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Paul McGuiness RAAF Archive
Paul McGuiness is an Australian aviation researcher and historian. Using primary sources he has assembled detailed information on the history of each plane
used by Australians and Australian forces in WWl and WW2, and on personnel involved.

This page contains many names, dates, locations. To help find the one(s) you're interested in, use our Highlighting facility.
Highlighting will ONLY find entries within this specific page.   

History of Australian Military Aviation

First World War

Armstrong Whitworth FK3

Avro 504

Bristol F2b Fighter

Fairey Aviation Model lllD Seaplane

Martinsyde G.100 G 102 Elephant

Maurice Farman S.11 Shorthorn

Royal Aircraft Factory BE2

Royal Aircraft Factory BE12

Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8

Royal Aircraft Factory SE5A Experimental Scout

Sopwith Camel B Series

Sopwith Camel C D E F Series

Sopwith Snipe

Sopwith Scout (Pup)

Sopwith 1½ Strutter

Supermarine Seagull lll

Supermarine Southampton Mk 1

Westland Wapiti


Post First World War

Bristol Bulldog

De Havilland DH.9A

Hawker Demon

Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5A

Avro 504K


Second World War

3 Sqn Gladiators 1940-1941

3 Sqn Gauntlets 1940-1941

10 Sqn Sunderlands

451 Sqn Spitfires Med 43-44 Europe 44-46

452 Sqn Spitfires Europe 41-42

455 Sqn Hampdens 1941-43

458 Sqn Wellingtons

460 Sqn Wellingtons

461 Sqn Sunderlands

462 Sqn Halifax Part 1 MTO

466 Sqn Wellingtons


Further Information:

Aces and Aviators WWl Database

Material Relating to Australia

Aircraft Types Used By Australian Forces 1914 - 1918

Avro 504

504 at Old Warden.jpg

The Avro 504 was a First World War biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the war totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in the First World War, in any military capacity, during that conflict. More than 10,000 were built from 1913 until production ended in 1940

4785

00Apr16 Built as RFC Serial 4785, the 49th of 50 Avro 504A aircraft manufactured in the Serial range 4737 to 4786 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Newton Heath, Manchester UK under Contract 94/A/36 dated August 1916. Fitted with an 80hp (60kW) Gnôme Lambda seven-cylinder, air-cooled rotary aero engine.

00Apr16 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Apr16 Allocated to the Expeditionary Force Egypt. Aircraft probably moved to the Southern Aircraft Repair Depot at South Farnborough, Hampshire UK to be prepared for shipment to Egypt.

12May16 Received by ‘X’ Aircraft Park at Kantara, Egypt

00May16 Allocated to No.22 Reserve Squadron (22RS) at Aboukir aerodrome, Egypt.

00May16 Temporary issue to No.67 (Australian) Squadron, 5th Wing of the Middle East Brigade RFC at Heliopolis aerodrome. The aircraft was used for familiarization training until the squadron received its own machines.

05Jun16 Issued to A Flight, 67 Sqn at Heliopolis

14Jun16 Returned to XAP.

25Jun16 Received for use by No.22 Training Squadron at Aboukir.

1916 Known to have been used in tropical fabric tests at X Air Depot (XAD), Egypt.

19Sep17 Turned downwind with insufficient speed, took off bank and kept rudder on full and developed into a spin then crashed near the aerodrome. Pilot 2nd Lt J. Racine was injured.

20Sep17 Wreckage taken to XAD for write-off action.

4786

00Apr16 Built as RFC Serial 4786, the 50th of 50 Avro 504A aircraft manufactured in the Serial range 4737 to 4786 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Newton Heath, Manchester UK under Contract 94/A/36 dated August 1916. Fitted with an 80hp (60kW) Gnôme Lambda seven-cylinder, air-cooled rotary aero engine.

00Apr16 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Apr16 Allocated to the Expeditionary Force Egypt. Aircraft probably moved to the Southern Aircraft Repair Depot at South Farnborough, Hampshire UK to be prepared for shipment to Egypt.

12May16 Received by ‘X’ Aircraft Park at Kantara, Egypt

00May16 Allocated to No.22 Reserve Squadron (22RS) at Aboukir aerodrome, Egypt.

00May16 Temporary issue to No.67 (Australian) Squadron, 5th Wing of the Middle East Brigade RFC at Heliopolis aerodrome. The aircraft was used for familiarization training until the squadron received its own machines.

05Jun16 Issued to A Flight, 67 Sqn at Heliopolis

14Jun16 Returned to XAP.

25Jun16 Received for use by No.22 Training Squadron at Aboukir.

13Aug17 2nd Lt P.F Antelme was seriously injured in a collision with BE2c No.4712 piloted by 2nd Lt H.J.T Russell.

Nothing further known

A2682

1916 Built as RFC Serial A2682, the 50th of 50 Avro 504A aircraft manufactured in the Serial range A2633 to A2682 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Newton Heath, Manchester UK under Contract 87/A/508 dated 01 August 1916. Fitted with an 80hp (60kW) Gnôme Lambda seven-cylinder, air-cooled rotary aero engine Serial No.3616/WD21

1916 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Apr17 Received for use by No.71 (Australian) Squadron RFC at RFC Station Castle Bromwich near Birmingham.

11Apr17 The engine failed during a local familiarization flight and the aircraft crash landed near the Base. Pilot 2nd Lt J.G Moore was injured in the crash.

Nothing further known about this aircraft.

A8522

00Jan17 Built as RFC Serial A8522, the 22nd of 100 Avro 504A aircraft manufactured in the Serial range A8501 to A8600 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Newton Heath, Manchester UK under Contract 87/A/1213 dated 24th November 1916. Fitted with an 80hp (60kW) Gnôme Lambda seven-cylinder, air-cooled rotary aero engine Serial No.29667WD3469.

(left: A8522 after crashing at South Carlton airfield on 14 June 1917)

00Feb17 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Mar17 Allocated for use to No.69 (Australian) Training Squadron at RFC Station South Carlton near Lincoln, Lincolnshire UK.

00Apr17 Received by 69 Sqn.

14Jun17 Student pilot 2nd Lt Leslie Frederick Gleeson (21) RFC stalled a ‘naval’ type Avro Gnome in a low level turn and crashed. Instructor 2nd Lt Claude Picton Lowry RFC sustained minor injuries. Gleeson was taken to 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln where he died on 15Jun.

A9803

00May17 Built as RFC Serial A9803, the 41st of 50 Avro 504A/J aircraft manufactured under license in the Serial range A9763 to A9812 by S.E Saunders Co Ltd at their Columbine works, East Cowes on the Isle of Wight under Contract 87/A/387 dated 18th January 1917. Fitted with a 100hp (75kW) Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type B2 engine Serial No.30516WD8063.

00Jun17 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

23Jun17 CPT A.E Geere accompanied by CPT Andrew Lang in B954 ferried from Farnborough to No.71 (Australian) Squadron RFC at RFC Station Castle Bromwich near Birmingham.

14Sep17 At 1855hrs 2nd Lt D.K Billings RFC was practicing aerobatics at 4,000ft over the village of Water Orton, 3km from Castle Bromwich. Billing’s seat belt failed during one manoeuvre and he fell to his death. The aircraft later crashed into a small wood near Water Orton and was destroyed. His body was discovered by a search party at 1000hrs the next day approximately one mile from the aircraft crash site.

2nd Lieutenant David Kitto Billings was buried in ST Mary & St Margaret’s Churchyard Castle Bromwich and is commemorated in the Canadian Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower at Ottawa. He was the eldest child of British-born parents Reverend Percy Billings and Lilla Adelaide Kitto, who married in Portland, Maine on 27 April 1889. He was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1891. In early 1917 he joined the RFC in Canada and underwent initial training at Camp Borden, 100km north of Toronto CA. He was posted to Castle Bromwich where he completed his pilot training and was awarded his wings shortly before his death.

B389

1915 Built as RFC Serial N6022, the 13th of 20 Avro 504B aircraft manufactured in the Serial Range N6010 to N6029 under license by Parnall & Sons at their Eastville Works in Bristol, UK. Built under Naval Contract AS3770. Fitted with an 80hp (60kW) Gnôme Lambda seven-cylinder, air-cooled rotary aero engine

1915 Taken on charge by the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS).

1915-16 Used a as a training aircraft by the RNAS

00Jan17 Struck off charge and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and given the RFC Serial B389.

00Mar17 Allocated for use to No.69 (Australian) Sqn at RFC Station South Carlton near Lincoln, Lincolnshire UK.

12Mar17 Received by 69 Sqn.

04Apr17 Soon after take-off at approximately 150ft the student pilot applied severe rudder input and could not correct before the machine crashed. Cadet H.C Warren was killed in the crash and the Instructor 2nd Lt C.P Lowry sustained minor injuries.

AIF Bombardier No.1899 Harry Collier Warren, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade (Attached as a Cadet to the AFC) aged 23, single of Port Pirie SA is buried in Grave No D.453 of the Newport Cemetery, Lincoln, Lincolnshire UK. He is commemorated on Panel 13 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT; on the Adelaide National Great War Memorial, South Australia; and, on the Honour Board of the St Peter’s College Adelaide.

00Apr17 The aircraft was deemed as Unworthy of Repair and converted to components.

B928

00May17 Built as RFC Serial B928, the 28th of 100 Avro 504A/J aircraft manufactured in the Serial range B901 to B1000 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Hamble, Manchester UK under Contract 87/A/1213 dated 12th January 1917. Fitted with a 100hp (75kW) Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type B2 engine Serial No.30356/WD4077.

00Jun17 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Jul17 Received for use by No.71 (Australian) Squadron RFC at RFC Station Castle Bromwich near Birmingham.

14Aug17 Immediately after take-off a strong wind gust caused the machine to stall and crash before the Student or Instructor could regain control. Instructor 2nd Lt T.F Hosking was slightly injured but student No.970 2/Air Mechanic S.B Larkin was killed.

Air Mechanic Class II No.970 Sidney Bernard Larkin (25) single of Drummoyne, Sydney is buried at Screen Wall B.10.287 in the Lodge Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. He is also remembered at Location 187 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT.

Nothing further known about this aircraft.

B1395

00Jan17 Built as a Morane AC Monocoque with the Serial MS878, the 1st of two Avro machines built under licence by Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier in France. Fitted with an 110hp (82kW) Le Rhône 9Ja rotary engine.

27Jan17 Given the RFC Serial B1395 and shipped to England.

1917 History from January to June 1917 is not known.

00Jul17 Allocated for use to No.30 (Australian) Training Squadron (30TS) at RFC Station Tern Hill, Shropshire UK.

00Jul17 Received by Aeroplane Repair Section (ARS) of No.29 (T) Wing at RFC Station Shawbury, Shropshire UK

04Aug17 Received for use by 30TS.

07Sep17 Aircraft crashed at Ternhill and was the first crash that involved personal injury. RFC pilot 2nd Lt Layton was admitted to Prees Heath Military Hospital. Aircraft was taken off squadron strength and allocated to ARS 29 Wing for write-off action.

B3140

00Jun17 Built as RFC Serial B3140, the 40th of 150 Avro 504J aircraft manufactured in the Serial range B3101 to B3250 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Hamble, Manchester UK under Contract 87/A/1213 dated 24th November 1916. Fitted with a 100hp (75kW) Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type B2 rotary engine Serial No.30476WD11844

00Jul17 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Jan18 Allocated for use to No.30 (Australian) Training Squadron (30TS) at RFC Station Tern Hill, Shropshire UK.

00Jan18 Received by Aeroplane Repair Section (ARS), No.29 (T) Wing at RFC Station Shawbury, Shropshire.

00Jan18 Received for use by 30TS.

13Feb18 Issued to ARS for servicing.

06Mar18 Allocated to and received by No.5 Training Squadron, 1st Wing, Australian Flying Corps at RFC Station Tern Hill, Shropshire UK.

18Apr18 Moved from Tern Hill to RFC Station Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire when 5TS AFC was relocated.

09Jul18 At 0810hrs Capt A.E Richards was on his 1st Avro solo flight when an engine failure caused a forced landing. Richard’s misjudged the landing and suffered facial injuries, contusions, lacerations and shock. The aircraft was deemed as Unworthy of Repair and transported by road to ARS, 1st Wing at RAF Station Leighterton

00Jul18 Aircraft struck off charge.

B3195

00Jun17 Built as RFC Serial B3195, the 95th of 150 Avro 504J aircraft manufactured in the Serial range B3101 to B3250 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Hamble, Manchester UK under Contract 87/A/1213 dated 24th November 1916. Fitted with a 100hp (75kW) Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type B2 rotary engine Serial No.30709WD11782

00Aug17 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Aug17 Allocated for use to No.30 (Australian) Training Squadron (30TS) at RFC Station Tern Hill, Shropshire UK.

00Aug17 Received by Aeroplane Repair Section (ARS), No.29 (T) Wing at RFC Station Shawbury, Shropshire.

00Sep17 Received for use by 30TS.

09Dec17 The aircraft lost flying speed in strong crosswinds and the engine failed to pick up. The pilot, 2nd Lt C.H Witham, had insufficient room to flatten out and crash landed near the airfield. The aircraft was significantly damaged and Witham sustained serious but non-lethal injuries.

Nothing further known about this aircraft.

B4214

00Jul17 Built as RFC Serial B4214, the 14th of 200 Avro 504J aircraft manufactured in the Serial range B4201 to B4400 by A.V Roe & Co at Hamble, Manchester, UK under Contract AS13161/1 dated April 1917. Fitted with a 80hp (60kW) Gnome Monosoupape 7 Type A rotary engine.

00Sep17 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Sep17 Allocated for use to No.30 (Australian) Training Squadron (30TS) at RFC Station Tern Hill, Shropshire UK.

14Sep17 Received by Aeroplane Repair Section (ARS), No.29 (T) Wing at RFC Station Shawbury, Shropshire.

18Sep17 Received for use by 30TS.

08Oct17 Returned to ARS where the factory fitted 80hp Gnome engine was replaced with a 100hp Monosoupape 9 Type B-2 rotary Engine Serial No.30717WD11796.

16Oct17 Returned for use to 30TS.

28Dec17 2nd Lt F.A Sobey was flying a solo training flight when he made a flat turn that resulted in a flat spin. The aircraft could not be recovered and crashed next to the airfield. Sobey sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the Prees Heath Military Hospital in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

00Jan18 Aircraft deemed Not Worthy of Repair and converted to components.

B4215

00Jul17 Built as RFC Serial B4215, the 15th of 200 Avro 504J aircraft manufactured in the Serial range B4201 to B4400 by A.V Roe & Co at Hamble, Manchester, UK under Contract AS13161/1 dated April 1917. Fitted with a 80hp (60kW) Gnome Monosoupape 7 Type A rotary engine.

00Sep17 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Sep17 Allocated for use to No.30 (Australian) Training Squadron (30TS) at RFC Station Tern Hill, Shropshire UK.

14Sep17 Received for use by 30TS.

18Sep17 Received by Aeroplane Repair Section (ARS), No.29 (T) Wing at RFC Station Shawbury, Shropshire where the factory fitted 80hp Gnome engine was replaced with a 100hp Monosoupape 9 Type B-2 rotary Engine Serial No.30828WD20399.

16Oct17 Returned for use to 30TS.

06Dec17 The aircraft was on a routine training flight when the engine failed. The student then attempted to make a forced landing into a small field near the airfield. Unfortunately the pilot stalled the aircraft over the boundary trees and crashed before the Instructor could recover the aircraft. Instructor Capt A.W.L Ellis sustained minor injuries but student 2nd Lt Alfred Edgar Portlock Age 22) RFC was killed in the crash. He is commemorated on the Screen Wall at Lambeth Cemetery. London.

lambeth cemetery

Lambeth Cemetery

D6

00Dec17 Built as RFC Serial D6, the 6th of 200 Avro 504J/K aircraft manufactured in the Serial range D1 to D199 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Hamble, Hampshire UK under Contract AS13161 dated 8th November 1917. Fitted with a 100hp (75kW) Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type B2 engine Serial No.3041WD4161

00Dec17 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

03Jan18 Allocated for use to No.6 Training Squadron (6TS), 1st Wing, Australia Flying Corps (AFC) at RFC Station Tern Hill, Shropshire UK.

17Jan18 Received for acceptance checks by Aeroplane Repair Section, 30 Wing at RFC Station Leighterton.

19Jan18 Issued for use to 6TS at RFC Station Tern Hill.

26Feb18 Moved from Tern Hill to RFC Station Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire when 6TS was relocated.

11May18 Aircraft minus engine allocated for servicing to ARS Minchinhampton.

01Jun18 Returned to 6TS following servicing.

03Aug18 CPT Clark and Lt Douglas were taking off at 0935hrs when they were forced to abort with a misfiring engine.

05Aug18 Lt V.G Roberts and Cadet F.B Jones were departing at 1730hrs when the engine failed and the take-off aborted. No damage or injury reported.

19Aug18 Lt Douglas and Cadet A.M Fry were forced to abort a take-off at 0925hrs with a dud engine.

28Aug18 At 0725hrs solo pilot Cadet E.H Jeffreys was preparing to land when he collided head-on with Avro D9282 from 6TS (AFC). The stbd wings of each aircraft smashed together and the machines fell to the ground and all three airmen were killed instantly.

Corporal Cadet 747 Ernest Howard Jeffreys (23) single of Kuring-gai NSW was buried with full military honours in Leighterton Cemetery at 1500hrs on 31Aug18.

00Sep18 Aircraft SOC.

D4382

00Feb18 Built as RFC Serial D4382, the 22nd of 200 Avro 504J/K aircraft manufactured under license in the Serial range D4361 to D4560 by the Sunbeam Motor Car Co Ltd at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire UK under Contract AS32163 dated 10th December 1917. Fitted with a 100hp (75kW) Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type B2 engine Serial No.30020WD584

00Mar18 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Mar18 Allocated for use to No.6 Training Squadron (6TS), 1st Wing, Australia Flying Corps (AFC) at RFC Station Shawbury, Gloucestershire UK.

02Apr18 Received for use to 6TS at RAF Station Minchinhampton.

22May18 Received from ARS Leighterton for use by 6TS.

00Jun18 Received by ARS Minchinhampton

25Jun18 Received from ARS Minchinhampton for use by 6TS.

06Jul18 2nd Lt Lawrence Benjamin and Cadet R.M Dalton departed at 1025hrs on a local training flight. Soon after take-off the engine began misfiring and losing power and Lt Benjamin turned back to the aerodrome but the machine stalled in the turn, which resulted in a crash 1km from the aerodrome threshold. Cadet Dalton only sustained minor injuries but Lt Benjamin was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital with a broken arm, broken nose, severe bruising and some lacerations. The machine was damaged beyond repair and written off.

D4386

00Feb18 Built as RFC Serial D4386, the 26th of 200 Avro 504J/K aircraft manufactured under license in the Serial range D4361 to D4560 by the Sunbeam Motor Car Co Ltd at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire UK under Contract AS32163 dated 10th December 1917. Not fitted with an engine at the time of manufacture.

00Mar18 Taken on charge by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) for acceptance checks by the Aeronautical Inspection Department at RFC Station Farnborough, Hampshire.

00Mar18 Allocated for use to No.6 Training Squadron (6TS), 1st Wing, Australia Flying Corps (AFC) at RFC Station Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire UK.

02Apr18 Transported by road to 6TS at RAF Station Minchinhampton.

00Jun18 Allocated to and received by No.8 Training Squadron, 1st Wing AFC at RAF Station Leighterton in Gloucestershire UK.

01Jul18 Immediately after take-off for a local training flight Lt Gregory Hamilton Blaxland (Instructor) and Lt Robert Alexander Dunn (Student) suffered an engine failure and while climbing to avoid a stone wall stalled the aircraft and crashed.

Blaxland sustained very serious injuries and was hospitalised in No.2 Service General Hospital. After spending more than nearly three months in hospital Blaxland returned to active service with No.2Sqn AFC and finished the War with nine aerial victories.

Unfortunately Lt Dunn was killed the next month when Avro 504 Serial D7728 crashed at Leighterton on 13Aug18. (see entry for D7728).

00Jul18 Transported to ARS where the aircraft was assessed as Not Worthy of Repair and reduced to spares.

D7728

00Apr18 Built as RFC Serial D7728, the 228th of 300 Avro 504J aircraft manufactured in the Serial range D7501 to D7800 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Newton Heath, Manchester under Contract AS34679 dated 11th January 1918. Fitted with a 110hp (82kW) Le Rhône 9J engine.

00May18 Taken on charge by the Royal Air Force (RAF) for acceptance checks by the RAF Aeronautical Inspection Department.

00May18 Allocated for use to No.6 Training Squadron (8TS), 1st Wing, Australia Flying Corps (AFC) at RFC Station Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire UK.

1918 Received for acceptance testing and preparation by Aeroplane Repair Section (ARS) at RAF Station Leighterton, Gloucestershire. Le Rhône 9J engine replaced by a 100hp (75kW) Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type B2 Serial No.5946WD4240.

1918 Received for use by 6TS and issued to A Flight.

13Aug18 Lt Robert Alexander Dunn (24) died when the aircraft stalled and nosedived to earth with a failing engine. CPT Robert William McKenzie was seriously injured and hospitalised for several weeks. The aircraft was extensively damaged and was beyond unit repair.

2nd Lieutenant Robert Alexander Dunn (24) of Numurkah, VIC is buried in Grave 9, Row 3 of Plot 1 in the Leighterton Church Cemetery, Gloucestershire UK. He is also remembered at panel 187 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT.

leighterton church cemetery
Leighterton Church Cemetery UK

Captain (Temporary) Robert William McKenzie (23) of Albert Park, Adelaide SA was hospitalized in the Tetbury Cottage Hospital with a fractured left leg and hip, severe abrasions and contusions. He was transferred to Cobham Hall, Kent for convalescence on 18 October 1918 where he remained for the next five months. McKenzie never recovered fully and was repatriated back to Australia on the HMT Czaritza on 16 March 1919.

00Aug18 Aircraft wreckage transported to ARS Leighterton.

D7775

00Apr18 Built as RFC Serial D7775, the 275th of 300 Avro 504J aircraft manufactured in the Serial range D7501 to D7800 by A.V Roe & Co Ltd at Newton Heath, Manchester under Contract AS34679 dated 11th January 1918. Fitted with an 110hp (82kW) Le Rhône 9J engine Serial No.30314WD4035.

00May18 Taken on charge by the Royal Air Force (RAF) for acceptance checks by the RAF Aeronautical Inspection Department.

00May18 Allocated for use to No.8 Training Squadron (6TS), 1st Wing, Australia Flying Corps (AFC) at RAF Station Leighterton, Gloucestershire UK.

00May18 Received for use by 8TS

21Oct18 Lt J.S Mellish and Cadet R.M Henry entered a downwind climbing stbd turn soon after take-off when the machine spun out of control and crashed 100ft from the Leighterton hangars. Cadet Henry sustained minor injuries but Instructor Mellish was seriously injured. He was admitted to Tetbury Hospital and then underwent convalescence until he was repatriated back to Australia in March 1919.

00Oct18 Aircraft wreckage transported to ARS Leighterton for write-off action.

D9282

00Apr18 Built as RAF Serial D9282, the 2nd of 100 Avro 504K aircraft manufactured in the Serial Range D9281 to D9380 under license by Parnall & Sons at their Eastville Works in Bristol, UK. Built under Contract AS4153 dated 24th January 1918. Fitted with an 110hp (82kW) Le Rhône 9J engine Serial No.WD18985

00May18 Taken on charge by the Royal Air Force (RAF) for acceptance checks by the RAF Aeronautical Inspection Department.

00May18 Allocated for use to No.5 Training Squadron (5TS), 1st Wing, Australia Flying Corps (AFC) at RFC Station Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire UK.

00Jun18 Received for acceptance testing by Aeroplane Repair Section (ARS), RAF No.30 Training Wing at RAF Station Leighterton, Gloucestershire.

00Jun18 Received for use by 5TS at RAF Station Minchinhampton.

16Jul18 Lt G.V Wicks had a minor crash when landing.

00Jul18 Repaired at Unit.

02Aug18 Lt A.F Payne and Lt Perret flew a successful 10min post repair test flight at 0950hrs.

03Aug18 Lt G.V Wicks departed on a routine training flight at 1045hrs. At 1120hrs Wicks force landed in a field near the aerodrome. The aircraft was extensively damaged and Wicks sustained minor injuries.

00Aug18 Aircraft serviceable after repairs completed to the lower wing, rudder, main skid, V struts and port undercarriage.

28Aug18 Student 2nd Lt R.L Cummings and Instructor Lt C.W Scott departed Minchinhampton at 0655hrs for a local training flight. While performing a climbing turn to the East the machine struck the underside of an Avro 504 D6 flown by Cadet E.H Jeffreys of No.6TS. The wings of each aircraft smashed together and the machines fell to the ground, landing 200 yards apart. All three airmen were pronounced dead at the crash sites.

31Aug18 AFC Instructor pilot 2nd Lieutenant Roy Lytton Cummings (24) single, of Franklin, TAS received a full Military Funeral and was buried in Consecrated Ground in Section 2 of the Leighterton Church Cemetery, Leighterton Gloucestershire, England. He is also remembered at Location 187 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT.

AFC pilot Lieutenant Charles William Scott (24) single, of Ascot Vale, Melbourne VIC received a full Military Funeral and was buried in Consecrated Ground in Section 2 of the Leighterton Church Cemetery, Leighterton Gloucestershire, England. He is also remembered at Location 187 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT.

Corporal Cadet 747 Ernest Howard Jeffreys (23) single of Hornsby NSW received a full Military Funeral and was buried in Consecrated Ground in Section 2 of the Leighterton Church Cemetery, Leighterton Gloucestershire, England. He is also remembered at Location 187 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT.

E9310

00Aug18 Built as RAF Serial E9310, the 104th of 300 Avro 504K aircraft manufactured in the Serial Range E9207 to E9506 by the Grahame Wight Aviation Company at Hendon Aerodrome, London. Built under Contract 35A/402/C282 dated 9th April 1918. Fitted with the 80hp (60kW) Le Rhône nine cylinder rotary aero engine Serial No.54158WD59855.

00Sep18 Taken on charge by the Royal Air Force (RAF) for acceptance checks by the RAF Aeronautical Inspection Department.

00Jan19 Allocated to No.5 Training Squadron (5TS), 1st Wing, Australia Flying Corps (AFC) at RFC Station Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire UK.

14Jan19 Received for acceptance testing by the Aeroplane Repair Section (ARS) of 1st Wing Australian Flying Corps at RAF Station Leighterton, Gloucestershire UK.

22Jan19 Received for use by 5TS, aircraft TOC and issued to A Flight.

23Jan19 1st Training Flight. Lt Trenholme flew a 50min solo Formation Practice sortie at 1500hrs.

01Feb19 Le Rhône rotary aero engine Serial No.54158WD59855 replaced by Serial No.21097WD38465.

02Feb19 Lt A.R McComb and Fitter SGT Wrench flew a successful 15min engine test flight at 1535hrs.

03Feb19 Lt J.H Weingarth and Lt H.S Barnett flew a successful 15min machine test flight at 1040hrs.

04Feb18 Lt J.H Weingarth was flying Lt W.H Millard to a forced landing of a pupil’s aircraft at Yatesbury aerodrome. Approaching to land at 1425hrs the pilot lost control and the aircraft spun in. Lt J.H Weingarth was killed in the crash and Lt Millard seriously injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

08Feb18 AFC pilot Lieutenant Jack Henry Weingarth (26) single of Darling Point, Sydney NSW was buried in Grave No.1 of Section No.19, AFC Extension of the Leighterton War Cemetery, Gloucestershire England. UK. He is also remembered at Location 187 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT.

00Feb19 Aircraft wreckage transported to ARS Leighterton where it was assessed as Not Worthy of Repair. Aircraft had accumulated a total of 4hrs 35min flying time since new. The engine had acquired 112hrs 35min since new.



SY 20120-01-16

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