Short S.38

The Short S.38 was an early British reconnaissance aircraft developed by Short Brothers before the First World War.

 

Development and design:

Already in May 1910 the constructor Horace Short began with the development of the Short S.27, which was very strongly oriented to the Farman III. Some of these aircrafts were used by the Royal Naval Air Service to be used as reconnaissance planes on their ships.

During one of these missions there was an accident on the HMS London on 9 July 1912 and the aircraft was severely damaged. After salvage it was handed over to the company, which completely rebuilt it and made some modifications and changes.

The final aircraft was named Short S.38 after its completion and was flown for the first time on 30 August 1912.

The basic construction remained as with the Short S.27 a thrust biplane with unequal wingspan. However, the wingspan of the S.38 was increased and the nacelle was adapted so that crew members, pilots and observers could fly there. Also the stern was revised, whereby the tail unit was enlarged and two rudders were inserted.

After acceptance by the Royal Naval Air Service, 9 aircraft of this type were initially built, delivered and used for pilot training.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use in the First World War:

When the First World War broke out in Europe, the 9 Short S.38 were located in Eastchurch and were used by the Royal Naval Air Service for training. Since the leadership of the pressure propeller airplanes was altogether very content, this ordered 1915 further airplanes around the high training need to be able to cover.

Since the company Short Brothers was already busy with the production of other aircraft at this time, the order was outsourced to other companies. Pemberton-Billing built 12 and White and Thompson 24 Short S.38 aircraft under licence.

In the year 1916 these were delivered then bit by bit and remained until 1917 in the service and for the training of pilots.

 

 

 

Technical data:

Designation:	Short S.38
Country:	Great Britain
Type:	Coastal patrol, Training aircraft
Length:	10,82 meters
Span:	16 meters
Height:	unknown
Weight:	499 kg empty
Crew:	Max. 2
Engine:	A Gnôme rotation motor with 80 HP
Maximum speed:	93 km/h
Range:	Max. 467 kilometres
Arming:	none

 

 

 

 

 

You can find the right literature here:

 

The First Air War, 1914-1918

In this concise study, Kennett tells the complete story of World War I's air battles, from Eastern to Western front, from the skies of Europe and its seas to those of the Middle East and Africa.

Click here!

 

 

Aircraft of World War I 1914-1918 (Essential Identification Guide)

Illustrated with detailed artworks of combat aircraft and their markings, Aircraft of World War I: The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide is a comprehensive study of the aircraft that fought in the Great War of 1914–18. Arranged chronologically by theatre of war and campaign, this book offers a complete organizational breakdown of the units on all the fronts, including the Eastern and Italian Fronts. Each campaign includes a compact history of the role and impact of aircraft on the course of the conflict, as well as orders of battle, lists of commanders and campaign aces such as Manfred von Richtofen, Eddie Rickenbacker, Albert Ball and many more. Every type of aircraft is featured, including the numerous variations and types of well- known models, such as the Fokker Dr.I, the Sopwith Camel and the SPAD SVII, through to lesser-known aircraft, such as the Rumpler C.1, and the Amstrong Whitworth FK8. Each aircraft profile is accompanied by exhaustive specifications, as well as details of individual and unit markings. Packed with more than 200 color profiles of every major type of combat aircraft from the era, Aircraft of World War I 1914–1918 is an essential reference guide for modellers, military historians and aircraft enthusiasts.

Click here!

 

 

World War One Aircraft Carrier Pioneer: The Story and Diaries of Captain JM McCleery RNAS/RAF

Jack McCleery was born in Belfast in 1898, the son of a mill owning family. He joined the RNAS in 1916 as a Probationary Flight Officer. During the next ten months he completed his training at Crystal Palace, Eastchurch, Cranwell, Frieston, Calshot and Isle of Grain, flying more than a dozen landplanes, seaplanes and flying boats, gaining his wings as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant. In July 1917 he was posted to the newly commissioning aircraft carrier HMS Furious, which would be based at Scapa Flow and Rosyth. He served in this ship until February 1919, flying Short 184 seaplanes and then Sopwith 1½ Strutters off the deck. He also flew a large number of other types during this time from shore stations at Turnhouse, East Fortune and Donibristle.

He served with important and well-known naval airmen including Dunning, Rutland (of Jutland) and Bell Davies VC. He witnessed Dunning’s first successful landing on a carrier flying a Sopwith Pup in 1917 and his tragic death a few days later. He also witnessed the Tondern raid in 1918, the world’s first carrier strike mission. He took part in more than a dozen sweeps into the North Sea by elements of the Grand Fleet and Battle Cruiser Fleet. He carried out reconnaissance missions off the coast of Denmark, landing in the sea to be picked up by waiting destroyers. He witnessed the surrender of the High Seas Fleet. Promoted to Captain, he acted as temporary CO of F Squadron for a time postwar.

Click here!

 

 

A World War 1 Adventure: The Life and Times of RNAS Bomber Pilot Donald E. Harkness

A deeply personal and revealing eyewitness narrative of one airman's life as a bomber pilot in England 's RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) in WWI. It is a true story, an adventure, and a war memoir carefully constructed from Captain Donald E. Harkness's unpublished diaries, letters, sketches and photographs - only recently uncovered nearly a century later - that documented his remarkable experiences and military adventures over England, France and Belgium. The first book written by a highly decorated WWI flyer from New Zealand that captures the "behind the scenes" life of RNAS pilots, as well as the surprises, terrors, traumas, humor, and sheer excitement of an aerial form of combat never before experienced by anyone, anywhere - and only eleven short years after the Wright Brothers historic flight at Kitty Hawk. With a talent for writing, Don begins an epic journey at a major turning point in history when the world is poised at the dawn of flight, and bracing itself for unknown dangers of unprecedented sophistication and savagery. Don's journal reveals unique insights and vivid imagery of another time and experience, to wit: - the terror and devastation of a Zeppelin bombing raid in London - the training regimen of early flying schools, and their serious & comic episodes - the wonder, awe, and poetry of flying aloft in the majestic heavens - vivid bombing raids, plus the raid that earned him the DSC - his crash-landing and capture - working with the underground to help downed pilots evade capture - London's unrestrained exuberance on Armistice Day; . . . and much, much more.

Click here!

 

 

 

 

 

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