Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
The Aeronautical Reference Site - De Luchtvaart Referentie Site - Le site référence de l'Aéronautique
Sopwith F.1 Camel
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 at Schaffen and were withdrawn from service very soon afterwards.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)
Click the Pic to open
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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).
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.
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).
RFC Serial
B5604
Date In
Dec 1917
Sc 9
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 15 Dec 1917, Sc 9,
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
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.
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.
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,
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,
RFC Serial
C1624
Date In
Feb 1918
Sc 15
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Feb 1918, Sc 15,
RFC Serial
B7437
Date In
Feb 1918
Sc 16
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Feb 1918, Sc 16,
RFC Serial
B7440
Date In
Feb 1918
Sc 17
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Feb 1918, Sc 17,
RFC Serial
C1616
Date In
Feb 1918
Sc 18
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 21 Feb 1918, Sc 18,
RFC Serial
C1620
Date In
Feb 1918
Sc 19
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 21 Feb 1918, Sc 19,
RFC Serial
B7235
Date In
Feb 1918
Sc 20
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 24 Feb 1918, Sc 20,
RFC Serial
C1634
Date In
Feb 1918
Sc 21
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 27 Feb 1918, Sc 21,
RFC Serial
C1622
Date In
Mar 1918
Sc 22
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 11 Mar 1918, Sc 22,
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.
RFC Serial
B7441
Date In
Mar 1918
Sc 24
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 11 Mar 1918, Sc 24,
RFC Serial
B7442
Date In
Mat 1918
Sc 25
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 11 Mar 1918, Sc 25,
RFC Serial
C1626
Date In
Apr 1918
Sc 26
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 02 Apr 1918, Sc 26,
RFC Serial
C1632
Date In
Apr 1918
Sc 27
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 02 Apr 1918, Sc 27,
RFC Serial
B7458
Date In
May 1918
Sc 28
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 21 May 1918, Sc 28,
RFC Serial
C146
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 29
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 12 Jun 1918, Sc 29,
RFC Serial
C155
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 30
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Jun 1918, Sc 30,
RFC Serial
C145
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 31
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 18 Jun 1918, Sc 31,
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.
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,
RFC Serial
C148
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 34
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 34,
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.
RFC Serial
C156
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 36
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 36,
RFC Serial
C157
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 37
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 37,
RFC Serial
C162
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 38
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 38,
RFC Serial
C163
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 39
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 39,
RFC Serial
C165
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 40
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 40,
RFC Serial
C8308
Date In
Jun 1918
Sc 41
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 19 Jun 1918, Sc 41,
RFC Serial
C8307
Date In
Jul 1918
Sc 43
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 07 Jul 1918, Sc 43,
RFC Serial
C151
Date In
Jul 1918
Sc 42
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 07 Jul 1918, Sc 42,
RFC Serial
C160
Date In
Jul 1918
Sc 44
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 30 Jul 1918, Sc 44,
RFC Serial
C161
Date In
Jul 1918
Sc 45
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 30 Jul 1918, Sc 45,
RFC Serial
C147
Date In
Aug 1918
Sc 46
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service on 12 Aug 1918, Sc 46,
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
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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.
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.
RFC Serial
-
Date In
1918
Sc 62
History
Date Out
-
Delivered to Belgian Air Service in 1918, Sc 62, IV Group,
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.
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
