Please validate my facial recognition skills

[buffnut453]

Hi Folks,

I've been trying to put names to faces for a group photo that belonged to a relative who served on 11 Sqn RAF towards the end of WW1. One of the unidentified individuals was a Flight Sergeant shown in this rather poor-quality close-up from the original image:

I believe this same man is shown in this better-quality image, also from my relative's photo collection:

Now here's the image I found on a well-known auction site. I've identified the airfield as Nivelles and the aircraft in the background is a Bristol F2b Fighter which equipped 11 Sqn as well as 5 other RAF squadrons that were stationed at Nivelles at the end of WW1. Clearly the chap could have belonged to any of those squadrons, hence my request for fresh eyes to look at this image and see if you think it's the same man as illustrated in the 2 photos above.

Any and all thoughts are welcome...I just don't want my optimism to cloud my judgement that I may have identified a name for another of the 11 Sqn personnel.

 

[SaparotRob]

I wish I could help but my eyes are shot. Anyone on the Forum friendly with law enforcement? Perhaps there might be a forensic "picture-looker" and an aviation buff as well?

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

The first are prbably the same: same nose, same smile, same dimples, same ears.

The guy in the third pic has a broader jawline, it seems. I'm not wearing my cheaters, though.

 

[buffnut453]

The first are prbably the same: same nose, same smile, same dimples, same ears.

The guy in the third pic has a broader jawline, it seems. I'm not wearing my cheaters, though.

Thanks for the thoughts on this...lthough the jawline in the first image is pretty broad. I'm still not 100% convinced its the same man...but I am hopeful. The inclusion of the name Bill on the last image could tally with a Chf Mech, later Flt Sgt, who was with 11 Sqn at Nivelles in late 1918 and was still with the unit in the summer of 1919. Again, trying not to apply too much wishful thinking.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Thanks for the thoughts on this...lthough the jawline in the first image is pretty broad. I'm still not 100% convinced its the same man...but I am hopeful. The inclusion of the name Bill on the last image could tally with a Chf Mech, later Flt Sgt, who was with 11 Sqn at Nivelles in late 1918 and was still with the unit in the summer of 1919. Again, trying not to apply too much wishful thinking.

Yeah, I'm no ID specialist and as noted don't have my reading glasses handy, so definitely apply salt liberally. I wish you success in finding you answer all the same.

 

[RoyBoy]

Hi Folks,

I've been trying to put names to faces for a group photo that belonged to a relative who served on 11 Sqn RAF towards the end of WW1. One of the unidentified individuals was a Flight Sergeant shown in this rather poor-quality close-up from the original image:

View attachment 639937

I believe this same man is shown in this better-quality image, also from my relative's photo collection:

View attachment 639938


Now here's the image I found on a well-known auction site. I've identified the airfield as Nivelles and the aircraft in the background is a Bristol F2b Fighter which equipped 11 Sqn as well as 5 other RAF squadrons that were stationed at Nivelles at the end of WW1. Clearly the chap could have belonged to any of those squadrons, hence my request for fresh eyes to look at this image and see if you think it's the same man as illustrated in the 2 photos above.

View attachment 639939


Any and all thoughts are welcome...I just don't want my optimism to cloud my judgement that I may have identified a name for another of the 11 Sqn personnel.

Hi, I believe that all three pictures are of the same man. The jaw, eyebrow slope and mouth are the same I think. What is confusing is the dirt on the original plate of the second photo which disrupts the line of the mouth and upper lip. Unfortunately WW1 pictures often suffer from these blemishes. This is just my opinion of course.

 

[buffnut453]

Hi, I believe that all three pictures are of the same man. The jaw, eyebrow slope and mouth are the same I think. What is confusing is the dirt on the original plate of the second photo which disrupts the line of the mouth and upper lip. Unfortunately WW1 pictures often suffer from these blemishes. This is just my opinion of course.

I'll take all the opinions I can get...I just want to be sure I'm not seeing what I want to see rather than what's really there. At this stage, gathering opinions is all I can do...unless a forum member has access to some snazzy software that can do facial comparisons.

If these aren't the same man, then they looked so similar that they might have been brothers.

I appreciate your inputs into my quest. My suspicion is that this is F/Sgt William Henry Hobbs, born 1886, who was a fitter on 11 Sqn in 1918-1919. His height is given as 5ft 10in which also tallies with the 2nd photo which shows him taller than his mates.