A02177 Accession Number: A02177

Description

A posed photograph of a DH 5 Scout plane (Serial A 9242) of 68 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (renumbered as No 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps from 19 January 1918) Harlaxton Airdrome, Midlands, with 24 year old Cootamundra born Lieutenant Sydney Winton Ayers in the cockpit. Ayers was later shot down on 22 November 1917 over Bourlou Wood while ground strafing German troops and positions in support of the tank-assisted Cambrai attack - he died of his wounds two days later. The same month this image was taken, Ayers' brother, Private Charles Thomas Ayers of the 58th Battalion, was killed at Polygon Wood. The legend painted down the right side of the DH 5 scout indicates it was a presentation aircraft, paid for by subscriptions and fund-raising in Australia. This particular aircraft, 'New South Wales no 14' (also known as The Women's Battleplane) was presented on 12 April 1917 to 68 Squadron by 'the women of New South Wales and others', who raised £2,700. Notable amongst the subscribers were the Tweed and Armidale Battleplane Funds. Generally disliked by pilots for its lack of performance, vibration, and tendency to shed valves, the DH5 was being replaced by the SE5a by the end of 1917. See also C01858.

Details

People

• Lieutenant Sydney Winton Ayers

Conflicts

• First World War, 1914-1918

Places

• New South Wales

Units

• No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps

Tags and Groups

• de Havilland aircraft (WW1 period)
• Women
• A02%