Thanks Graham, a very enjoyable, entertaining and knowledgeable presentation. The revelation about the provision of parachutes is shocking. The loss rate versus the Luftstreitkraefte is equally shocking.
I really enjoyed watching and learning Graham. Thank you. Having only just discovered a relative was part of the RFC I have been eager to learn more. He was a 21 year old Lieutenant pilot in the 9th Squadron when he died with his observer, and became the 15th kill of Paul Baumer on November 28th 1917 - just east of Ypres.
Regarding parachutes, WW1 parachutes we’re almost exclusively used by balloon observers as they were not the trim parachutes of modern times- they were great unwieldy things that occupied a large part of the balloon gondola in a basket that deployed downward as the observers weight pulled it out as he jumped. Hardly practical things weight and size wise for the limited size and payload of most aircraft of the era.
Wonderful live lecture by Graham Kemp. I wish I had been in on the live version as I wanted to ask him about the book he mentioned "No Parachutes." I read that book and it was an eye opener for me at the time. The callousness of the "Brass Hats" towards their pilot losses was simply appalling. Arthur Lee Gould also discussed the incredible mental and physical strains put on the aircrew. I think seeing someone in tears having the choice of jumping to his death to avoid burning to death mentioned in that book says it all. This episode is mentioned in Gould's book and is compelling.
👍 Very enjoyable, bar the crisp packets and table thumping. BTW: Taube = "dove" in EN, a strange name for a warplane. Pronounce "Taube" as "Tao-buh", with ("tao" as in "The Tao of Pooh").
My great grandfather was an observer in the RFC his surname was Day he was awarded à distinguished flying medal.he was from South East it's all I know . Do you know anything. Thanks Jon day
Well done. Enjoyed it. Except for the table thumping. And paper crinkling sometimes. Please stop the table thumping. Really distracting after the first 30 times.
12:50 The Taube was not a plane, it was a plane class derived from the Etrich II Taube plane designed by Igo Etrich. The patent for the plane was denied and the design was copied by other plane maufacturers.
No Sopwith pup ever went 180mph unless it was in a vertical dive! 80ish horsepower rotary engine gave it a top level speed of 80-90mph at best. No WW1 aircraft could better 140mph in level flight.
Thanks Graham, a very enjoyable, entertaining and knowledgeable presentation.
The revelation about the provision of parachutes is shocking. The loss rate versus the Luftstreitkraefte is equally shocking.
Gret presentation, thank You for sharing.
Very illuminating, thanks.
I really enjoyed watching and learning Graham. Thank you. Having only just discovered a relative was part of the RFC I have been eager to learn more. He was a 21 year old Lieutenant pilot in the 9th Squadron when he died with his observer, and became the 15th kill of Paul Baumer on November 28th 1917 - just east of Ypres.
Learnt something especially about parachutes, doesn't stop me believing how brave the posh blokes were
Another terrific presentation! Thanks Graham!
Such great vignettes, would make a brilliant movie.
Regarding parachutes, WW1 parachutes we’re almost exclusively used by balloon observers as they were not the trim parachutes of modern times- they were great unwieldy things that occupied a large part of the balloon gondola in a basket that deployed downward as the observers weight pulled it out as he jumped. Hardly practical things weight and size wise for the limited size and payload of most aircraft of the era.
Excellent presentation, thank you.
really enjoyed this talk Graham
got a SE 5A prop at home now i now a lot more about
the RFC on the western front
all the best
Wonderful live lecture by Graham Kemp. I wish I had been in on the live version as I wanted to ask him about the book he mentioned "No Parachutes." I read that book and it was an eye opener for me at the time. The callousness of the "Brass Hats" towards their pilot losses was simply appalling. Arthur Lee Gould also discussed the incredible mental and physical strains put on the aircrew. I think seeing someone in tears having the choice of jumping to his death to avoid burning to death mentioned in that book says it all. This episode is mentioned in Gould's book and is compelling.
Fascinating to everyone... excellent lecture, thanks!
👍 Very enjoyable, bar the crisp packets and table thumping. BTW: Taube = "dove" in EN, a strange name for a warplane. Pronounce "Taube" as "Tao-buh", with ("tao" as in "The Tao of Pooh").
Agree
Taube is just the word for pigeon. German doesn't distinguish between pigeons and doves.
Louis Strange….amazing chap. Same school as Bader, Gibson and Warburton.
My great grandfather was an observer in the RFC his surname was Day he was awarded à distinguished flying medal.he was from South East it's all I know . Do you know anything. Thanks Jon day
What I'd like to know is how they came up with term "Air Force" when the RFC merged with their naval counterparts in 1918.
1st April
Somebody had a sense of humour!
Well done. Enjoyed it. Except for the table thumping. And paper crinkling sometimes. Please stop the table thumping. Really distracting after the first 30 times.
Wikipedia says different on why the British didn't use the parachute. To me, the wiki version make more sense.
Where's Lord Flash Heart?
12:50
The Taube was not a plane, it was a plane class derived from the Etrich II Taube plane designed by Igo Etrich. The patent for the plane was denied and the design was copied by other plane maufacturers.
👏
No Sopwith pup ever went 180mph unless it was in a vertical dive! 80ish horsepower rotary engine gave it a top level speed of 80-90mph at best. No WW1 aircraft could better 140mph in level flight.
Quite right. It wasn't until the Italian Ansaldo S.V.A.5 and 9 that 140 mph was exceeded....and that was August 1918.
I think the narrator said 118mph and the person who wrote the captions didn't understand. No WW1 plane ever went 180 mph.
Stop smacking the desk!!! Lol it's not even coordinated
Sopwith Pup 180Mph, you wish!
I think 135-140 might be more accurate.
He said "118" that's why he compared it to the German with 120 mph
That should be 180 Kph
@32:46