AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

Royal Aircraft Factory FE8


Although it has often been called a copy of the similar appearing DH2, the design of the FE8 began before the first DH2 was test flown. Basically a decent enough aircraft, the FE8 suffered by arriving in France over a year later than the DH2 and consequently encountering the next generation of German fighters. The armament was initially to have been a Lewis gun mounted in the extreme lower nose where it would be inaccessable to the pilot in flight, this was later changed to above the forward nacelle on a DH mount

The first FE8 in France was the second prototype 7457 which went on test to No.5 Sqn in January 1916, this was followed by a half dozen to No.29 Sqn in May/June 1916. The only two squadrons to be fully equipped with the FE8 were No.40 Sqn which arrived in France in August 1916 and No.41 which did so in October 1916. By August 1917, the type was withdrawn from operational service with both Sqns by now operating the DH5

There were two basic finishes to the FE8, a battleship gray nacelle, and often u/c, and cabane struts, while the other had a PC10 nacelle. Both had PC10/CDL fabric surfaces. As the nacelle was metal, the undersurface of it could be gray, PC10 or occasionally white. Roundels were intially on the mainplanes only and they did not extend into the full span ailerons, the roundels were later enlarged to full chord width. Flight numbers were usually on the top centre section and frequently on the underside as well witht he wheel covers in flihght colours as well

Datafile No.74 is devoted to the FE8.



 

 

 

 


RAF FE8 7457
-
-
December 1915
Source: Datafile No.74


RAF FE8 7457
-
No.5 Sqn RFC
Early 1916
Source: Datafile No.74

 


RAF FE8 6388
2/Lt J Hay
No.40 Sqn RFC
Winter 1916/17
Source: Datafile No.74

RAF FE8 6397
2/Lt WB Hills
No.40 Sqn RFC
March 1917
Source: Datafile No.74


RAF FE8
C Flight
No.40 Sqn RFC
-
Source: Datafile No.74

 

 


RAF FE8
A Flight
No.41 Sqn RFC
Early 1917
Source: Datafile No.74

RAF FE8 7616
Lt Stephen Kennedy
No.41 Sqn RFC
January 1917
Source: Windsock 3/3

RAF FE8
C Flight
No.41 Sqn RFC
ca. mid 1917
Source: Datafile No.74