Looking up at Sky w/Telescope

Greetings, and thanks for bearing with me (an amateur in this field). I'm trying to write a caption for a photograph. The photo is in the book Ghosts of the Great War by Philip Makanna, and it's on the bottom of page 80. It shows two officers looking up at the sky, one with binoculars and one with a telescope that is on a wheel, which in turn is mounted on a tripod.

The caption reads "On the Aerodrome at Rang du Fliers, France, July 12, 1918."

I would be very grateful for any additional info.: What specifically were they looking for, what is the wheel-tripod apparatus, is there any significance to the date or the location? etc. ANYTHING! Can't get anything out of Google.

I will attempt to attach a jpg. of the image but am not confident that it will fit the "maximum size" limitation of the forum. If it doesn't, I'd be happy to email you the jpg. tomorrow (Thurs.). Thanks very much for your expertise and your generosity!

[Simba]

'Rang du Fliers' doesn't appear in my records of RFC or RNAS airfields - but the chap using the telescope is definitely British. The aircraft behind him is either a DH4 or DH9 - if you can supply a clearer image, its identity can probably be ascertained from the serial number on its tail - and the one on the horizon is almost certainly a DH9, while that's a SE5a parked facing the hangar on the left.

The bicycle-wheel device appears to be a home-made mounting to enable the user to freely elevate and swing the telescope while still keeping it to his eye without too much bending or bowing of his back. Both officers are observing something high in the sky; an enemy two-seater perhaps, but possibly the weather towards Germany if they're what I suspect - members of the Independent Air Force, tasked with strategic bombing of targets in 'Hunland'.

Best I can do for now - cheers!

Thanks very much, Simba!

The number on the tail of the aircraft behind Telescope Guy is "D1720."

[Gregvan]

Hi

D1720 was indeed a D.H.9, one of a batch of 100 ordered from Mann, Egerton & Co Ltd, Norwich. It was recorded at the makers on 29.5.1918, and by 18.7.18 it was at No. 98 Sqn. With the crew of 2/Lt W V Thomas and Major E T Newton-Clare DSO, it was forced to land on 30.7.18, with the crew unhurt. A new engine was taken out to the machine but due to bad weather it was decided to tow it in, then the starboard wheel collapsed and it overturned. It was sent to No. 9 Aircraft Park on 5.8.1918.All this info comes from "The D.H.4/D.H.9 File" by Ray Sturtivant and Gordon Page.

No. 98 Squadron went to France in April 1918, equipped with the D.H.9 and it operated in the day bombing role until the war's end. However, as far as I can determine, the Squadron was not part of Trenchard's Independent Air Force.

So, I cannot identify the two airmen in the photo, but it was probably taken at No. 98 Squadron between 18.7.1918 and 30.7.1918. However, there are others on this forum FAR more qualified to comment on all this than I am. I hope they will comment.

Greg VanWyngarden

Great stuff--thanks, Greg!

Try the Great War Forum.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/

They are excellent for this type of enquiry.

Mary Brigid

Thanks Mary. I'll check it out.

[Graeme]

I believe the location should be "Rang-du-Flers" which is located a short distance east of Berck and to the south of Etaples. It doesn't seem to tie up with locations for No 98 Squadron - during July 1918 it was at Drionville (to 13 July) then Chailly-en-Brie.

Graeme

Thanks Graeme.

This isn't at all rigorous, but: When I search English-language sites via Google, I get over 800 hits for the "Fliers" spelling but only three hits for "Flers."

I'll keep in mind the possibility that the spelling isn't certain.

In any event, I'm still unclear what "Rang du Fliers" is the name *of* -- a town, region, military base...?

[Graeme]

Mookmaster

It's a town (at least it is now) and on modern maps is adjacent to Berck, immediately to the east, in the Nord Pas de Calais region.

There's actually quite a good map here:

http://www.npdc.assurance-maladie.fr...d/Cahiers4.pdf scroll down to page 6.

Graeme