I have been to the RAF Museum a number of times in the past. This year with it being the 100th. anniversary of the formation of the RAF and that some millions of pounds have been spent on refurbishing it for the occasion, I thought it worth a further visit.
Entry is free and to anyone interested, a full day can be easily spent there.
With 2018 also being the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War as it came to be known, I will take a look at the aircraft relating to it.
Some of the aircraft may have been built for the ‘Royal Flying Corps’ and then gone on to serve with the ‘RAF’ after April 1st. 1918 so I have used ‘Royal Air Force’ as the owner/operator.
E449 ‘Royal Air Force’. Avro 504K.
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
The ‘K’ model was a specialised trainer that was developed from the night fighter version of the Avro 504.
This aircraft is a composite made up from two different aircraft, G-EBJE and G-EBKN.
F1010 ‘Royal Air Force’, ‘C Hyderabad No. 12A’. De Havilland DH9A
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
This particular light bomber was built by Westland Aircraft at Yeovil in June 1918.
F938 ‘Royal Air Force’. Royal Aircraft Factory SE5A
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
This formidable fighter was produced at such a rate that 5,125 were built in a period 0f 18 months.
F6314 ‘Royal Air Force’ ‘B’. Sopwith Camel
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Probably the most famous British fighter of the time.
Believed to have been built by ‘Boulton & Paul’ of Norwich in 1918. The company went on to build 1,575 of the total Camel production of 5,490.
A6526 ‘Royal Flying Corps’. Royal Aircraft Factory FE2B
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
A two seat fighter that developed into being a night bomber dating from 2015.
2345 ‘Royal Air Force’. Vickers F.B.5 ’Gunbus’
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
A replica built in the 1960’s by apprentices at the ‘British Aircraft Corporation’ registered G-ATVP.
The original 2345 is believed to have been built for the ‘Royal Naval Air Service’ in 1915.
C3988 ‘Royal Air Force’. Sopwith Dolphin 5F.1
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
The first multi-gun (4 machine guns) fighter.
3066 ‘Royal Air Force’. Caudron G.3
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Although the G.3 was a French design, this particular aircraft was built by British Caudron.
D.7343/17 ‘German Air Force’. Albatros D.Va (Replica)
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Although a replica, the engine is original being a Mercedes D111a.
8417/18 ‘German Air Force’. Fokker D.VII
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Possibly the best fighter to come out of WW1.
It was so much feared/respected that one of the specific terms of the ‘Conditions of the Armistice’ that ended the war was that all examples should be handed over to the Allies.
