Australians in DH5 squadrons

spad · 31 January 2021, 10:11 AM

I know that both Captain R C Phillipps and Lieutenant G C Wilson were attached to 32 Squadron for experience in flying the DH5. Were other Australians attached to 32 Squadron or the other DH5 Squadrons in France (24, 41, 64).

regards

Keith

Airshipped · 1 February 2021, 07:51 AM

Hi Keith,

Chris Clarke's biography of Oswald Watt states that not all those posted from Harlaxton to RFC squadrons in France actually got to serve in DH5-equipped squadrons. However, there's no breakdown in personnel.

The majority would appear to have ended up with 32 Squadron at Droglandt but Watt flew with No. 41 Squadron, which were based at Léalvillers at that time.

Some of Clarke's material came from John Bennett's 1990s history of No. 2 RAAF.

From the dimmer recesses of my memory I recall that George Jones name-checked quite a few people in his memoirs, of his ascent from mechanic to air marshal. However, I'm unsure if any were DH5 pilots.

EDIT: Of those assigned to various RFC squadrons, Adrian Epps was wounded in the Camel-equipped No. 70 Squadron:

http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/epps-a.m

I'd be fairly certain that he wasn't the only one: the July/Aug 1917 period wasn't exactly uneventful.

spad · 1 February 2021, 10:49 AM

Thanks chum, I have found that Henry Forrest was with a DH5 squadron too.

spad · 1 February 2021, 10:51 AM

He was with 32 Squadron too but suffered a flying accident on 5 August 1917.