AIR BOARD
TECHNICAL NOTES (1917)
Two Volumes:
Engine Notes & Rigging Notes
AIR BOARD / ROYAL FLYING CORPS, London, 1917
A rare 1917 two volume set of Royal Flying Corps manuals, Air Board Technical Notes: Engine Notes (August 1917) and Air Board Technical Notes: Rigging Notes (October 1917), issued to ‘B’ Flight, 49 Squadron Royal Flying Corps.
Engine Notes: Covers the aero engines in use with the RFC in 1917. It was intended for use by officers, N.C.O.s and men undergoing training, and by mechanics and technicians in the day to day operation and maintenance of military aero engines. The manual has ‘B 49’ written in ink on the front cover - presumably ‘B’ Flight of No. 49 Squadron RFC who were operational on the Western Front in late 1917.
The manual features details of the design, assembly and operation of the engines fitted to RFC and RNAS aircraft during 1917, including the 110 h.p. Clerget, 120 h.p. Beardmore, 80 h.p. Gnome, 90 h.p. R.A.F., 80 h.p. Le Rhone, and 100 h.p. Monosoupape. These engines were used in many of the RFC’s iconic aircraft, including the Sopwith Camel, Avro 504, Sopwith Pup, BE2c, and Airco DH6. The manual is illustrated with numerous photographs and detailed diagrams, and includes engine running notes and fault-finding tables.
Rigging Notes: Well illustrated throughout with numerous diagrams, technical drawings and photographs, with technical, rigging and maintenance instructions for eleven R.F.C./R.N.A.S. aircraft. The aircraft included are: Spad Biplane (Type S. VII), Bristol Fighter F2B, D.H.4., D.H.5., D.H.6., Sopwith F1 ‘Camel', Sopwith Strutter, Maurice Farman Shorthorn, Nieuport Scout, Sopwith Dolphin and S.E.5.A.
The manual includes several pages of information for each aircraft, most of which are accompanied by diagrams and photographs. Several of the R.F.C.'s most iconic aircraft - including the Sopwith Camel, Nieuport Scout and Bristol Fighter - are represented in this important WW1 aviation manual. The manual has ‘B 49’ written in ink on the front cover - presumably ‘B’ Flight of No. 49 Squadron RFC who were operational on the Western Front, flying the D.H.4, in late 1917.
49 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps: was formed at Dover on 15 April 1916 under the command of Major A. S. Barratt MC, initially as an aircrew training unit equipped with BE2Cs and RE7s. In November 1917 the squadron was re-equipped with D.H.4s and moved to La Bellevue aerodrome in France. Here the squadron was employed in the day bomber role as part of the 3rd (Army) Wing. Its first raid was made on 26 November 1917, when 8 D.H.4's were sent to bomb Rieux, a railhead near Cambrai. Four aircraft bombed the primary target, and three bombed Sailly instead. They were secorted by 14 S.E.5’s, but no opposition was encountered. Three days later the squadron ran into the Richthofen Circus and during the fight one aircraft was lost. The squadron flew counter-battery photography missions in January 1918, with formations of seven machines being sent over the enemy lines; three carrying cameras and the others acting as escorts. On 25 March 49 Squadron moved to a new landing ground at Les Eauvis. In April they re-equipped with D.H.9's and continued high and low level bombing until the end of the war, taking part in the 2nd Battle of Cambrai in October, attacking enemy supply and communications centres. After the Armistice the squadron moved to Bickendorf as part of the Army of Occupation and disbanded there on 18 July 1919. 49 Squadron destroyed 56 enemy aircraft drove down another 63 out of control, dropped a total of 120 tons of bombs and operated from 10 airfields in France during the 1914-18 War.
(Further details of 49 Squadron RFC can be found at the Imperial War Museum website, including a photograph of ‘B’ Flight in front of one of their D.H.9 bombers - https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205317718).
Condition:
Both volumes are In very good condition. The card covers are in good condition, with some marks, and wear to the edges. The original metal clip bindings are good and secure. The text and illustrations are in very good condition, with a few marks. Both volumes have ‘B 49’ written in ink on the front covers.
Published: 1917
2 Volumes, Illustrated with plates, line drawings and diagrams
Khaki R.F.C. / Air Board card binders
Dimensions: 145mm x 195mm
Pages: Engine Notes: 125, Rigging Notes: 120
