AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA No.3(N)Sqn RNAS / No.203 Sqn RAF Formed at Dunkerque in December 1916, Naval Three made use of ex-Naval Eight Sopwith Pups and pilots from No.3 Wing. From February until June they operated under RFC control, at the conclusion of which they reverted to RNAS control and shortly after acquired Camels. During October 1917 they returned to England for a rest and during this period painted their aircraft in colourful markings as can be seen in Pierce's striped Camel.The first 'Black Flight' was at Naval Three with their C Flight Pups carrying the Black prefix with Black Arrow, Black Bess and Black Tulip being noted as well as having black cowls. B Flight used red cowls - which can be seen to have varied in extent of coverage with either just the cowl, or cowl and flank panels being painted. The unit marking on their Camels was a white disc carried on the aft fuselage. During their RNAS days many wore the RNAS Eagle on the starboard side of the fuselage.Among the many 'names' serving in 3N/203 were Collishaw, Breadner, Little, Rochford, Beamish. Both Collishaw and Rochford wrote about their time at 3N/203, however I have yet to find a copy of Rochford's book, while my copy of Collishaw's book "Air Command" went missing during a continent wide lending party. |
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