KITS 06/2023

N6822, HMAS Sydney, mid 1918

This “Ship’s Camel” is one of those manufactured

by Sir William Beardmore & Co LTD and sports

the typical tricolor elevator, kind of a trademark

of this company. It was a Bentley BR.1 powered

aircraft and was delivered to Aviation Acceptance

Park in Renfrew on June 20, 1918. From there it

was subsequently sent to HMAS Sydney light

cruiser. There it served with several interruptions

for maintenance (or due to other reasons) at the

mainland bases until November 21, 1918.

N8130, HMS Vindictive, Koivisto, Finland, October 1919

The N8130 was an aircraft manufactured by

Hooper & Co Ltd and one of the 50 “Ship’s Camels”

from the penultimate order of this type under

contract Nos. 38a/906/C947 & A.S.37354/18.

As the first from this batch, it was originally

intended as the presentation aircraft and was

given the name Tamworth. It was sent aboard

June 2023

HMS Argus on May 19, 1919, then to HMS Vindictive

as one of the eight Camels sent to join the fighting

against Russian Bolsheviks. There it was used

in the fighter-bomber role. On return it served

with No. 203 Squadron and served on board of

HMS Argus again. The Tamworth inscription was

painted on the starboard side of the fuselage, as

the photo shows. It is not known, whether it was

on port side as well, but the decal sheet contains

two inscriptions. Just in case … There is also a

stitched area on the starboard, probably a field

repair of damage.

INFO Eduard

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