 PM

I'm pretty sure its a Camel, but not certain. I'll scan the photo tomorrow. The struts match, the round access port on the right side of the cowling, the twin vickers, all look like the Camel to me, but I'm no expert.

10 November 2006, 07:33 AM

OK, I'm posting an overall scan of the photo, clouseup of the fuselage, and closeup of the flap. The soldiers are from the Austro-Hungarian empire based on the uniforms. There is writing on the back of the card in a kind of script called Suetterlin. I picked up this card in Germany last week. I had a guy that can read Suetterlin look at the card. He said the writing was not in German. There were many language groups included in the empire at that time, so it's hard to pin down where this crash happened.

If we've got any language experts interested, I can scan the back of the card.

Bayo-wolf

crankcase · 10 November 2006, 08:48 AM

any chance to scan the text this weekend?
i happen to be in budapest and can show it to my friends.
cheers
crankcase

10 November 2006, 09:31 AM

Thanks Crankcase! That would be a big help.

Bayo-wolf

Taz · 10 November 2006, 09:55 AM

wolf- I looked up 4937, not 4637. Back to the drawing board tonight. No doubt about it being a Camel. Nice photo.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Rick · 10 November 2006, 10:18 AM

Bayo-wolf,
Welcome to the Forum. This from a rank amateur when it comes to British a/c, but, R4637 E.C. "R" could it be "right". "4637" could it be a manufactorer's number? "E.C." could it be the company (here I fade as I don't know who all built Camels). Just a flat out guess. R.