don4331
Senior Airman
The painting which
GTX has posted is: Just Airborne At Sea by Keith Ferris
The Royal Flying Corps launched a Sopwith 2F.1 Camel as a surprise for Zeppelin LZ.53 in the North Sea on 10 August 1918.
Conditions were less than idea with considerable chop and fog rolling in. But with British destroyer HMS Redoubt running full speed (~30kn), the RFC fighter flown by Flight Sub Lieutenant Stuard D. Culley lifted from the lighter in about 5'.
Having climb about an hour to 19,000 feet!, the German Zeppelin LZ.53 was intercepted. While one gun jammed, the other was sufficient to set the Zeppelin on fire. Thereby putting an end to the Zeppelins' unchallenged harassment of the British Fleet.
After destroying the airship, Culley descended to 6,000 and attempted to locate the flotilla.* On emergency fuel and about to head for the Dutch coast, he spotted the RN ships. He ditched along side the Redoubt and Culley & the Camel were recovered.
For his efforts Culley was awarded the DSO. The aircraft survives today and hangs in the Imperial War Museum in London, England. LZ.53 was the last Zeppelin destroyed in WWI.
*The flotilla was severely worked over by German aircraft, losing 3 coastal motor boats (early PT boats in USN speak). The danger of getting too close to the German coast.
GTX has posted is: Just Airborne At Sea by Keith Ferris The Royal Flying Corps launched a Sopwith 2F.1 Camel as a surprise for Zeppelin LZ.53 in the North Sea on 10 August 1918.
Conditions were less than idea with considerable chop and fog rolling in. But with British destroyer HMS Redoubt running full speed (~30kn), the RFC fighter flown by Flight Sub Lieutenant Stuard D. Culley lifted from the lighter in about 5'.
Having climb about an hour to 19,000 feet!, the German Zeppelin LZ.53 was intercepted. While one gun jammed, the other was sufficient to set the Zeppelin on fire. Thereby putting an end to the Zeppelins' unchallenged harassment of the British Fleet.
After destroying the airship, Culley descended to 6,000 and attempted to locate the flotilla.* On emergency fuel and about to head for the Dutch coast, he spotted the RN ships. He ditched along side the Redoubt and Culley & the Camel were recovered.
For his efforts Culley was awarded the DSO. The aircraft survives today and hangs in the Imperial War Museum in London, England. LZ.53 was the last Zeppelin destroyed in WWI.
*The flotilla was severely worked over by German aircraft, losing 3 coastal motor boats (early PT boats in USN speak). The danger of getting too close to the German coast.
