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| ADF Serials Message Board > Early Australian Military Aviation AFC, CFS, AAC & AAF > Afc Maurice Farman M.f.11 On Its Back |
| Posted by: setter1 Nov 9 2018, 01:54 PM |
| Another pair of photos I have come across are of an AFC Maurice Farman M.F.11 on its back in the desert - I cant read all of the serial but the last 2 digits are 67 - any thoughts? Kind regards John |
| Posted by: batman Nov 9 2018, 08:46 PM |
| JP Doubt it is an AFC machine, but in the Middle East. I think it is A367, which arrived at XAD RFC in 9/16 (that was the Aircraft Depot in Egypt). Then to 20 (Res) Wing RFC (i.e. a training unit), where it was SOC 20/10/16. 67 (Australian) Sqn (later 1AFC) arrived in Egypt in 4/16. The Mark Lax book on 1AFC does not list any MFSH aircraft - but trainee pilots (plus those for the 2nd Sqn/68 Sqn/2AFC raised at Kantara from 9/16) may have flown these in training with 20 Wing. Is it an AWM image? |
| Posted by: setter1 Nov 10 2018, 11:06 AM |
| Hi No its not an AWM image - at least this copy isn't - it comes from a batch in one of the State Libraries but has no titles other than 2 Sqn AFC?" but as there are other images in the file that are clearly 1 Sqn later on I cant be sure but its great history once we know. I have a heap of unknown shots of the squadron/flight staff which I will post to see if anybody can identify them as well as a lot of unidentified aircraft shots - I am sure some of the photos are well known but some aren't so a bit of fun sluthing them out! A367 works for me - its the only combination of numbers I can think of on one of these in the area - so well done and thanks I wonder if it was the same aircraft which is unidentified in the ADF photo collection "Maurice Farman MF.11 Shorthorn 2 Sqn AFC, crash landed at Heliopolis, Egypt. " It seems to have damage consistant with that in my two photos once it was righted again? Kind regards John |
| Posted by: Brendan Cowan Nov 13 2018, 08:39 AM |
| Several images in the AWM collection have captions that cannot be taken at face value. This image has always puzzleded me: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/MF-11-Shorthorn/P01034_005 Often the AWM receives images from family members and the historical fact get a bit confused - and that confusion manifests itself in the caption. BC |
| Posted by: batman Nov 13 2018, 01:23 PM |
| Hi BC, I agree with your AWM captions comment. Again, like the previous A367, this was probably with the 20th (Reserve, i.e. Training) Wing at Helipolis, and probably c SEP 1916. This was the period student pilots were under training to form the AFC's 2nd Squadron (68 Sqn / 2AFC) before moving to UK. Note that 21 (Trg) Sqn was one of the 20 Wg units. I have done some more digging, and know of other M.F.11s in this category. A365 arrive XAP 6/9/16, to 20 Res Wg 13/9/16 A366 arrive XAP 6/9/16, to 20 Res Wg 21/9/16, SOC 29/10/17 (maybe 2016?) A367 arrive XAP 6/9/16, to 20 Res Wg 21/9/16, SOC 20/10/16 A368 arrive XAP 6/9/16, to 20 Res Wg 25/9/16 A369 arrive XAP 6/9/16, to 20 Res Wg 25/9/16, 21TS Ismailia/ME 25/1/18, failed to fully throttle back on landing and glided very fast and flew straight into ground - Sgt Cdt WV Simons killed. JB |
| Posted by: batman Nov 13 2018, 02:49 PM |
| And further to my last. 20 (Reserve) Wing, based at Aboukir (Abu Qir), comprised: - 21 Res Sqn, lower trg MFSH, probably at Aboukir. - 22 Res Sqn, Avro 504 at Aboukir - 23 Res Sqn, at Aboukir advanced ('higher') trg on B.E.2c. 22 and 23 Sqns had formed at Aboukir on 24 Aug 1916. From some research I did decades ago into the AFC, I found that AVM A.T. ('King') Cole flew the following MF.11s on 21 Res Sqn in SEP 1916: A338 A339 A367. This is from AWM Personnel Records PR88/154. He flew MF.11s with 21 Res Sqn Sep 1916, then B.E.2cs with 23 Res Sqn Oct 1916, and then B.E.2cs with 67 (Aus) Sqn in Nov 1916. All I have on A338 is: - From XAP 14/8/16 allotted 20ResWg, to 21TS Egypt 19/11/17 [by now Res Sqns are Trg Sqns]. XAP was at Kantara. Will report as I find more. |
| Posted by: setter1 Nov 14 2018, 09:31 AM |
| Hi Guys Many thanks for researching this I am digging too so hope we get somewhere Kind regards John |
| Posted by: setter1 Nov 14 2018, 09:32 AM |
| PS My money is on "A367 arrive XAP 6/9/16, to 20 Res Wg 21/9/16, SOC 20/10/16" so far as the photos depict it in fairly good cosmetic condition as you would expect after just a month of service |