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Issue 4 - Knights of the Sky: King of the Air Fighters

Although the Sopwith Triplane and Pup were very capable aeroplanes for their time; as the Germans developed their machines, there became an urgent need for a faster and better armed fighter for the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps. Such was the Pup’s success that the new aircraft was largely based around its design, but was to be fitted with a more powerful engine and – as gun synchronisation had become more reliable by late 1916 – be armed with twin Vickers machine guns. It was Britain’s first production fighter to feature synchronised twin guns.

Designated as the F.1, for ease of manufacture, designer Herbert Smith settled on a flat top wing; and to compensate for that, the dihedral of the lower wing was doubled.

Powered by a 110hp Clerget rotary engine, the first prototype took to the skies on 22 December 1916. During flight tests, the aircraft’s superb manoeuvrability became evident, although it was noted that this was at the price of causing some very tricky handling characteristics. The combination of the torque from the rotary engine with the concentration of masses (engine, guns, fuel and pilot) in a compact area of the fuselage led to the type dropping its nose in a starboard turn and rising in a turn to port. Without large inputs of rudder to counteract this, the aircraft could violently enter a spin. However, once pilots were experienced with its idiosyncrasies, the Camel’s manoeuvrability was unmatched by previous British designs and most of its German contemporaries, with only the Fokker Dr.I able to rival it in this aspect of flight.

Firstly a nickname, the aircraft became called the ‘Camel’ as a result of the humped fairing over the gun breeches being likened to the hump of the desert animal of the same name.

Production machines began to arrive on the front line in early May 1917; firstly arriving on the strength of 4 (Naval) Squadron, soon followed by more RNAS units. In July, 70 Squadron became the first RFC unit to receive Camels and the following month, Home Defence squadrons were issued with the type which was later modified for night-fighter operations. This most notably saw its twin nose-mounted Vickers machine guns – the flash from which had been causing pilots to lose their night vision – replaced by two Lewis guns mounted above the top wing.

There was also a naval version of the Camel, the 2F.1. This had a joint in its fuselage so that it could be taken apart for stowage on board a ship, featured a reduced wingspan and narrower track undercarriage, plus had a revised armament configuration.

Most famous dogfight

On 21 April 1918, Canadian Captain AR Brown DSC* was flying Camel B7270 when he entered into combat with an all-over red Dr.I Triplane flown by Baron Manfred von Richthofen – perhaps becoming the single most famous aerial dogfight of World War One due to the notoriety of his opponent, who had claimed 80 Allied aircraft. Brown attacked the Dr.I as he’d noticed that it was about to fire on one of his comrades, and after firing a sustained burst the Triplane went down. The Canadian pilot was credited with the victory, although recent research has attributed the death of the ‘Red Baron’ to a bullet fired from the ground during the by then low-level combat.

Brown’s combat report included: ‘Went back again and dived on pure red triplane which was firing on Lieut May. I got a long burst into him and he went down vertical and was observed to crash…’

For the actions of that day, Brown was awarded a Bar to his DSC, and the citation in the London Gazette of 21 June 1918 read: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On 21 April 1918, while leading a patrol of six scouts he attacked a formation of twenty hostile scouts. He personally engaged two Fokker triplanes, which he drove off; then, seeing that one of our machines was being attacked and apparently hard pressed, he dived on the hostile scout, firing all the while. This scout, a Fokker triplane, nose dived and crashed to the ground. Since the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, he has destroyed several other enemy aircraft and has shown great dash and enterprise in attacking enemy troops from low altitudes despite heavy anti-aircraft fire.’

At the time of the Armistice, Camels were in service with many front line RAF squadrons in France. As well as with UK Home Defence squadrons, they also served in Italy, Greece and Russia. The type also equipped some United States Air Service squadrons in France. Around 1300 enemy aircraft were downed by pilots flying Camels. Its continued use in the post-war RAF was limited by the arrival of the Sopwith Snipe, though it did continue to fly with the air arms of other countries well into the 1920s.

Exact reproduction

Of the more than 5500 built, few original Sopwith Camels survive today. The Vintage Aviator Ltd’s flying reproduction ‘B3889’, as illustrated within these pages, may not be an original airframe but is as close as can be to seeing the real thing fly – especially as it is powered by an original Gnome rotary engine.

This wonderful aeroplane wears the colours of New Zealander Captain Clive Collett, who was the first pilot to score a victory with the Sopwith Camel. He eventually scored 12 confirmed ‘kills’, but died in a crash while test flying a captured Albatros during 1917.

This aircraft made its debut at the 2001 Classic Fighters airshow held at Omaka, Blenheim, Marlborough, on New Zealand’s South Island. This was particularly appropriate, as Clive Collett originated from Marlborough. It has gone on to appear at many further airshows including subsequent biennial Classic Fighters and at its home at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, on New Zealand’s North Island. As well as its engine, the Camel features some other original components too, adding to its authenticity.

The Camel was held in such high regard by those who flew it during World War One, that it has often been likened to having the iconic status gained by the Spitfire in World War Two. With its impressive combat record, it later gained a more glamorous nickname than its first – ‘King of the Air Fighters’.

Sopwith works

The Sopwith Snipe was designed to replace the company’s superb Camel. This photograph showing the production of Snipes was taken at the Sopwith works at Ham on 12 September 1918. A ferocious German offensive that opened in the spring of that year stretched the newly formed RAF to its limits trying to keep the front-line fighter squadrons up to strength, so it wasn’t an ideal time to introduce a new type into widespread service. The first unit to receive the Snipe was 43 Squadron in August, followed by 201 Squadron in October. The only other unit to enter combat with the Snipe during World War One was 4 Squadron Australian Flying Corps. Major WG Barker VC DSO* MC*, flying a Snipe, single-handedly engaged large formations Fokker D.VIIs on 27 October 1918 for which he was awarded his Victoria Cross. The citation in the London Gazette of 30 November 1918 tells the story: ‘On the morning of the 27 October 1918, this officer observed an enemy two-seater over the Foret de Mormal. He attacked this machine and after a short burst it broke up in the air. At the same time a Fokker biplane attacked him, and he was wounded in the right thigh, but managed, despite this, to shoot down the enemy aeroplane in flames. He then found himself in the middle of a large formation of Fokkers who attacked him from all directions, and was again severely wounded in the left thigh, but succeeded in driving down two of the enemy in a spin. He lost consciousness after that, and his machine fell out of control. On recovery, he found himself being again attacked heavily by a large formation, and singling out one machine he deliberately charged and drove it down in flames. During this fight his left elbow was shattered and he again fainted, and on regaining consciousness he found himself still being attacked, but notwithstanding that he was now severely wounded in both legs and his left arm shattered, he dived on the nearest machine and shot it down in flames. Being greatly exhausted, he dived out of the fight to regain our lines, but was met by another formation, which attacked and endeavoured to cut him off, but after a hard fight he succeeded in breaking up this formation and reached our lines, where he crashed on landing. This combat, in which Major Barker destroyed four enemy machines (three of them in flames), brought his total successes to fifty enemy machines destroyed, and is a notable example of the exceptional bravery and disregard of danger which this very gallant officer has always displayed throughout his distinguished career.’

Late production Snipes at the Ham factory in December 1918. Soon after the Armistice large numbers of newly built Snipes were scrapped, but three years later it was realised this decision had been made in haste and in 1921 the scrapping was stopped. A programme of salvage and rebuilding then took place and more than 200 Snipes were returned to service. Powered by a Bentley BR 2 engine, the Snipe was capable of more than 120mph and remained in RAF service until 1926.