AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

R.A.F. SE5a


The USAS initially purchased 38 SE5as in October 1918, and eventually acquired 264 of them. The 25th AS was the sole squadron in the AEF to be equipped with the SE5a, and only managed two flights over the lines before the Armistice. In 1922/23, 50 were built by the Eberhard Steel Company from spare parts as trainers and given the designation SE-5E.

As used by the 25th AS, the finish was similar to that of the RAF SE5a, with PC10 upperworks (and possibly underside of the fuselage), CDL lower surfaces. USAS roundels and rudder stripes wer carried.

Postwar, USAS roundels and then US stars and horizontal rudder stripes were carried.

The type survived until 1927 as a trainer.


 

 

 


RAF SE5a F.8038
1/Lt Guy Baldwin

Source: OTF 3/2

RAF SE5a F.8015


Source: The SE5 File

RAF SE5a F.8030


Source: Ethell/Simonsen
History of Aircraft Nose Art