AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

No.56 Sqn RFC/RAF


The first squadron to use the superlative SE5/5a was No.56 Sqn. They arrived in France in April 1917 and were possibly the closest thing the RFC/RAF had to a 'Star' unit.
The best account of their WW1 activities is to be found in the FMP book High in the Empty Blue by Alex Revell . I would recommend this volume to anyone wanting to learn more about this famous squadron. Recommended reading on individual pilots include Five Years in the RFC (McCudden's autobiography); Brief Glory - APF Rhys-Davids (Revell).

 


RAF SE5 A4855
Lt Cecil A Lewis
April 1917
Source: SE5a In Action


RAF SE5 A8920
Lt Dickson
June 1917
Source: via L A Rogers

 

 


RAF SE5 A4563
Lt APF Rhys-Davids
July 1917
Source: Revell - HITEB

RAF SE5a B514
Lt Richard Leighton
August 1917
Source: Revell - HITEB


RAF SE5a

August/September 1917
Source: Revell - HITEB

 

 


RAF SE5a A4862
Captain JTB McCudden
Late 1917
Source: FMP VC Book Research

RAF SE5a C5303
Lt Franklin
Winter 1917/18
Source: SE5a In Action


RAF SE5a B4891
Captain JTB McCudden
December 1917
Source:

 


RAF SE5a B502
Captain Gerald Maxwell
December 1917
Source:

RAF SE5a B4891
Captain JTB McCudden
Early 1918
Source: Aces & Aeroplanes #3

RAF SE5a B595
Lt Maurice E Mealing
March 1918
Source: SE5a in Action

RAF SE5a B35
Various Pilots
Spring 1918
Source: Revell - HITEB