Aircraft Losses
Sopwith seaplane
Daily Record -- Thursday 04 September 1913
SEAPLANE WRECKED
MISHAP IN STRONG WIND AT CROMARTY
A Sopwith seaplane, belonging to the local naval air station, was smashed at Cromarty yesterday afternoon.
The three seaplanes comprising the squadron at Cromarty, a Maurice Farman, a Sopwith, and a Bourell, have accomplished fine flights during the pat two months.
Yesterday afternoon they all flew together, piloted respectively by Lieutenants Ross, Oliver and Longmore, out through the Sutors, to meet the cruiser Hermes, the parent ship of the Flying Squadrons.
A strong wind was blowing, and there was a rough, choppy sea. When just outside Cromarty Firth they were met by a seaplane from the Hermes. The four machines, flying about 1500 feet high, thereupon made for Cromarty, flying over and around the First Battle Cruiser Squadron at anchor.
The four machines planed down, and with the exception of the Sopwith, landed on the choppy surface safely, but had to proceed a long distance to the station on the links, where they were hauled ashore. The Sopwith, in the teeth of a freshening, cold wind, landed at an acute angle, buckling the floats and crumbling up the wings, and the machine lay on the surface like a bird with a broken wing.
Assistance was quickly rendered by the naval pinnaces and the Air Station motor boat. Neither the pilot nor the passenger was injured, though each was severely shaken. The machine was towed to the station in a wrecked condition.
SEAPLANE WRECKED
MISHAP IN STRONG WIND AT CROMARTY
A Sopwith seaplane, belonging to the local naval air station, was smashed at Cromarty yesterday afternoon.
The three seaplanes comprising the squadron at Cromarty, a Maurice Farman, a Sopwith, and a Bourell, have accomplished fine flights during the pat two months.
Yesterday afternoon they all flew together, piloted respectively by Lieutenants Ross, Oliver and Longmore, out through the Sutors, to meet the cruiser Hermes, the parent ship of the Flying Squadrons.
A strong wind was blowing, and there was a rough, choppy sea. When just outside Cromarty Firth they were met by a seaplane from the Hermes. The four machines, flying about 1500 feet high, thereupon made for Cromarty, flying over and around the First Battle Cruiser Squadron at anchor.
The four machines planed down, and with the exception of the Sopwith, landed on the choppy surface safely, but had to proceed a long distance to the station on the links, where they were hauled ashore. The Sopwith, in the teeth of a freshening, cold wind, landed at an acute angle, buckling the floats and crumbling up the wings, and the machine lay on the surface like a bird with a broken wing.
Assistance was quickly rendered by the naval pinnaces and the Air Station motor boat. Neither the pilot nor the passenger was injured, though each was severely shaken. The machine was towed to the station in a wrecked condition.
Northern Whig - Friday 05 September 1913
WATERPLANE WRECKED.
A Sopwith seaplane belonging to the local naval air station was destroyed on Wednesday at Cromarty}'. The three seaplanes comprising the squadron Cromarty are a Maurice Farman, Sopwith. and Bourdl. They liave accomplished tine flights during the past two months. On Wednesday utter noon they all fiew together, piloted respectively by Lieutenants Ross, Oliver, and Longmore, out through the Sutors, to meet the cruiser Hermes, the parent ship. After flying over and around the first battle cruiser squadron anchor, the machines planed down, and, with the exception of the Sopwith, landed oo tbe choppy surface safely, and were afterwards hauled ashore. Tbe Sopwitb in the teeth freshening wind, landed at an acute angle with buckled floats and rrumpled-up wings. Assistance was promptly rendered by the naval pinnaces and the air-station motor beat Neither pilot nor passenger was injured, though they were severely shaken. The machine was towed to the station a complete wreck.
WATERPLANE WRECKED.
A Sopwith seaplane belonging to the local naval air station was destroyed on Wednesday at Cromarty}'. The three seaplanes comprising the squadron Cromarty are a Maurice Farman, Sopwith. and Bourdl. They liave accomplished tine flights during the past two months. On Wednesday utter noon they all fiew together, piloted respectively by Lieutenants Ross, Oliver, and Longmore, out through the Sutors, to meet the cruiser Hermes, the parent ship. After flying over and around the first battle cruiser squadron anchor, the machines planed down, and, with the exception of the Sopwith, landed oo tbe choppy surface safely, and were afterwards hauled ashore. Tbe Sopwitb in the teeth freshening wind, landed at an acute angle with buckled floats and rrumpled-up wings. Assistance was promptly rendered by the naval pinnaces and the air-station motor beat Neither pilot nor passenger was injured, though they were severely shaken. The machine was towed to the station a complete wreck.
Pall Mall Gazette - Thursday 04 September 1913
SEAPLANE WRECKED.
Lieutenants' Narrow Escape.
At Cromarty to-day a fatal aviation accident was narrowly averted by the pilot’s presence of mind. A waterplane from the cruiser Hermes was flying in the Firth over the battle cruisers Lion and Princess Royal, piloted by Lieutenant Bowhill and mechanic, and when well over a hundred feet high something went wrong. Immediately the machine dropped her nose and plunged sea Wards, but when within 40ft. of the water the pilot managed to right the waterplane, which alighted the floats. It-however, turned turtle, but the pilot and mechanie escaped Injury. Naval boats rushed to the rescue, and the waterplane was brought-back alongside the Hermes.
SEAPLANE WRECKED.
Lieutenants' Narrow Escape.
At Cromarty to-day a fatal aviation accident was narrowly averted by the pilot’s presence of mind. A waterplane from the cruiser Hermes was flying in the Firth over the battle cruisers Lion and Princess Royal, piloted by Lieutenant Bowhill and mechanic, and when well over a hundred feet high something went wrong. Immediately the machine dropped her nose and plunged sea Wards, but when within 40ft. of the water the pilot managed to right the waterplane, which alighted the floats. It-however, turned turtle, but the pilot and mechanie escaped Injury. Naval boats rushed to the rescue, and the waterplane was brought-back alongside the Hermes.
Newcastle Journal - Friday 05 September 1913
WATERPLANE WRECKED. SECOND ACCIDENT AT CROMARTY IN TWO DAYS.
A Short seaplane was completely wrecked Cromarty yesterday. When a height over 100 feet, the connecting rudder broke, and the machine plunged seawards with the tail in the air. but the pilot. Lieutenant Bowhill. just managed to right the machine when 40 feet from the water. The pilot and the mechanic were uninjured, but the machine turned turtle, and smashed. This is the second waterplane belonging to the Army Flying Corps which has been wrecked at Cromarty in two days.
Farman biplane
Dundee Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 08 October 1913
AIRMEN IN PERIL AT CROMARTY. Another seaplane accident occurred at Cromarty, luckily without loss of life. The weather wa« perfect, with bright sunshine, and the sea was like polished glass. Lieut. Oliver was pilot of the machine, and, accompanied by Mechanic Glyde, ascended in a Farman biplane with a Renaud engine. It was the same machine which ascended on Monday feet with Churchill and Lieut. Longmore. Having reached a height of feet, Lieut. Oliver started to plane seawards. He struck the surface on the starboard float, which was wrenched off. The machine swung round, and then plunged with great force under the water. Pinnaces from the Monarch, the Enchantress, and the air station were quickly on the scene of the accident, about a milo to the north of Cromarty Aerodrome. Mr Churchill was on the Enchantress launch. He found Oliver and Glyde severely shaken, the former having been completely immersed and entangled among the wires and wreckage, from which extricated himself with difficulty, Glyde, less fortunate, waft struck the forehead with a spar and stunned. was also immersed, and swam about half stupefied, in the water for five minutes. Mr Churchill's first inquiry was whether ha was hurt. It was thought at first that the engine had sunk, and the spot was buoyed. Oliver and Glyde were taken ashore, changed clothing, and assisted the salvage, which Lieut. Longmore superintended. The machine was completely wrecked, having smashed planes and floats, but was salvaged with difficulty. Mr Churchill was present during the operation. H<j was to have ascended in the same machine.
AIRMEN IN PERIL AT CROMARTY. Another seaplane accident occurred at Cromarty, luckily without loss of life. The weather wa« perfect, with bright sunshine, and the sea was like polished glass. Lieut. Oliver was pilot of the machine, and, accompanied by Mechanic Glyde, ascended in a Farman biplane with a Renaud engine. It was the same machine which ascended on Monday feet with Churchill and Lieut. Longmore. Having reached a height of feet, Lieut. Oliver started to plane seawards. He struck the surface on the starboard float, which was wrenched off. The machine swung round, and then plunged with great force under the water. Pinnaces from the Monarch, the Enchantress, and the air station were quickly on the scene of the accident, about a milo to the north of Cromarty Aerodrome. Mr Churchill was on the Enchantress launch. He found Oliver and Glyde severely shaken, the former having been completely immersed and entangled among the wires and wreckage, from which extricated himself with difficulty, Glyde, less fortunate, waft struck the forehead with a spar and stunned. was also immersed, and swam about half stupefied, in the water for five minutes. Mr Churchill's first inquiry was whether ha was hurt. It was thought at first that the engine had sunk, and the spot was buoyed. Oliver and Glyde were taken ashore, changed clothing, and assisted the salvage, which Lieut. Longmore superintended. The machine was completely wrecked, having smashed planes and floats, but was salvaged with difficulty. Mr Churchill was present during the operation. H<j was to have ascended in the same machine.
