Canadian Warplanes 1: Royal Aircraft Factory (Farman Experimental) F.E.2b

(RAF Photo)

Royal Aircraft Factory (Farman Experimental) F.E.2b, "Gold Coast No. 10".

Between 1911 and 1914, the Royal Aircraft Factory used the F.E.2 (Farman Experimental 2) designation for three quite different aircraft that shared only a common "Farman" pusher biplane layout. The third "F.E.2" type was operated as a day and night bomber and fighter by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Along with the single-seat D.H.2 pusher biplane and the Nieuport 11, the F.E.2 was instrumental in ending the Fokker Scourge that had seen the German Air Service establish a measure of air superiority on the Western Front from the late summer of 1915 to the following spring. (Wikipedia)

27 Jun 1918. RFC No. 102 (FB)Squadron Lt Gerald Ellis Reynolds, from Montreal, Quebec, was killed in a flying accident. Reynolds died when his F.E.2 (Serial No. D9084) had engine failure and it crashed his base at Surcamps, France. The Observer, Lt E.T.Clarke (British) survived.

01 Jul 1918. RAF No. 148 (FB)Squadron 2Lt Loudon Pierce Watkins, Military Cross, from Toronto, Ontario, was killed on this date, when his F.E.2b (Serial No. A6599) made a forced landing at Ostreville, France, due to enemy fire, while returning from a night bombing raid on Vitry. His gunner, 2Lt C.W. Ridgway (British) survived the crash.

09 Jul 1918. RAF No. 51 (FB)Squadron, 2Lt James Grant Winks from Montreal, Quebec, was killed in a flying accident in an F.E.2 (Serial No. A5524). Winks crashed while making a gliding turn towards the airfield at Sutton's Farm.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388494)

Royal Aircraft Factory (Farman Experimental 2), FE.2d, RAF (Serial No. A-6561), ca 1918.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388494)

Royal Aircraft Factory (Farman Experimental 2), FE.2d, RAF (Serial No. AI), ca 1918.

‍Royal Aircraft Factory (Farman Experimental) F.E.2b