Object Details
- Physical Description
- Royal Air Force Sopwith Camel F.1 rudder fabric; red, white, blue vertical stripes with black numeral serial number B2479; hand written text on back of fabric (see Marks for full text).
- Summary
- This fabric was cut from a Royal Air Force Sopwith Camel F.1 aircraft of 80 Squadron RAF during World War I. The Camel is one of the most well-known aircraft from the period; its pilots collectively shot down nearly 1,300 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter of the war. According to Trevor Hinshaw's book, "The Sky Their Battlefield," Sopwith Camel, serial number B2479, flown by 2nd Lt. E.L. Smithers, was on patrol to Lamotte (20km east of Amiens/Somme) and was shot down over Proyard/Somme by Lt. Willie Mauss. Smithers, survived and was captured by the Germans.
- Handwritten label of on the back of the insignia:
- Engl. S.E.
- abgeschossen
- 6.IV.18 [unreadable] (Somme)
- Flieg.Abt (A) 232
- Motor: 9 Cyl. 35944
- [unreadable]
- Lt. W. Mauss Willie
- Zeuge: Lt. Ooderlade [probably]
- Handwriting is a mix between Suetterlin (Altdeutsch) and modern German (Neudeutsch)
- Translation:
- Engl. S.E.
- shot down
- 6.IV.18 [unreadable] (Somme)
- Flieg.Abt (A) 232
- Engine: 9 Cyl. 35944
- [unreadable]
- Lt. W. Mauss Willie
- Witness: Lt. Ooderlade [probably}
- Translated by Yann Wilhelm, Feb 7th, 2005.
- Credit Line
- Donated by Mrs. Mary E. "Mother" Tusch
- Inventory Number
- A19500171000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- MEMORABILIA-World War I
- Materials
- Natural fabric, paint, dope
- Dimensions
- 2-D - Unframed (H x W): 53.3 x 50.8cm (21 x 20 in.)
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19500171000
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv93ab34457-f692-466f-baef-c52807f958ee
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