The Aerodrome Forum - People https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/ Topics related to WWI aviation personnel en Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:25:37 GMT vBulletin 1 https://theaerodrome.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg The Aerodrome Forum - People https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/ Sgt Percy Munro Veitch RFC/RAF https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78209&goto=newpost Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:10:12 GMT This is a continuation of an old thread: https://theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49991 I just wanted to add the latest information I have to the story. Please see attached updated service history, and some additional info / images along side Sgt Parkhurst (who I beleive to be W. E.... This is a continuation of an old thread:
https://theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49991

I just wanted to add the latest information I have to the story.
Please see attached updated service history, and some additional info / images along side Sgt Parkhurst (who I beleive to be W. E. Parkhurst RFC/RAF 3745) Possibly taken at Neatheravon in roughly 1915. I am starting to think the caption for the Parkhurst photo incorrectly stated 1913 as its date. (seeking more info on this from the MOD).
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Comparison Image.jpg (254.5 KB)
Attached Files
File Type: pdf percy_veitch_service_record.pdf (8.0 KB)
]]> People BBugsy https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78209 German non-aces claims https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78205&goto=newpost Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:50:04 GMT I would like to know if we already have found ( or created ) a list of two-seater crew victories yet or with other words non-jasta ones with less than 5 claims..... My current list shows me 63 aviators with 4 confirmed, 133 x 3, 285 x 2 and 884 x 1 ( but thats with Jasta pilots included ) ... I would like to know if we already have found ( or created ) a list of two-seater crew victories yet or with other words non-jasta ones with less than 5 claims.....

My current list shows me 63 aviators with 4 confirmed, 133 x 3, 285 x 2 and 884 x 1 ( but thats with Jasta pilots included )

Halsundbeinbruch
M ]]> People micka https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78205 Russ Gannon RIP https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78204&goto=newpost Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:40:41 GMT Just came across a Facebook post announcing the passing of Russ Gannon (https://theaerodrome.com/forum/member.php?u=17822) on 21 May 2026 at age 71 after a short illness. Tony Just came across a Facebook post announcing the passing of Russ Gannon on 21 May 2026 at age 71 after a short illness.

Tony ]]> People MASTIFF https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78204 <![CDATA[Rudolf Stark and his first "Dolphin"]]> https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78200&goto=newpost Sun, 31 May 2026 16:12:24 GMT I have always wondered about Stark's claim of a "Sopwith" on 30 March 1918. Recent records have decided that it was a Dolphin, but I have wondered how he identified this as a Dolphin when it was not a generally recognised type until weeks later. After all a Sopwith in his memoir is generally a Camel certainly not a Dolphin. Russ Gannon wiped out the reasoning that this being a Dolphin of 79 Squadron would stretch it's technical limits. Perhaps another instance of fitting a casualty to a claim without exploring the event?

I know there will be those that will argue he only saw his victim for a moment before sending it down in flames... my counter argument is that from my reading it takes more than a few seconds to send an aircraft down in flames, and that when he apparently identifies it as a single bay radial engine scout he does not think it is a much larger twin bay, stationary in-line engine of a type he has not seen before. The thought that it could be an aircraft of 5N (a DH4) is stretching it.He knew what a DH4 looks like...

If course we can dismiss the claim entirely. However it would be fair to assume he thought he had hit the aircraft. Could it be he hit a damaged aircraft already burning through the clouds? Perhaps a Camel after all?

K ]]> People spad https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78200 Fokker E Type Pilots https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78192&goto=newpost Sun, 24 May 2026 08:27:45 GMT Am curious as to how many pilots who flew the Fokker E actually survived the war. I know of Ernst Udet, Josef Jacobs, Bruno Loerzer, von Althaus. Any others? Am curious as to how many pilots who flew the Fokker E actually survived the war.

I know of Ernst Udet, Josef Jacobs, Bruno Loerzer, von Althaus. Any others? ]]> People Pips https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78192 <![CDATA[Attitudes toward "Aces"...]]> https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78190&goto=newpost Sun, 24 May 2026 01:33:04 GMT The Americans who flew in the RFC, and later RAF, had some strong views on their fellow Americans in the USAS, and the term “ace”. Since American newspapers were full of stories about American aces like Rickenbacker, as well as Guynemer and Fonck, they were often asked about being an “ace” in... The Americans who flew in the RFC, and later RAF, had some strong views on their fellow Americans in the USAS, and the term “ace”. Since American newspapers were full of stories about American aces like Rickenbacker, as well as Guynemer and Fonck, they were often asked about being an “ace” in letters from their relatives, etc.

Elliott White Springs [who had flown under Bishop and Mannock in 85 Sqn RAF, and was a Flight Leader in the US 148th] wrote to his mother on 1 September 1918: “And if anybody writes me again that ‘doubtless you hope to be an ace,’ I’ll send them an infernal machine. I am not an “ace” don’t want to be an “ace” and never will be an “ace”. We don’t have “aces” here. This “ace” stuff makes me tired. Call it off, wash it out! Also, this individual effort stuff is all wrong. If I get more Huns than [the other] men in my flight, it’s because I’m a better shot. If they don’t get Huns it’s because I’m a bad leader as much as anything else. My job is not to get Huns myself, but to lead my flight to the detriment of the Hun…”

Writing to his father from a hospital, on 9 October 1918, Springs said: “I’m still a 1st Lt… [Henry] Clay and I wander about and let all of the American aces hightone us. They think that [what] we are wearing [the D.F.C. ribbon] is a service ribbon, probably for ambulance work….While I was in Paris I wore my coat all the time so I wouldn’t have to answer questions about what it was. Typical conversation [As an American asks Springs what his D.F.C. was for]:

“Say, Lieutenant, pardon me but would you mind telling me what that decoration is you have? I’m not familiar with it.”
Look of extreme contempt. “It’s British.”
“Is it for service in a certain campaign?”
More contempt. “No.”
“Then it’s for valor?”
“It’s the D.F.C.”
“Did you get it for getting a Hun?”
“No.”
“What’s it for then, please?”
“They sometimes give it to people who get more than five.”
“Oh, so you’re an ace. Congratulations.”
“NO! I’m not an Ace! That’s a French vegetable. We don’t have ‘em with the British.”
“Oh, thank you, sorry to bother you.”
Clay is going to kill somebody before long. I heard him conduct that dialogue five times in one café!”


Alvin Andrew Callender was a successful SE5a pilot in No. 32 Sqn RAF. He wrote to his sister on 4 August 1918: “I’ll write as often as I hear from you folks, provided I have anything to write about. Only quit telling me to be an “ace,” because we don’t have those kind of things in the British Army, except four in each pack of cards. I have three Huns officially now. Five would make me an “ace” if I was in the French Flying Corps (Thank God I’ m not), but as I’m not a French pilot I’ll never be an “ace.” Compre?”

As you all know, Springs survived the War with 12 destroyed and four OOC “victories.” Henry Clay was credited with seven destroyed and one OOC, but died of influenza on 17 February 1919. Callender was killed on 30 October 1918, after getting 7 OOC’s and one destroyed. ]]> People Gregvan https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78190