Any info on Lt. Alexander Evelyn Charlwood and 2/Lt. Leslie M. Copeland

[tcrean7828]

Mates,
Another one of those sticklers, but does anyone have any information on Lt. Alexander Evelyn Charlwood and 2/Lt. Leslie M. Copeland flying a Sopwith 1½ Strutter from 45 Squadron - 5 June 17

Thank in advance for any info

tcrean7828

tom

[josquin]

Tom,

Here is some biographical material about both men, but no operational
information:

Alexander Evelyn Charlwood, born 25 November 1890, at Eastbourne, Sussex,
the son of William Charlwood. Residence in 1911 was Eastbourn; he married
Amy Piper at Steyning, Sussex, in 1916. He served as a 2/Lt. in 11/Royal
Sussex Regiment, a 2/Lt. in the RFC, and a Captain in the RAF. He died in
1974, at East Sussex. The following service records are available at the
National Archives: RAF Officer's Service Record AIR 76/84/143
RFC Officer's Service Record WO 339/123205
Army Officer's Service Record WO 339/33543
Medal Index Card WO 372/4/91401

Leslie Milner Copeland, born 7 December 1895, at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. Residence in 1911 was Wolverhampton. He served
as a Lt. in The Prince of Wales's North Staffordshire Regiment and
as a Lt. in the RFC & RAF. He married Gwendoline S. Hallchurch in
1925, at Wolverhampton, and he died at Wolverhampton, in 1980.
The National Archives has his RAF Officer's Service record at
AIR 76/105/18 and a medal index card at WO 374/15475.

I hope this is helpful.

Josquin

[tcrean7828]

Mates,
Here is what I have on their combat exploits, do not have an aircraft serial number and the other what, why answers and hope that someone from the aerodrome could supply them.

5 Jun 17 45 Sqn were on a Photographic Reconnaissance mission to the Menin area. Lt. Charlwood and his observer 2/Lt. Copeland, were in the camera plane, while the remaining crews served as protection. As they arrived over their objective at an altitude of 11,000 feet the leader of six German fighters, which 2/Lt. Norman Macmillan described as "a large, wicked-looking, all-red Albatros with black wheels," reached their level. In the meantime, 2/Lt. Copeland had exposed ten photographic plates and signalled his pilot that the task was completed. Just as the Sopwith turned about an inlet valve on the Clerget rotary engine broke. The camera plane struggled westwards as the remaining Sopwiths closed ranks around it.

tcrean7828

tom

[josquin]

Tom,

Lts. Charlwood and Copeland were clearly in a tight spot with the Clerget
malfunctioning. Did they make it back to their airdrome and deliver their
photo recon? I noticed that Norman Macmillan had his first victory on
5 June 1917, at Menin: an Albatros--perhaps the "wicked looking" machine he
described?

Josquin

[Graeme]

Both survived the encounter; Charlwood claimed an EA out of control on 20 July and Copeland was McMaking's observer on 12 July when they claimed a brace of Albatros scouts out of control in the vicinity of Messines and Kortewilde.

Charlwood was appointed a Flight Commander (temporary Captain) on 22 July 1917.

Copeland was appointed a temporary Captain on 1 July 1918.

Graeme

[josquin]

Graeme,

The follow-up for Charlwood and Copeland is appreciated. Are any
details available about Macmillan's initial claim on the same day?

Josquin

[Graeme]

All I have is that on 5 June 1917, 2nd Lt M B Frew & 2nd Lt M J Dalton claimed two Albatros scouts, one in flames and another out of control, over Menin at 10:15 (11:15 German time) and 2nd Lt N Macmillan & 2nd Lt P F Webb claimed another out of control over Warneton at 10:20; unfortunately, no serial numbers.

RFC Communique number 91 says:

While over Menin, a patrol of 45 Squadron was attacked by 18 HA scouts, led by a red machine with black wheels. The leader of the German formation showed great pluck and skill and the fight lasted for 23 minutes. Lts M B Frew & Dalton shot down one HA in flames then dived on another which had secured a favourable position on the tail of one of ours and after a burst of fire the HA fell completely out of control.

Graeme

[tcrean7828]

Mates,
Some more info that I was able to scrap together.
The last two were separated for a time, each scrapping three Huns. Then their luck brought them together and helped to save them. 2/Lt. Frew in (A.8228), to avoid one Hun and attack another, dived, then swerved upward in a climbing right-hand turn with his front gun blazing. Simultaneously, to dodge two Huns behind and attack one from below, 2/Lt. Macmillian in (B.2583) swirled violently over to the left in a vertical bank and sideslipped while his observer, Lt. Webb, let rip a drum from his Lewis at the lower Hun. 2/Lt. Frew zoomed upward and 2/Lt. Macmillan, coming down, missed a collision by sheer chance. Bare inches separated their wingtips. They were close enough to recognise each other. And as they missed each other, two of the six Huns went down earthward, falling out of control (OOC). Then with ammunition from both guns all but spent, the two-seaters turned west and crossed the lines at 9,000 feet. This information comes from the book Into the Blue by Wing Commander Norman Macmillan, OBE,MC,AFC.

Still, does anyone know what the serial numbers of their Sopwith 1½-Strutter aircraft for Lt. Charlwood and 2/Lt. Copeland? In the future did both or either one become an ace? etc.

tcrean7828

tom

[josquin]

Tom,

Definitely a scrap with great flying by Frew and Macmillan as well as an
incredible run of good luck in that near collision. Speaking of good fortune, it is fortunate for us that Macmillan told the story so well in his
excellent book.

Josquin

[tcrean7828]

Originally Posted by josquin

Tom,

Definitely a scrap with great flying by Frew and Macmillan as well as an
incredible run of good luck in that near collision. Speaking of good fortune, it is fortunate for us that Macmillan told the story so well in his
excellent book.

Josquin

Mate,
Absolutely.

tcrean7828

tom