In the last TIGHAR
Tracks (“Correction – Maybe,” Vol. 11 No. 4) we
acknowledged the possibility that our statement in the previous TIGHAR
Tracks (“Aviation
In American History: A Preservation Perspective,” Vol. 11 No. 3)
that “No American-designed aircraft saw action in World War One” may
have been in error. The question hinged on the word “action” and
we wondered, specifically, if any of the Curtiss flying boats used by
the Royal Naval Air Service ever fired shots in anger or were ever on
the receiving end of same. Our mailbox was soon blessed with letters
and documentation not only from our original critic, Robert Taylor of
the Antique Airplane Association, but also from the National Museum of
Naval Aviation, and TIGHAR members Francis G. Cain, Jr. (#1961) and Robert
E. Gillespie (#0009).
No question about it.
We were wrong. As penance we offer Mr. Cain’s letter:
TIGHAR! TIGHAR! burning
bright, hope that this will make it right! The following from The Sky
Their Battlefield, compiled by Trevor Henshaw, lists the combat record
of Curtiss planes in WWI.
- RNAS Curtiss H12 #8677
shot Zeppelin L.43 down in flames off Vlieland on 14 June, 1917.
- RNAS Curtiss H12 #8693
on sub patrol. Engines failed, forced to land on water, rescued by Dutch
and interned (plane burned by crew). 24 October 1917.
- RNAS Curtiss H12 #8677
in combat with 7 enemy planes over North Hinder; was shot down and crew
killed (3 Brits and 1 American) 24 April 1917.
- RNAS Curtiss H12 #8660
on recon. Had engine trouble, landed on sea. Was then shot up by 3 enemy
seaplanes. Part of crew, including 1 American, killed, others captured.
30 May 1918.
- RNAS Curtiss H12 #8689
on Zeppelin patrol. Was shot down and crew, including 1 American, interned
in Holland. 4 June 1918.
- RNAS Curtiss H12B
#N4345 was in combat with 4 enemy seaplanes and was shot down. 6 June,
1918.
- RNAS Curtiss F (civilian,
was requisitioned by Brits in Africa, and its pilot commissioned in the
RNAS). Found the German cruiser Künigsberg in November 1914. Engine
trouble, forced to land, pilot captured 10 December 1915.
- Re H-16s sent to Brits:
Peter Bower notes in Curtiss Aircraft 1907 - 1947 that 60 (RAF serials
N4890 through N4949), not 69, were delivered with no engines, and that
345 hp Rolls-Royce Eagles were installed in them in the U.K.
Sincerely,
Francis G. Cain, Jr.,
TIGHAR #1961.
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