Claim by a Sopwith Pup

MikeW · 13 April 2006, 03:14 PM

Can anyone come up with a combat claim (probably an OOC) by a Pup pilot on the 22nd October 1917, around about 1.30 to 2.00 pm, near the Belgian coast? Probably 54 RFC or the RNAS Seaplane Defence Flight.

Mike

Vin · 13 April 2006, 07:15 PM

RNAS Seaplane Defence Flight replaced its pups with camels the previous month. I would have thought that 54 RFC would have by then too. Of course that's not to say that pilots from both would not still be flying pups in late October but it's a bit of a surprise that a pup would chalk up a victory on the western front that late in 1917. No help to you, Mike, just a thought.

ONEALM · 13 April 2006, 07:17 PM

Mike -

The RFC INtell Summary states a "patrol of the 4th Brigade encountered about 12 Albatros scouts, one of which was driven down out of control. " It's the only claim that comes close, but does nt mention specific squuadrons(s).

54 Sq SRB makes no mention of claims on the 22nd, but does say that while trying to bait two patrols of EA into a fight, two Sopwith's collided 2/Lt. Goodbehere and 2/Lt. Cowie both probably falling on the German side of the line. Henshaw list these two credited to Muller of Js.28. The SRB clearly says there was no combat.....

Any other guesses as to unit ? I don't have a complete run of SRB's but if we're fortunate, I'll have the one we're looking for....

MikeW · 14 April 2006, 02:03 AM

Thanks chaps,

Probably damn near suicide flying Pups that late in the war! I have a report from Naval 9 where a German machine came spinning down past them and there was a flight of Pups engaged with enemy aircraft up above.

Vin,

I wouldn't have asked if I didn't know that both squadrons were still flying Pups in October. Perhaps I should have said Seaplane Defence Squadron rather than Flight as they had been upgraded by then.

Mike

Graeme · 14 April 2006, 02:48 AM

Hi Mike

I've got the last Pup victory being claimed as late as 1 December 1917 - by Lt E Y Hughes of No 46 Squadron; as far as I can make out, No 54 claimed their last Pup victory on 12 November 1917.

The only "definite" I've got listed for 22 October was the claim by J D Payne of No 29 Squadron who sent an Albatros scout out of control over Menin at 16:35.

If the attribution of the loss of Cowie and Goodbehere to Muller is to believed, this action took place west of Beerst at 15:25 (British time). Henshaw has it that they took off at 13:45 and that Cowie's Pup broke up in the air between St Pierre Capelle and Houthulst while Goodbehere managed to get down in more or less one piece near Keyem.

I don't believe these locations are sufficiently close to the coast for 54 to have been involved in the fracas reported by Naval 9.

Graeme