Lambert's SE 5a markings

A.R. "Dick" Harris · 3 September 2009, 09:23 AM

Looking for photos showing markings of any of the five SE 5a flown by Wm.C. Carpenter of 24 squadron RAF, WW I.

Have gooled anything I can think of but no luck so far. Wanting to build a Rodern SE 5 in 1/48 scale,but no kit has his markings that I know of.

Can anyone give me a lead? ardickharris1@sbcglobal.net thanks .

Dan_San_Abbott · 8 September 2009, 08:19 PM

Hi Dick:
I have just re-read

Bill Lambert's book, "COMBAT REPORT". Ihave looked to see if I could find a reference to his identification letter. I have found the serial numbers of all his S.E.5a machines, but no letter, He was assigned to C Flight, which used: U, V, W, X, Y and Z. The Flight leader would have used the first letter, but not necessarily. Most C.O.'s usede the last letter, Z, however not always. I have looked through everything I could find on S.E.5a assignments and Flight letters. There is a possibility,and I don't have it, is the S.E.5 book by Sturdivant. Every S.E.5a is listed there, and it may have the information you seek.
Good luck,
Dan-San

Shredward · 9 September 2009, 06:52 AM

I'll be home in a couple of weeks, and will check Sturtivant, if noone has done it before then.
Cheers,
shredward

Rowan Broadbent · 10 September 2009, 02:34 AM

I've checked the entries in the SE5 file for each of Lambert's aircraft and none mention an assigned letter.

The photo of C1084 on p 49 of 'Combat Report' shows the wording "Babe Cincinnati USA" on the fuselage side, aft of the roundel and squadron marking bars. This is the position where 24 normally marked individual letters. Because of the cropping of the photo the tail area is missing but I don't think that there would have been room on the fuselage for a letter aft of the inscription - indeed, I think the inscription replaced the letter on this machine.

It would, however , probably still have had an individual letter on the wing uppersurface, probably on the centre section, in common with other aircraft of 24 sqn.

I tried to find detail of this one for inclusion on the new SE5 decal sets for Viper-engined machines but the lack of an individual letter precluded it, I'm afraid.

rcsruss · 16 September 2009, 05:18 AM

Hi There!

First posting so a little nervous. Is anyone going to Dayton for the WW1 Fly-in? I beleive that there are paintings done by

Bill Lambert on the wall next to the exhibit of his uniform in the WW1 area of the museum. Perhaps there is a clue there about his markings. Just an idea.

Russ

A.R. "Dick" Harris · 17 September 2009, 09:46 AM

Just recieved a "pocket book" copy of CR, but there is no pic of "Babe" on pg 49,they are other pictures but not "Babe" Must have been omited for some reason. another modeler sent a scan of the pic, so all is not lost.

There is some interest in the planes flown by Lambert as I've recieved a few replys from others asking me to share any info the comes up. This I will do, of course.

So far, what we see here on the forum is about it, hopefully the the member with a copy of the Sturdivant book will come up with some info. Anyone know of a source for the Sturdivant booK?

And thanks to all. AR Harris