Who shot down Lt. Vernon-Lord?

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Ladies and Gentlemen:
On 17 October 1917, Lt. Vernon-Lord, No.84 Squadron, S.E.5a was shot and made a P.O.W. while flying S.E.5a B'574,"F", and on what airfield did he land? Reference "British Single Seat Fighter Squadrons on the Western Front", Alex Revell, fourth page of photographs following page 224.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Bonjour Dan-San!

That loss was incurred on October 15, 1917 as noted in The S.E.5 File by Sturtivant and Page: failed to return from 11:55 operation, last seen over Courtrai going south west following combat with Jasta 15. The Sky Their Battlefield by Henshaw indicates that the action which forced T. Vernon-Lord to land an become a prisoner of war occurred at 1:15 which was the first loss in combat for 84 Squadron. Note that E.O. Krohn was able to file the first claim for 84 Squadron during the patrol which was an Albatros seen to crash.

More research is required here as there is no obvious claim to match the loss ... I will have a look about ...

Salut!
Kirk

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hello Kirk:
If I may. In the photograph, I referenced, shows a Alb.D.V in the middle back ground, with a fuselage white from the cockpit forward. This is why I am so interested in this story. If that is Jasta 15, we have some additional marking data. In the far background is a Pfalz D.III, which Jasta 15 had in their inventory. Greg, are you there ? I have got to look at that Jasta 15 lineup shot!
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[R Gannon]

Dan San

Vernon Lord was on one of 84 Sqn's first operational patrols escorting 25 Sqn DH4's on mission to bomb Harlebeke - his piston rod broke and he was forced to land at the Jasta 24 drome at Harlebeke - Jasta 15 not in the mix (they were on French sector). They must be Jasta 24 aircraft - have only seen the photo in the old C&C US vol 14 'Allied Aircraft in German Hands' - of B574 'F' being inspected by German flyers. See Strahle diary C&C Vol 11 p157; which notes SE5 down at Jasta 24. Also Jasta 24 history C&C US Vol 21 p13 where it is incorrectly identified as a DH5 flown by a 2Lt Low. Also 'Scorpion's Sting' - 84 Sqn history in C&C GB Vol 8.

Cheers Russ

[Dan_San_Abbott]

RussGannon:
Thank you very much, That confirms the white forward fuselage for Jasta 24.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[R Gannon]

Dan San

Glad to be of service. Must admit I'm interested in the photo of Lord's SE5 with the Albatros & Pfalz in the background. Will have to track down Alex's book.

Cheers Russ

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Russ Gannon:
Its is a very good photograph with a lot of interesting things in the photo, besid a very good looking S.E.5a. I had talked about S.E.5a machine with Paul Winslow, he was very enthusiastic abot the S.E., but disliked the Camel equally. He was slated to go out on Camels, he crashed it on takeoff, never even got into the air. refused to fly it and demanded to go out on the S.E.5a, He got his wish, and served in No.56 Squadron.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[R Gannon]

Dan San

I'm a great fan of the SE5. Unlike the Camel, even held its own against the Fokker DVII.

Cheers Russ

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Russ:
The S.E.5a was the best Allied fighter, it had a low loss rate, it was a "life insurance" fighter. Can you imagine it's perfomance with 300 hp Hisso. IThe pilot of an S.E.5a had the ability to decide to stay and fight, or to disengage and had the speed to get away from any German fighter including the Fok.D.VIIF with the BMWIIIa engine. It had a brutish good looks.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Russ:
The S.E.5a was the best Allied fighter, it had a low loss rate, it was a "life insurance" fighter. Can you imagine it's perfomance with 300 hp Hisso. The pilot of an S.E.5a had the ability to decide to stay and fight, or to disengage and had the speed to get away from any German fighter including the Fok.D.VIIF with the BMWIIIa engine. It had a brutish good looks.
Blue skies,
Dan-San