Ace pilots of war
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Posted 2 months ago
Aerial combat was a key part of both World Wars. There were many great Canadian aces in the First World War, such as Arthur Roy Brown (flew the Sopwith Pup and the Camel). Billy Barker flew the RE8, Sopwith Camel F1 and the Sopwith Snipe, and Billy Bishop flew the Farman Series 11 "Shorthorn", the RE7, the B. E. 2c and the S. E. 5, most of which were totally outclassed by their German counterparts. Both the Camel and the Snipe, a later model of the Camel, were well-designed planes. The Camel was one of the greatest British planes of the First World War.
* Intended as a replacement for the Sopwith Pup, the Camel prototype first flew on Dec. 22, 1916.
* The Camel featured a box-like fuselage structure, used an aluminium engine cowling, plywood-covered panels around the cockpit, and fabric-covered fuselage, wings and tail.
* The two .303-inch (7.7-mm) Vickers machine-guns mounted directly in front of the cockpit fired through the propeller disc with the fairing over the gun breeches creating a "hump" that led to the name Camel.
Sopwith Camel F. 1 Specifications
* Manufacturer: Sopwith
* Number built: 5,490 Aviation Co.
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William George Barker
Canadian First World War fighter ace and Victoria Cross recipient
* Born: Dauphin, Man., Nov. 3, 1894.
* Enlisted in the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles in December 1914, just after the
start of the First World War.
* Officially qualified as a Royal Flying Corps observer in August 1915.
* Awarded the Military Cross for his actions in November 1916 near the end of the Battle of the Somme.
* On April 25, 1917, during the Arras Offensive, Barker, flying an RE 8 with observer Lt. John Goodfellow, spotted over 1,000 German troops sheltering in support trenches. The duo directed artillery fire into the positions, thereby avoiding a counterattack.
* The unit moved to France on Oct. 8, 1917, then transferred
to Italy on Nov. 7. One of his most successful raids, and also most controversial, was on Dec. 25, 1917. Catching the Germans off guard, he and wing-man Harold Hudson shot up the airfield of Fliegerabteilung (A) 204, setting fire to one hangar and damaging four German aircraft before dropping a placard wishing their opponents a "Happy Christmas."
* Joined No. 66 Squadron in April 1918, where he claimed a further 16 kills by mid-July.
* Became commander of 139 Squadron, flying the Bristol Fighter. Barker, however, took his Sopwith Camel with him and fly fighter operations.
By this time, Barker's personal Sopwith Camel (serial No. B6313) had become the most successful fighter aircraft in the history of the RAF, having used it to shoot down 46 aircraft and balloons from September 1917 to September 1918, for a total of 404 operational flying hours.
* Returned to Canada in May 1919 as the most decorated Canadian of the war, with the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order and Bar, the Military Cross and two Bars, the French Croix de guerre and two Italian Silver Medals for Valour.
* Died: March 12, 1930.
