Does anyone have any info regarding the RNAS "Romanian Flight" in 1916

[GP228]

Hi,
I have an unusual medal group to CAPT H V REID a NEWFOUNDLANDER in the RNAS he is noted as serving in the "ROMANIAN FLIGHT" RNAS (S Squadron 2 Wing) i am certainly struggling to find out about his service here and that of the RNAS..can anyone help ??
I have added for your interest what info i have on Capt Reid !! so far...

Howard Reid was born on 26th September 1896 at Montreal Canada (1),he was one of two enlisted sons of W. D. Reid, President of the Reid Newfoundland Company*,(2) who had contributed two machine guns and a biplane to the war effort. Howard Reid initially joined the Newfoundland Regiment.
The local newspaper "The St. John's Daily News" reported on Tues SEPT 1st, 1914.Volunteers were called for 597 names were added H V Reid being one of them.(5)
Howard joined his fellow Officers of the NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT with the second draft from Newfoundland.This consisted of approximately 250 Officers and men.
They sailed to Scotland,arriving on December 8th, 1914 to complete basic training at Fort George Barracks, near Inverness The Regiment recieved a hearty welcome on its arrival at the Waverly Station.
On the February 5th the 2nd draft left St Johns on the s.s. Dominion and arrived in Edinburgh in Feb.
In mid 1915 he applied and was accepted by the Royal Flying Corps,opting to join the newly formed air wing of the RNAS.On September 8th 1915 he gained his "wings" flying a Mauice Farman Biplane at the Royal Naval Air Station at Chingford.(1)
Howard had the distinction then of being the youngest pilot officer in the Royal Navy Air Service. He subsequently saw action in the Mediterranean, where he took part in an ill-fated operation to assist the Romanian army in October 1917. After Bucharest fell to the Central Powers two months later, he and his fellow flyers escaped and were redeployed on the Western Front.

Prior to the Great War of 1914/18 military aeronautics did not truly exist in the isolation of Newfoundland.Numerous aviation meets by irretant "barnstormers" swept across the major cities of the United States of America and Canada,this created media interest and popularity amongst the populace of both nations with all things aviation.
As with the Canadians, it was from the army that the first Newfoundlanders entered the British flying services.One of the earliest volunteers was Howard Vincent Reid of St. John's Newfoundland who transferred in 1915 from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment to the RNAS. (3)

The "NEWFOUNDLAND QUARTERLY" reported to its readers

"THE British aeroplane service in France has attracted the
attention of the world. General Joffre has publicly thank
ed it in many of his reports to the French War Office and
General French has made many complimentary references to it.
It is admitted by all authorities to be superior to similar services
in any other country. Its scouting services in France and
Belgium as well as in Egypt and the Dardanells has been in
valuable to the Allies. Newfoundland is represented in this
service by Sub-Lieutenant Howard Vincent Reid, eldest son of
William D. Reid, President of the Reid-Newfoundland Company.
Lieutenant Reid was born in St. John s and educated at Harrow
School, England. He is a good sportsman and mechanic and
was noted in St. John s as a particularly clever automobile driver
and motor cyclist. He has the distinction of being the youngest
officer in the flying corps being only nineteen years old when
he obtained his Commission. Lieut. Reid is a clever and dar
ing soldier and will worthily uphold the honour of Newfound
land in the Air Service." (4)

The London Gazette noted; (6)

Aviators' Certificates.
THE following Aviators' Certificates have been granted :—1708.Flight Sub-Lieut. Howard Vincent Reid, R.N.A.S. (Mauice
Farman Biplane, Royal Naval Air Station, Chingford).
Sept. 8th, 1915.

DECEMBER 7 1915
The undermentioned Temporary Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenants
have been confirmed in rank, with original seniority, and all
re-appointed to " President," additional, for R.N.A.S., to date as
follows:H. V. Reid.

JANUARY 4, 1917
Flight Sub-Ltentenants to be Flight Lieutenants ,H. V.Reid (for temp, service).

The undermentioned are transferred to the
uneinp'ld. list: Capt Howard Vincent Reid. 1st Mar.
1920.

.................................................. .................................................. ...............
The Evening Herold on 8th December 1915 reported
"Mrs W D Reid had a cablegram this morning from her son Flight Lieutenants ,H. V.Reid of the Royal Army Flying Corps that he was leaving London tommorow morning to proceed via Marseilles by PO Boat to Malta on his way to the Dardenelles where he will undertake his duty with trhe airmen attatched to the british forces in that region.He will thus probably be engaged in the same vacinity with his brother Lieut Bruce Reid who is already there with the Newfoundland Battn. All his friends here will be glad to know that this plucky young Officer is about to realise his ambition to do airship work right in the firing line" (8)

The "Romanian Flight"


On 25 October 1916 five pilots of a newly formed British R.N.A.S. (S Squadron 2 Wing)
"Romanian Flight," took off from Imbros Island in the Aegean Sea the first left Mudros for Bucharest on 21/11/16 .Consisting of two groups they flew one Henri Farman and four Nieuport type aircraft and headed for Bucharest.All landed safely in Romania.
Subsequently on 21 November 1916 a second R.N.A.S. "Romanian Flight, with two Henri Farmans and two Nieuport types,flew from Imbros,and Mudros on Lemnos Island for Bucharest. By the end of December the R.N.A.S. airmen were withdrawn to the Allied Western Front.
The first group was composed of Flt.Lts. L.A. Hervey, G.A. Cox, A.F.F. Jacobs and Flt.Sub-Lt. H.V. Reid.
This small elite RNAS group operated only for a short time interval (October-December and November-December 1916
The Times reported that German bombing of Bucharest ceased at the end of 1916 after a group of French and British airmen were transferred from the Salonika front to the defence of the city.
The R.N.A.S. had sent Bristol Scouts overseas long before the R.F.C. did so. To participate in the Dardanelles campaign, No. 2
Wing, R.N.A.S., arrived at the Isle of Imbros late in August 1915,bringing with it 22 aeroplanes, 16 pilots, 200 men,maintenance equipment and spares. Among the aeroplanes were four Bristol Scouts with 80 h.p. Gn6me engines. towards the end of 1915 six more arrived; they were armed with Lewis guns.

He is noted as flying in operations over Syria.During the great drive by the Germans against the Rumanians he flew from Mudros in the Agean sea across Bulgaria to Bucharest ,sadly it was reported that his brother was killed in France with his regiment on 1st july 1916 (9)

thanks
steve

[crankcase]

Steve
I read with interest your account of the Romanian connection. Unfortunately I have no info to add, tho I would like to follow this up at some time.

Perhaps another Balkan forumite can add something?
marc

[YavorD]

Such overflights of the Bulgarian held territory were, probably, reported but not intercepted by the Bulgarian air defense. Couple weeks later a Farman with a French and Serbian aircrew heading for Romania was engaged by several single- and two-seat aeroplanes and shot down. Crew survived in captivity.
Regards,
Yavor

[David Vockins]

na sorry mate