This is a photo of Lt A E Sutton-Jones from WW1. He later became Air Commodore, CB (1945).
I would be grateful for an ID on the aircraft he is sitting in.

Many thanks
Andrew

I believe this is a BE 2, not sure of the model but maybe a BE 2c

R.E.8?

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...howtopic=129226

Deja Vu ?

Andrew, It's not a BE2c as there is only one set of interplane struts (plus an aileron connecting strut) and the upper wings are longer than the lower wings. That means it's most likely a BE2e though the exhaust (or apparent lack of an exhaust) is not what was usually fitted. Normally there were twin vertical pipes that rose up in front of the wings on either side of the fuselage, though I do have several photos of BE2e machines with a similar less obtrusive exhaust system.

Regards
Steve

I'd opt for a BE 2e as well, but again we have an example of the widespread habit of ensuring that the serial number isn't visible when an aeroplane was photographed. I have a theory that Great War airmen and their associates used to chuckle about this, saying "This'll confuse people trying to research us in 90-odd years' time".

Gareth

Any idea what the cable running up the side of the fuselage that he appears to be holding is for?

Bowden cable bomb release?

I did a quick clean up for you

I think that this is the rare night bomber version of the BE2e that carried a single 260 lb bomb. Quickly replaced in this duty by the FE2b. Some night bomber BE2e were later converted to BE2g by having BE2c wings and dual control fitted and sent off to be trainers. The bomb is obviously not on the rack as parts of it would be visible.

Thank you all for the information. A BE of some description would appear to fit the types of aircraft he has down in his log book.
They are: BE2c, BE2e and AW. He was flying in Salonica, mostly as an artillery observer. The serial number of the BE2e that he flew most in was 8691.

Thank you all again
Andrew

Excellent tidy up, really sharpens the photo.
Andrew

I would have gone for the more prosaic censorship.

Definitely a BE2e - the wings give it away and the bomb release of this type I've only seen on photos of the night bomber version.
2 squadrons known to have used the night bomber version of the BE2e were no 4 and No. 100. Was he with either of these?

Which kind of AW did he fly? The AW 3 (Little Ack) or AW 8 (Big Ack)? If the former he has to have flown with no 47 sqdn who were the only ones to operate with this type anywhere (actually Macedonia). If the Big Ack then most likely either no 17 or no 47 both of whom operated it in Macedonia. Given that no 17 also operated BE2es in Macedonia (the only squadron to do so) I'd guess that the photo shows a BE2e (night bomber) of no 17 squadron.

His BE2e 8691 in the log will be A8691 which was with 47 Sqn in 1917. It came on to 16Wg 4.9.17and was at Salonica Air Park in November. It also recorded an aerial combat on New Year's Day 1918.

Regards,

Trevor

Can you confirm where you get this from? No 17 squadron is listed in "The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps" as the only one operating BE2s im Macedonia

It would have been transcribed out of 16th Wing or ME Brigade war diaries and/or DROs in AIR1 files at Kew. I also have these BE2es at 47 Sqn from the same sources A3081, A8688, A8689, A8690, A8691, A8692, A8693. I would have recorded these 15-20 years ago - if I get some time at the weekend I'll see if I can find the particular file in my notes (deep in the shed).

Trevor

The AW he flew had serial number 1468. His log book records flights in November and December 1917, but no further entries after 27th December 1917, so I ahve no idea what he did after that.
Regards
Andrew

Here is another shot of the same aircraft with Jones and his ground crew.

Great photo ! thanks for that. Funny he keeps his hand on the bomb release cable.

Fitzee

Maybe it's the camera release... Both of these are great photos.

Centurion,

I've dug out a couple of transcriptions confirming that at least a handful of BE2es were definitely with 47Sqn. You can find BE2es at 47 sqn mentioned in AIR1/226/4/105 (I) - 16th Wing OPs and combat reports 4.17 to 9.18; 2340/226/4/2 - 16th Wing War Diary Feb 18 - general operational reports etc. Doubtless others, as per my earlier post.

Regards,

Trevor

Hi Andrew - great photo. This is a BE2e. One interesting thing is that the exhaust pipes have been removed - you can still see the supports for them on the top wing in the front view. This seems to have been a common thing to do in hot climates like Salonika - perhaps it helped with overheating or performance. Does anyone have any other BE2e photos from this region? I have just spent several hundred hours making a flying scale BE2e. I based it on a photo of A1335 in Lahana airfield Salonika (cant show you this unfortunately as photo is copyright to scottish archives but is in the BE2 in action publication along with A3084 (17 Squadron)) This machine also has the exhaust removed but until I saw your photo I thought that it was because it was having some work done on the engine. Andrew I could have done with your photo for some details when I was making the model!