S.E.5a B139

[DuctileHook8257]

Hi all,

I am currently building a 1/72 scale kit of the S.E.5a in the markings of the aircraft B139. I would like to know more about what its service history during the war was, all I can find out at the moment is that is served with No. 111 Squadron in Palestine during 1918.
If anyone can shed some light on the history of this particular aircraft I would be most grateful.

Thanks,
Dan

[YavorD]

Not too much about B'139. From the The S.E.5 File by Ray Sturtivant and Gordon Page.

B139 built by Martinsyde, Brooklands.

• 16 January 1918 Makers, allotted to expeditionary Force;
• Ascot, re-allotted Egypt, SS Maizer;
• 27 August 1918 'X' Aircraft Depot, Abu Qir to 'X' Aircraft Park, Qantara [Hispano-Suiza];
• 1 September 1918 No 145 Squadron RAF, Qantara;
• 14 October 1918, Capt R. C. Jenkins, crashed;
• 19 October 1918 'X' AP;
• 5 March 1919 Written Off.

Regards,
Yavor

[MASTIFF]

Originally Posted by DuctileHook8257

Hi all,

I am currently building a 1/72 scale kit of the S.E.5a in the markings of the aircraft B139. I would like to know more about what its service history during the war was, all I can find out at the moment is that is served with No. 111 Squadron in Palestine during 1918.
If anyone can shed some light on the history of this particular aircraft I would be most grateful.

Thanks,
Dan

Hi Dan,

Can't help with wartime service for this aircraft, but a bit of background. B-series numbers were allocated from late 1916 following A9999. B1 to B200 numbers were assigned to S.E.5a aircraft built by Air Navigation Co. Ltd., Addlestone. B18 was converted to a 2-seater.

This info from "British Military Aircraft Serials 1911-1971" by Bruce Robertson, Ian Allan Ltd., revised 1971. Seems like a mystery as to actual builder this far down the road.

Cheers,
Tony

[Graeme]

According to Air 20/761 - Record of numbers allocated to Service aircraft - the range B1 to B200 was contract number 87/A/1616, awarded to Martinsyde for the manufacture of SE.5s.

Reference to these same documents suggests that the first contract award to the Air Navigation Co was 35A/390/C281 dated 3 April 1918.

Graeme

[MASTIFF]

Originally Posted by Graeme

According to Air 20/761 - Record of numbers allocated to Service aircraft - the range B1 to B200 was contract number 87/A/1616, awarded to Martinsyde for the manufacture of SE.5s.

Reference to these same documents suggests that the first contract award to the Air Navigation Co was 35A/390/C281 dated 3 April 1918.

Graeme

Great...yet another book I can consign to the recycle bin.

[DuctileHook8257]

Thanks Yavor, Tony and Graeme for those pieces of information.

Could someone clarify what squadron this aircraft belonged to, before I thought it was operated by No. 111 Sqn, but the information Yavor posted suggests it was actually operated by No. 145 Sqn. I would appreciate it if anyone could clear this up for me.

Thanks again,
Dan

[minimax]

Yavor is correct
There are at least 4 documents between Sept and October all referring to 145Sq

[DuctileHook8257]

Thanks for that minimax. It would appear then that both the kit and what I've read elsewhere were wrong in stating this aircraft was being operated by No. 111 Sqn during early 1918.

Is there a possibility that it was used by No.111 Sqn at some point before being allocated to No. 145 Sqn in September?

Thanks,
Dan

[YavorD]

DuctileHook8257,
Data posted above indicate that this aircraft arrived in Egypt and spent time in his crate until end of August 1918 (nothing unusual, production of S.E.5a airframes was not a problem, delivery depended on engine availability; S.E.5a losses in Egypt were not significant, too; possibly one can trace movements of the SS Maizer about arrival in Egypt).
Both No 111 squadron RAF and No 145 Squadron RAF were assigned to 40th Wing and sometimes shared airfields (Qantara, Ramleh). Both squadrons had no marking allocated. An onlooker can hardly distinguish 40th Wing aircraft so any assumption concerning squadron assignment can be in error without access to 'X' AP records or Squadron Record Books.
Regards,
Yavor

[minimax]

The consignment was actually "S.S. Maizar replacement" - HMS Maizar was lost at sea on 30.1.18, sunk by U-34.
B139 was on board another vessel.
The allotment to Egypt was made 13.2.18 and the aircraft transferred from XAD to XAP 27.8.18 as Yavor relates above. Much of the intervening period would have been packing, sailing, unpacking and erecting.