Can anybody ID this photo?

I didn’t know that. I did wonder about the ghoulish nature of the subject matter but thought maybe it was a sign of the times; millions of dead on the Western Front plus aircraft being something of a novelty and successful pilots having celebrity status.

It is an interesting photo, particularly the fact that is a postcard with regard to its subject matter (and I’m not implying that is what you meant when you described it as ‘lovely’).

How do you feel about this sort of photo being bought and sold? :diablo: (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

It is quite common for prints of that period to be done on paper with the back printed as a post card.

John

SE5a crash photo

If someone has handy access to SE5 File by R. Sturtivant and G. Page, (Air Britain, 1996) and can see what it says about serial SE5a F9070 – you may get a date for the incident at Hopwood

SE5a F9070 is one of a large batch (44 a/c)in the Air Britain pub which are annotated “No info”. By it’s accept date it was an RAF a/c and I have found no entry for a fatality up to 11/18 connected with that serial. It could of course be post WW1 and in that case the Hobson book (Airmen Died) wouldn’t cover it

John

SE 5 Roundel

The roundels were ringed in yellow in the last war. From 1917 onwards they were ringed in white.

Ken.

It’s an interesting photo.

It is an interesting photo, particularly the fact that is a postcard with regard to its subject matter (and I’m not implying that is what you meant when you described it as ‘lovely’).

How do you feel about this sort of photo being bought and sold? :diablo: (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Malcolm.

Thanks for that. You learn something new every day.

Regards,

kev35

Orthochrome is also responsible for those B/W photos of RAF aircraft which appear to have a black ring around the roundel. That ring is actually yellow as we know but the ortho film turms it black.

The widespread usage of it in the early part of the last century is responsible also for the mistaken perception that the blue in British WW1, 20s and 30s aircraft was lighter than the insignia blue which it actually was.

Paul.
That would be a great help wouldn’t it? We have a rough idea that it must have been sometime after July 1918 if it is correct that the aircraft was ordered on the 19th of July. It’s an interesting photo.

Regards,

kev35

If someone has handy access to SE5 File by R. Sturtivant and G. Page, (Air Britain, 1996) and can see what it says about serial SE5a F9070 – you may get a date for the incident at Hopwood

Malcolm.

Thanks for that. You learn something new every day.

Regards,

kev35

Presumably RAF?

Although it has to be said I’m not sure about the roundel to be honest. Could it possibly be US Air Service?

I expect it will be RAF but if anyone else can confirm that it would be appreciated.

Regards,

kev35

I’d say British – the roundel tones are typical of orthochromatic type film which lightens blues and darkens reds.

Presumably RAF?

Although it has to be said I’m not sure about the roundel to be honest. Could it possibly be US Air Service?

I expect it will be RAF but if anyone else can confirm that it would be appreciated.

Regards,

kev35

Cheers kev35…

Stupid question No. 1…What markings was it flying in?

Shabby
www.55th.org
www.station131.co.uk

It’s an SE5a. One of a batch of 200 built by Vickers Ltd to a contract dated 19th July 1918. All were delivered by the end of the year.

Lovely photo. If you come across any more please feel free to post them.

Regards,

kev35