Caualties 45 sqdn RFC April 1917.

StephenLawson · 6 March 2007, 10:32 AM

Greetings all,
I am looking for any information on these two subects. Specifically unit markings or the histories of the British crew involved. Any help is appreciated.

6 April 1917 Ltn. von Bertrab-3 Sopwith 1-1/2 10.30 Obigies
#A.1093, 45 Sqn. RFC, 2/Lt. J.A. Marshall, KIA & 2/Lt. F.G. Truscott,KIA.

6 April 1917 Ltn. von Bertrab-4 Sopwith 1-1/2 10.30 Becq
#A.2381,45 Sqn. RFC,2/Lt. C. St. G. Campbell, KIA & Capt. D.W. Edwards,KIA.

Graeme · 6 March 2007, 12:27 PM

Stephen

What I've got at the moment:

Lieutenant John Arthur MARSHALL
The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion.
John Arthur Marshall to be Second Lieutenant. Dated 31st December, 1914.

Lieutenant Francis George TRUSCOTT MC
Awarded MC as per London Gazette number 29438, dated 14 January 1916 - Second Lieutenant Francis George Truscott, Suffolk Regiment (Territorial Force); no citation.

Second Lieutenant Colin St George CAMPBELL
nothing to hand

Captain Donald William EDWARDS MC
Gazetted temporary Second Lieutenant in the Infantry wef 13 February 1915 (had previously been, incorrectly, announced as 4 November 1914)
Awarded MC as per London Gazette number 29608, dated 3 June 1916; no citation.

Two of three crews lost in the vicinity of Lille; 2nd Lt James Edward Blake (Kia) and Capt William Stead Brayshay (Kia), were probably lost to

Hans Bethge, also of Jasta 30.

Graeme

StephenLawson · 6 March 2007, 02:39 PM

Graeme; thanks everso for the help!

Do we know what they were doing that day? Observation, reconn, bombing?

Graeme · 6 March 2007, 04:21 PM

Stephen

According to the

The Sky Their Battlefield, it was a reconnaissance patrol. The patrol departed 09:10 and the three Sopwiths went down within a period of two minutes - 10:48 to 10:50.

I believe the location for von Bertrab's claims should be "Pecq" since this is in the vicinity of Tournai (to the north and west), where Bethge's claim was made, and I haven't come across "Becq".

Graeme

StephenLawson · 7 March 2007, 10:12 AM

Again thanks Graeme! If anything comes of my short study I will share it here.

spad · 11 March 2007, 09:01 AM

Marshall was 19, and came from Huntingdon. Truscott was 22, son of a former Lord Mayor of London. Campbell was 34 and came from Toronto, Edwards was 26, and from London.

StephenLawson · 13 March 2007, 06:24 AM

Excellent addition "spad".

To anyone; Is there any info on the unit markings employed on their Sop. 1 1/2 strutters?

Paddy · 13 March 2007, 07:03 AM

In Les Roger's "British Aviation Squadron Marking of WW1" there are 2 pictures of Strutters from 45 Sqn. I am going from memory here, because I looked this up a few nights ago and then the topic dropped, and I kind of forgot.. Anyway, One of the Strutters was light colored while the other was dark. The serial # marking was interesting: The letter and numbers are marked on the empenage, which is light colored, on both. The bar on which they are marked was dark, and the numbers were white but there is something very different about the serial # letter: It was dark colored. Rather than confuse you, let me look at this again tonight and post a better description. If you want I can mail you a copy of the pictures (sorry I can't scan and post it here for you)

StephenLawson · 13 March 2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddy

In Les Roger's "British Aviation Squadron Marking of WW1" there are 2 pictures of Strutters from 45 Sqn. I am going from memory here, because I looked this up a few nights ago and then the topic dropped, and I kind of forgot.. Anyway, One of the Strutters was light colored while the other was dark. The serial # marking was interesting: The letter and numbers are marked on the empenage, which is light colored, on both. The bar on which they are marked was dark, and the numbers were white but there is something very different about the serial # letter: It was dark colored. Rather than confuse you, let me look at this again tonight and post a better description. If you want I can mail you a copy of the pictures (sorry I can't scan and post it here for you)

Patience is the bread and butter of research. I Thank you for the offer and will be glad to have whatever you can send.

StephenLawson · 3 April 2007, 12:04 PM

Greetings all;
Paddy did indeed provide me with some very informative scans of RFC 45 Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters. I was looking for A'1093 looks like I got an image of A'1083 very impressive. CDL fuselage and PC10 or 12 on the upper surfaces of the wings. The rudder fins are halved vertically in white & black (nose to rudder) from the pilot's right side profile of the fuselage. The serials are in contrasting colours to their backgrounds. Bit of an odd duck there but very interesting.