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Sopwith F.1 Camel

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Unidentified Sopwith F.1 Camel of N° 3 Observation Squadron.

Single engine - single seat fighter aircraft

         As of November 29th, 1917 the first Sopwith F.1 Camel fighter aircraft were delivered from the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to the Belgian Air Service through the "Groupement Technique (Parc)" at Calais-Beaumarais airfield (F.). The Camel had an exceptional maneuverability but was also very difficult to master as its Clerget 9B (130 hp) rotary engine produced strong gyroscopic effects resulting in many fatal accidents. The standard armament of the fighter was composed of two synchronized Vickers machine guns and it was mainly used in fighter or fighter- escort missions (in some cases a small number of Camels was assigned to Belgian observation squadrons). 

         By the end of the war, no less then 64 Camels were delivered from different British sources. In November 1918, eight more fighters were transferred by the RFC without the Belgian authorities being informed. Unfortunately, they remained stored in open air with the N° 1 Aeroplane Supply Depot at Marquise (F.) and deteriorated to such a bad state that they were refused by the Belgian Government. This nimble powerful fighter was used during WWI by the following Belgian Squadrons: N° 1 (becoming N° 9 Squadron before the end of the war) (Chardon), N° 2 Squadrol (Mouette), N° 3 (Feuille de Houx). N° 4 (Zebre), N° 5 (Hirondelle), N° 6 (Abeille) and N° 11 (Cocotte) Squadrons. Upon delivery the first Camels received the type registration "Sk" but this very soon gave way to the "Sc" prefix. By the end of their service the Camels were officially attributed the type letter "K" (OMA 30 of 29 May 1923) although up to now no visual confirmation has been discovered. As of April 1923, the survivors  (including Sc 60, Sc 61, Sc 62, Sc 63 and Sc 64) were transferred to the IV Gr. at Schaffen and were withdrawn from service very soon afterwards. Remarkably and although the Camel was numerically rather important, very few pictures excist of this British fighter aircraft. (Daniel Brackx)

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RFC Serial

B5710

Date In

Nov 1917

Sc 1

History

Date Out

-

Built by Clayton & Shuttleworth for R.N.A.S. - 4 Aircraft Acceptance Park (4AAP) at Lincoln, Lincolnshire (UK) > Belgian Air Service, Sk1 > Sc1, N° 1 Sqn (>9 Sqn) (Chardon). Most probably used by Cpt. Fernand Jacquet.

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RFC Serial

B5711

Date In

Nov 1917

Sc 2

History

Date Out

-

Built by Clayton & Shuttleworth for R.N.A.S. - 4 Aircraft Acceptance Park (4AAP) at Lincoln, Lincolnshire (UK) > Belgian Air Service , Sk2 > Sc2, N° 1 Sqn (>9 Sqn) (Chardon). Used by Belgian aces Willy Coppens. and Ja, Olieslagers.

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RFC Serial

B5242

Date In

Dec 1917

Sc 3

History

Date Out

-

Built by Boulton & Paul Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 3 Dec 1917, Sc3, N° 1 Sqn (>9 Sqn) (Chardon).

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RFC Serial

B5228

Date In

Dec 1917

Sc 4

History

Date Out

-

Built by Boulton & Paul Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 3 Dec 1917, Sc4, N° 1 Sqn (>9 Sqn) (Chardon).

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RFC Serial

B5248

Date In

Dec 1917

Sc 5

History

Date Out

Dec 1922

Built by Boulton & Paul Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 13 Dec 1917, Noted at IV Gr., Crashed on 15 Dec 1922.

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RFC Serial

B4622

Date In

Dec 1917

Sc 6

History

Date Out

-

Built by Portholme Aerodrome Ltd., delivered to the Belgian Air Service on 15 Dec 1917, noted at 3rd Observation Squadron (Feuille de Houx).

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RFC Serial

B5605

Date In

Dec 1917

Sc 7

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 13 Dec 1917, SK7 > Sc7, N° 1 Sqn (>9 Sqn), aircraft used by Belgian ace Jan Olieslagers.

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RFC Serial

B5607

Date In

Dec 1917

Sc 8

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 15 Dec 1917, Sc 8, noted at 3rd Observation Squadron (Feuille de Houx).

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RFC Serial

B5604

Date In

Dec 1917

Sc 9

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 15 Dec 1917, Sc 9,

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RFC Serial

B5745

Date In

Jan 1918

Sc 10

History

Date Out

1921

Built by Clayton & Shuttleworth for R.N.A.S, 4 Aircraft Acceptance Park (4AAP) Lincoln to Cranwell 18 Dec 1917; Grain Aeroplane Depot ( AD ) > delivered to Belgian Air Service on Jan 1918, Sc 10

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RFC Serial

B5747

Date In

Jan 1918

Sc 11

History

Date Out

1921

Built by Clayton & Shuttleworth, delivered through Cranwell (21 Dec1917)- Chingford (29/ Dec 1917) > Belgian Air Service (Calais-Beaumarais)(04 Jan 1918), Sc 11, N° 11 Squadron (Cocotte), 1921 to Royal Army Museum, on public display at Brussels.

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RFC Serial

B7438

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 12

History

Date Out

Apr 1918

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 17 Feb 1918, Sc 12, crashed at Calais Beuamarais (Fr.) with British pilot Cameron on 6 Apr 1918.

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RFC Serial

B7237

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 13

History

Date Out

-

Built by Clayton & Shuttleworth, delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Feb 1918, Sc 13,

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RFC Serial

B7439

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 14

History

Date Out

-

Ex- N° 43 Squadron RFC, delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Feb 1918, Sc 14,

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RFC Serial

C1624

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 15

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Feb 1918, Sc 15,

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RFC Serial

B7437

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 16

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Feb 1918, Sc 16,

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RFC Serial

B7440

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 17

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Feb 1918, Sc 17,

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RFC Serial

C1616

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 18

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 21 Feb 1918, Sc 18,

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RFC Serial

C1620

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 19

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 21 Feb 1918, Sc 19,

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RFC Serial

B7235

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 20

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 24 Feb 1918, Sc 20,

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RFC Serial

C1634

Date In

Feb 1918

Sc 21

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 27 Feb 1918, Sc 21,

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RFC Serial

C1622

Date In

Mar 1918

Sc 22

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 11 Mar 1918, Sc 22,

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RFC Serial

B7147

Date In

Mar 1918

Sc 23

History

Date Out

-

Built by Portholme Aerodrome Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 13 Mar 1918, Sc 23, N° 2 Sqn, noted in special c/s (White/Red stripping over tail + White/Red stripe over fuselage), aircraft used by pilot Eduard Tollet.

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RFC Serial

B7441

Date In

Mar 1918

Sc 24

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 11 Mar 1918, Sc 24,

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RFC Serial

B7442

Date In

Mat 1918

Sc 25

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 11 Mar 1918, Sc 25,

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RFC Serial

C1626

Date In

Apr 1918

Sc 26

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 02 Apr 1918, Sc 26,

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RFC Serial

C1632

Date In

Apr 1918

Sc 27

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 02 Apr 1918, Sc 27,

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RFC Serial

B7458

Date In

May 1918

Sc 28

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 21 May 1918, Sc 28,

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RFC Serial

C146

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 29

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 12 Jun 1918, Sc 29,

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RFC Serial

C155

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 30

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Jun 1918, Sc 30,

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RFC Serial

C145

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 31

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Jun 1918, Sc 31,

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RFC Serial

C159

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 32

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Jun 1918, Sc 32, 4 Squadron, overturned upon landing on 29 July 1918 (Pilot 1Sgt Jacques Stevens). Fate unknown.

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RFC Serial

C164

Date In

Jun 198

Sc 33

History

Date Out

-

Ex - 17th US Aero Squadron, delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Jun 1918, Sc 33,

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RFC Serial

C148

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 34

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 34,

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RFC Serial

C153

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 35

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 35, N° 2 Sqn, noted with special fuselage decoration: “three swallows”, used by pilot Cpt Ernest Mantel with pink and white fuselage band and white fin with pink polka-dots.

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RFC Serial

C156

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 36

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 36,

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RFC Serial

C157

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 37

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 37,

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RFC Serial

C162

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 38

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 38,

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RFC Serial

C163

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 39

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 39,

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RFC Serial

C165

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 40

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 40,

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RFC Serial

C8308

Date In

Jun 1918

Sc 41

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 41,

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RFC Serial

C8307

Date In

Jul 1918

Sc 43

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 07 Jul 1918, Sc 43,

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RFC Serial

C151

Date In

Jul 1918

Sc 42

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 07 Jul 1918, Sc 42,

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RFC Serial

C160

Date In

Jul 1918

Sc 44

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 30 Jul 1918, Sc 44,

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RFC Serial

C161

Date In

Jul 1918

Sc 45

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 30 Jul 1918, Sc 45,

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RFC Serial

C147

Date In

Aug 1918

Sc 46

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 12 Aug 1918, Sc 46,

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RFC Serial

E7308

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 47

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 17 Oct 1918, Sc 47, flown by Adjt. A Nyssen

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RFC Serial

E7310

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 48

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 17 Oct 1918, Sc 48,

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RFC Serial

E7306

Date In

Oct 1918

SC 49

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 22 Oct 1918, Sc 49,

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RFC Serial

E7307

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 50

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 22 Oct 1918, Sc 50,

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RFC Serial

E7309

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 51

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., ex - 148th Aero Squadron, delivered to Belgian Air Service on 22 Oct 1918, Sc 51,

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RFC Serial

E7316

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 52

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 22 Oct 1918, Sc 52,

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RFC Serial

E7318

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 53

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 22 Oct 1918, Sc 53,

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RFC Serial

E7332

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 54

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 22 Oct 1918, Sc 54,

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RFC Serial

F6317

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 55

History

Date Out

-

Built by Boulton & Paul Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 22 Oct 1918, Sc 55,

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RFC Serial

E7320

Date In

Oct 1918

Sc 56

History

Date Out

-

Built by Ruston, Proctor & Paul Co. Ltd., delivered to Belgian Air Service on 22 Oct 1918, Sc 56,

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RFC Serial

-

Date In

1918

Sc 60

History

Date Out

Dec 1922

Delivered to Belgian Air Service in 1918, Sc 60, IV Group, Stricken off charge on 15 Dec 1922.

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RFC Serial

-

Date In

1918

Sc 61

History

Date Out

Aug 1921

Delivered to Belgian Air Service in 1918, Sc 61, IV Group, Stricken off charge on 12 Aug 1921.

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RFC Serial

-

Date In

1918

Sc 62

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service in 1918, Sc 62, IV Group,

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RFC Serial

-

Date In

1918

Sc 63

History

Date Out

Jun 1922

Delivered to Belgian Air Service in 1918, Sc 63, IV Group, Stricken off charge on 10 Jun 1922.

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RFC Serial

-

Date In

1918

Sc 64

History

Date Out

-

Delivered to Belgian Air Service in 1918, Sc 64, IV Group,

Remarks

   In the above list, the "Sc-" serials between Sc 57 and Sc 59 are missing as no information at all is available for these machines. On the other hand, the following Camels were also delivered to the Belgian Air Service without a corresponding Belgian serial being known: B5748 (ex 1 Sqn RNAS) C3608 (delivered in June 1918) and C3807 (delivered in July 1918).

   The following Sopwith F.1 Camels were delivered without informing the Belgian authorities. As they remained in the open at N° 1 Aeroplane Supply Depot at Marquise (F.) they suffered to the point where their condition prevented them of being delivered to the Belgian Air Service. They were scrapped on the spot at Marquise (F.)

Aircraft involved were: E7317, E7319, E7323 and Boulton Paul built F6319 (all transferred on 1 Nov 1918), E7321 (transferred on 06 Nov 1918), E7322 (delivered on 2 Nov 1918), E7324 and E7331 (both delivered on 7 Nov 1918).

Photo slider with Belgian Air Service Sopwith F.1 Camel Pilots

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