Bit of WWI History; No.3 Wing RNAS

[Colslaw]

I just came across a link that has the first big article I wrote for the WWI Journal "Over the Front" back in 1996. It is on the predominately Canadian No.3 Wing RNAS, the first Commonwealth Strategic bombing unit.

http://www.overthefront.com/WWI-Aviatio ... ice-p1.php

All in all I'm still pretty pleased with it.

[J9_Hammer]

10-25-1916

Collishaw's day makes an amazing story! Landing at an enemy drome and getting away!

[Medar]

10-25-1916

Collishaw's day makes an amazing story! Landing at an enemy drome and getting away!

That part floored me. I saw this linked and went and read Colslaw's entire article...great story! The fact that he got down and was taxiing before he realized those were IRON CROSSES on his "mates" aircraft just makes me cringe! And the fact he made it up and out of there is SO lucky.

[J9_Hammer]

lol I wonder if the dead horse counts as a "kill"

[Colslaw]

I forget if the footnotes made it into the article, but Harrower later hit a cow as well.

The article also included a map of the AOA showing all the targets, 30 or so profiles, many other photos, roster and list of all aircraft assigned, extensive footnotes etc etc - 40+ pages of material when it was published.

I lucked out in having been given 500 pages of their records by a historian who knew I was interested in No.3 wing and he wanted to see what I would do with it. It took a weekend to just organize the records so I could make some sort of semblence of their story.

I have 1000+ pages of 9N/209 RNAS/RAF to perhaps do a followup some day. I have started on a history of 8N/208 RNAS/RAF, but haven't done anything on it in a decade. When I stopped I had covered their first 9 months or so. . someday perhaps I will finish it.

[J9_Hammer]

S!

As I read I had google earth opened to view the areas mentioned, there is still an airfield at ochney(sp?)
its a well done article, interesting and easy to read. Thanks!

Hamm