For the Wings over Waves Event in Felixstowe, I thought I would take a H16 prop boss for my display. This was acquired some 15 + years ago (via a Car Boot sale!) and has a plate giving details. On the night before I went, I googled the names and found that one of the Pilots had written a booklet on his Early experience Flying Boats in the Orkneys.
Rev Dr Thomas Crouther Gordon DFC was one of the first RAF recipients of the DFC (after the RAF was formed). He flew the lead aircraft shepherding the German Fleet to Scapa Flow. I managed to buy a copy of this on the internet. It gave specific details of the actual aircraft the prop came from.
So why am I boring you with this? Well, someone might find interesting! Also, it is amazing how the internet has made research so much easier!
By: Mr Merry - 9th August 2013 at 20:54
If it was a Spitfire, they’d have it flying again by now from a piece that size! 😉
Many a true word said in jest;)
By: paulmcmillan - 9th August 2013 at 20:54
If it was a Spitfire, they’d have it flying again by now from a piece that size! 😉
Yes but it also had a robust provenance!!!
Unlike some Spit……
By: Rocketeer - 9th August 2013 at 20:51
True! I wonder how many H16 pieces exist worldwide?
By: Mike J - 9th August 2013 at 20:39
If it was a Spitfire, they’d have it flying again by now from a piece that size! 😉
By: Rocketeer - 9th August 2013 at 19:44
Cheers David! That is brilliant!
Piece by piece!
By: Rocketeer - 9th August 2013 at 19:44
Cheers David! That is brilliant!
Piece by piece!
By: David Legg - 9th August 2013 at 18:12
According to Air-Britain’s Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911- 1919 by Ray Sturtivant & Gordon Page…
N4895 was one of sixty Curtiss H.16 ‘Large America’ tractor biplane flying boats ordered under Contract No. A.S.6731 (BR.50) numbered N4890 to N4949 (a further fifty N4950 to N4999 were cancelled). They were built at Hammondsport and had two 375 hp Eagle VIIIs. N4895 was delivered to Marine Aeroplane Depot (MAD) Felixstowe w/e 13Jun18. It then went to South Shields and by 25Jul18 was with 306 Flt, Houton Bay. On 01Aug18, with Capt. P. Brend and Lt. H.L. Macro as crew, it bombed a U-boat. On 12Aug18 it dropped 2 x 230 lb bombs on another U-boat at 5835N 0107W with Capt. E.P.M. Davis and Lt. W. Sanderson as crew. It was still at Houton Bay by 29Aug18 and at 30Jan19 but nothing further is recorded
By: Mike J - 9th August 2013 at 16:51
Tony
Great I wonder what happened to Curtiss H16 serial 4895!
thanks
Paul
N4895
By: Rocketeer - 9th August 2013 at 16:23
That is a very good question Paul!
I am hoping there may be a clue in Dr Gordon’s book – but it is a very short book!
There must be some reason the cut down prop boss ended up with a plate with all the relevant details on it! I was hoping that the book(let) might have said – ‘I have the prop boss from the aircraft that…..yatta yatta’
Hey ho….someone in the know might know and see this?!
By: paulmcmillan - 9th August 2013 at 16:11
Tony
Great I wonder what happened to Curtiss H16 serial 4895!
thanks
Paul
By: Rocketeer - 9th August 2013 at 14:56
I have not read it all but here is an excerpt:
By: paulmcmillan - 9th August 2013 at 14:27
“It gave specific details of the actual aircraft the prop came from”
Interesting what is the story behind it? thanks Paul
By: Rocketeer - 9th August 2013 at 13:41
Lovely stuff Brian. Amazing how much more I have learnt on this these last few days!
By: FarlamAirframes - 9th August 2013 at 13:16
Clock for H16
Tony – bizarrely I have just acquired a working US Navy aircraft clock – that according to the advert was used on an H16 (and others)…
By: Rocketeer - 8th August 2013 at 22:35
cheers Ian. The hub is over 95 years old. It was a popular item on my display.
By: ian_ - 8th August 2013 at 19:41
Interesting find Tony, always helps when there’s a label on it! Had to google the Curtiss H16. Looks like a cross between a Walrus and a Catalina. Nice.
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August 8, 2013 at 6:30 pm