Sopwith Camel B'6417, FS/Lt. D. C. Hopewell or Five German Spads

[FOKKERJ]

I just ran across the following Thread on Otto Kissenberth's Camel:

Otto Klssenberth Sopwith Camel Markings:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/ca...-markings.html

On Post Nr. 27:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/ca...arkings-3.html

QUOTE: "Russ,

We may have a winner!

According to ' TSTB', FS/Lt. D. C. Hopewell was taken POW in Camel B6417 on 7 April '18, forced to land NE of Loos around 1210 PM. The book gives possible credit to Billik of Jasta 52.

According to "The Camel File,", B6417 was delivered to Aeroplane Park Dover on 27.10.17. On 29 December 1917, it went to No 3 Naval Sqdn. Flying B6417, F/Lt. L. D. Bawlf claimed an Albatros OOC at Thourout-Dixmude at 11.40 on 18 February 1918. It then went to 8 Naval Sqdn on 1 March 1918, which became 208 Sqdn on 1 April 1918, of course. It was shot down in a general engagement on 7 April, forced to land NE of Loos, etc. This could be Kissenberth's Camel, perhaps....

Greg
__________________
Greg VanWyngarden"

I did run across the following information and thought that I would share it to anyone interested.

Jagdstaffel 52, Staffelführer Ltn.d.R. Paul Billik

7/4/1918 Ltn.d.R. Billik 13th Victory Sopwith Camel Nr. B'6417,

Nr. 208 Squadron, R.F.C. Lt. D.C. Hopewell POW 10:40 A.M. (German time)

Location: Steinwäldchen, East Hulluch


This was the 5th Victory of the "Schwarz Staffel" aka Jasta 52.

This information is simular to what Greg has given, but I thought it is worth sharing and the location given by my source is noteworthy.

Doesn't the apostrophe after the "B" in the S/N designate a rebuild?

Best Wishes, Jay

P.S. I also found the following scribble that is barely ledgible, but of great interest:

"15 Juli, 1918: Five Spads bearing German crosses shot down balloon of 2nd Balloon Co., U.S., at Villiers-sur-Marne. Were these five flown by Schuster, Hagen, Wenzel, Schlimpen, and Georg Meyer? Du Abschüsse Ast."

Please forgive any misspellings. The above quote was in cursive writing and had been crossed out.

[bristol scout]

Doesn't the apostrophe after the "B" in the S/N designate a rebuild?


Hi Jay,

Not to my knowledge ---B6417 was Sopwith built and I see no reason to imagine it was presented as B'6417---this style of presentation would be atypical of ANY 'Camel' and VERY atypical of a 'Sopwith' built one.

Now being dogmatic is not wise--hence I use the word atypical, ( strong, restrained, urge to say 'never') but my feeling is this is a mis-read from the German side.


Louis Bawlfs 18th. Feb. victory is briefly mentioned in Titch Rochfords 'I Chose The Sky' --page 135 with a line up of pilots photo including Bawlf, whose brother, (Barney Bawlf) spun in on a Camel from 1,000 ft. and killed himself with the Squadron.

For what it's worth Jay

Dave.