Airship SSP 2
The SSP Airships 26/11/1917
The SSP ( Submarine Scout Pusher) airship was developed in early 1917 following the success of the Maurice Farman type using a re designed car with a rear mounted 75hp Rolls Royce engine giving a top speed of 52 mph. These engines were later changed for 100hp Green engines. The Car was rectangular, 25 foot long with a rounded nose and took a crew of three and on the bottom was a single landing skid. The 143.5 foot long envelope of the airship had a capacity of 70,000 cubic feet. Only six SSP airships were ever built.
Airship SSP 2
Airship SSP 2 left Caldale for operations to the north of the Orkney Islands at 08.50 on the morning of 26th November 1917. The weather on the day was considered favourable.
On board were:
Pilot Ft Lt Edward Bourchier Devereux
Engineer AM 1 Albert Edwin Scott
W/T LM (W/T) Edgar James Wilson.
By 10.00 the winds had freshened and the Airship, which was 17 miles NNW of the base sent a radio message saying she was intending to return to base and giving an ETA of 10.30. Ft Lt Devereux brought SSP 2 down to 200 feet hoping to find lighter winds. Things appear to be going ok with regular messages being sent back to base, one at 10.30 giving a new ETA of 11.30 and an update saying wind had increased to 30 knots. At 11.20 the SSP 2 reported engine failure and was going to make a free balloon landing in the sea to the NE of Papa Westray and requested assistance.
HMS Leopard and several drifters were patrolling in the area and at 11.40 a lookout on HMS Leopard reports seeing an Airship land on the sea then explode. Despite a search which went well on into the evening nothing of the crew or airship was found.
An enquiry found:
'' No satisfactory explanation can be given for the failure of the engine, as it was running perfectly when the airship left the ground. There was seven hours petrol at full speed on board. I consider that the envelope burst due to an excessive strain being brought on it by the suspensions, when the car hit the water. The envelope then probably collapsed on the car jamming the crew in their seats, and the whole ship sinking almost immediately.''
© Aviation Research Group Orkney & Shetland.
On board were:
Pilot Ft Lt Edward Bourchier Devereux
Engineer AM 1 Albert Edwin Scott
W/T LM (W/T) Edgar James Wilson.
By 10.00 the winds had freshened and the Airship, which was 17 miles NNW of the base sent a radio message saying she was intending to return to base and giving an ETA of 10.30. Ft Lt Devereux brought SSP 2 down to 200 feet hoping to find lighter winds. Things appear to be going ok with regular messages being sent back to base, one at 10.30 giving a new ETA of 11.30 and an update saying wind had increased to 30 knots. At 11.20 the SSP 2 reported engine failure and was going to make a free balloon landing in the sea to the NE of Papa Westray and requested assistance.
HMS Leopard and several drifters were patrolling in the area and at 11.40 a lookout on HMS Leopard reports seeing an Airship land on the sea then explode. Despite a search which went well on into the evening nothing of the crew or airship was found.
An enquiry found:
'' No satisfactory explanation can be given for the failure of the engine, as it was running perfectly when the airship left the ground. There was seven hours petrol at full speed on board. I consider that the envelope burst due to an excessive strain being brought on it by the suspensions, when the car hit the water. The envelope then probably collapsed on the car jamming the crew in their seats, and the whole ship sinking almost immediately.''
© Aviation Research Group Orkney & Shetland.
Orkney Islands - northern sheet (1915) (UKHO)
Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Monday 03 December 1917
KILLED. . Flight Lieut (Act-Lieut. R.N.) E. B. DEVEREUX, R.N.
KILLED. . Flight Lieut (Act-Lieut. R.N.) E. B. DEVEREUX, R.N.
Cambridge Daily News - Wednesday 05 December 1917
GREAT SHELFORD. LIEUT E. B, DEVEREUX.—Mr. and Mrs. W de L Devereux, of Great Shelford, have received official intimation that their eldest surviving son, flight-Lieut. Edward Bourchier, R.N.A.S.. lost his life sea on November 26th while engaged in patrol duty. Flight-Lieut. Devereux was 22 years of age- He was educated at Victoria College Jersey, and proceeded to Osbourne and Dartmouth Colleges. He served in the Navy, H.M. ships Warrior & dAgincourt. being present at the Battle of Jutland. In January last volunteered for the Royal Naval Air Service.-Mr. Devereux's eldest son. Lieut. Humphrey Williams Devereux. of the Staffordshire Regt.. was killed in action in June of last year, and his youngest son is on active service the East.
GREAT SHELFORD. LIEUT E. B, DEVEREUX.—Mr. and Mrs. W de L Devereux, of Great Shelford, have received official intimation that their eldest surviving son, flight-Lieut. Edward Bourchier, R.N.A.S.. lost his life sea on November 26th while engaged in patrol duty. Flight-Lieut. Devereux was 22 years of age- He was educated at Victoria College Jersey, and proceeded to Osbourne and Dartmouth Colleges. He served in the Navy, H.M. ships Warrior & dAgincourt. being present at the Battle of Jutland. In January last volunteered for the Royal Naval Air Service.-Mr. Devereux's eldest son. Lieut. Humphrey Williams Devereux. of the Staffordshire Regt.. was killed in action in June of last year, and his youngest son is on active service the East.
The Scotsman - Thursday 06 December 1917
ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE . KILLED (ACCIDENTALLY.) -Scott ,A.E., Air Mech 1 st Gr . ; Wilson, E.J ., Ldg .Mech .
ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE . KILLED (ACCIDENTALLY.) -Scott ,A.E., Air Mech 1 st Gr . ; Wilson, E.J ., Ldg .Mech .
CREW (Research on the crew is ongoing)
Ft Lt Edward Bourchier Devereux
Pilot Ft Lt Edward Bourchier Devereux
AM 1 Albert Edwin Scott
Engineer AM 1 Albert Edwin Scott
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W/T LM (W/T) Edgar James Wilson.
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