spad
18 March 2026, 10:17 AM
The recent article in C&C has excited my research genes so bear with me.
According to the article the flight commanders when 111 squadron stood up in August 1917 were Captain Sydney W Addison, Captain Cuthbert D Fellowes and Captain Shirley G Kingsley, all veterans of 14 Squadron RFC, the latter with an MC. Kingsley was replaced by Captain George RA Deacon MC (also 14 Squadron veteran) before the squadron went into action. Fellowes left on 14 October 1917, and Addison on 21 October 1917 - replaced by Drummond?).
When it shook itself out the squadron had three flights. One was for rotary-engine aircraft. This would mean it was composed of Vickers Bullets, of which the squadron had five, and one Bristol Scout. Which I think were used as interceptors simply because it recorded over a dozen indecisive combats in August until October 1917.
It continued to operate Vickers Bullets until January 1918 when Nieuport scouts replaced them. According to a photograph this was B Flight. Captain RM Drummond was a member of the flight. Drummond was flying Bristol fighters from October 1917 therefore not flying with the rotary-engine Vickers flight before it converted to Nieuports. However he had been with the squadron from it's formation. Captain Neil Riddell joined 111 on 7 August 1917 and flew both Vickers FB19 and Bristol F2b, and may have commanded a flight - which is not helping!
Another flight would consist of four DH2 and (probably) two Bristol Monoplanes. This flight was used for ground attack purposes. If so then only four combats are reported in October, three of these by Peck flying a Bristol monoplane, and the flight then converted to the Bristol fighter which was also flown by Peck for his first victories in October and November 1917. Then to the SE5a. I believe this was Peck's flight which he led from 14 October 1917 (after Fellowes departure) not 24 November 1917 as per the article.
The third flight had five or six Bristol fighters. This was a reconnaissance detachment. Until at least August 1918 when the flight converts to SE5a. I Assume this is C Flight, led by Deacon.
Can anyone add details? The rationale is that Peck flew Bristol monoplanes (although he also fought a combat in a Bristol Bullet on 17 October 1917), Bristol fighters and then SE5a (claiming at least nine victories). Drummond flew Bristol fighters then Nieuports (claiming seven victories) and Deacon Bristol Fighters and SE5a when the squadron lost it's Bristol fighters in early 1918. But only two of these were flight commanders in the entire period August 1917-April 1918. In the Spring of 1918 both Peck and Drummond left to command other squadrons.
K
According to the article the flight commanders when 111 squadron stood up in August 1917 were Captain Sydney W Addison, Captain Cuthbert D Fellowes and Captain Shirley G Kingsley, all veterans of 14 Squadron RFC, the latter with an MC. Kingsley was replaced by Captain George RA Deacon MC (also 14 Squadron veteran) before the squadron went into action. Fellowes left on 14 October 1917, and Addison on 21 October 1917 - replaced by Drummond?).
When it shook itself out the squadron had three flights. One was for rotary-engine aircraft. This would mean it was composed of Vickers Bullets, of which the squadron had five, and one Bristol Scout. Which I think were used as interceptors simply because it recorded over a dozen indecisive combats in August until October 1917.
It continued to operate Vickers Bullets until January 1918 when Nieuport scouts replaced them. According to a photograph this was B Flight. Captain RM Drummond was a member of the flight. Drummond was flying Bristol fighters from October 1917 therefore not flying with the rotary-engine Vickers flight before it converted to Nieuports. However he had been with the squadron from it's formation. Captain Neil Riddell joined 111 on 7 August 1917 and flew both Vickers FB19 and Bristol F2b, and may have commanded a flight - which is not helping!
Another flight would consist of four DH2 and (probably) two Bristol Monoplanes. This flight was used for ground attack purposes. If so then only four combats are reported in October, three of these by Peck flying a Bristol monoplane, and the flight then converted to the Bristol fighter which was also flown by Peck for his first victories in October and November 1917. Then to the SE5a. I believe this was Peck's flight which he led from 14 October 1917 (after Fellowes departure) not 24 November 1917 as per the article.
The third flight had five or six Bristol fighters. This was a reconnaissance detachment. Until at least August 1918 when the flight converts to SE5a. I Assume this is C Flight, led by Deacon.
Can anyone add details? The rationale is that Peck flew Bristol monoplanes (although he also fought a combat in a Bristol Bullet on 17 October 1917), Bristol fighters and then SE5a (claiming at least nine victories). Drummond flew Bristol fighters then Nieuports (claiming seven victories) and Deacon Bristol Fighters and SE5a when the squadron lost it's Bristol fighters in early 1918. But only two of these were flight commanders in the entire period August 1917-April 1918. In the Spring of 1918 both Peck and Drummond left to command other squadrons.
K