On 27 August 1914, the Royal Naval Air Service (R.N.A.S.) forwarded the Eastchurch Squadron under the command of Commander C.R. Samson to Oostende and subsequently to Dunkirk. The Eastchurch Squadron was renamed No.3 Squadron RNAS on 1 September 1914. The aircraft were based at a temporarily airfield at the North side of the port of Oostende (Vuurtorenwijk). On this very rare picture taken on that location, one can identify an Astra-Torres airship, a BE.2A (aircraft N° 50), a Short Biplane (aircraft n° 42) and in the background a Sopwith Tractor.

Jean Pierre Lauwers Collection

Last updated 23/01/05 08:50   Daniel Brackx