Spence, Anthony George Allen

Survived 2025-03-10

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born: Toronto, Ontario

George Spence & Ellen Bertha Allen

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAF

Unit

201 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RNAS)

Base

Rank

Lieutenant

Position

Flt. sub-Lieutenant

Service Numbers

38557

Home
Google MapToronto, Ontario
First Burial
Google MapMount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario
After finishing university, Spence joined the Royal Naval Air Service in November 1916. Flt S-Lt Spence received Royal Aero Club Certificate 3826 on 1916-10-28. He finished his training in March, the following year. He was posted to 1(N) Sqn (later 201 Squadron) and by the end of October had claimed six victories. He was wounded on November 8. On recovery, he returned to the squadron which was now flying Camels. He claimed one further victory before the squadron become 201 Squadron, RAF on 1918-04-01. He finished his scoring on May 10 (9 victories), and was posted to Home Establishment where he spent the rest of the war at the School of Special Flying, Gosport. He was demobilized in February 1919.

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Sopwith Camel

By unknown RAF photographer - gallery link image link, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8473883
RAF_Sopwith_Camel.jpg image not found

The Sopwith Camel became the most successful British fighter of the First World War. The Sopwith F.1 and 2F.1 Camel first went into operations on the Western Front in 1917 and then served in virtually every theatre of Royal Flying Corps (RFC), Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and Royal Air Force (RAF) service. Several Canadian aces used the Camel as their mount. The Camel was very manoeuvrable, and it could be tricky to fly in the hands of a novice pilot. For experienced pilots, however, the aircraft proved to be a superb fighter.

The Camel's machine-guns were mounted on the forward fuselage with their breeches enclosed in a faired metal cowling "hump" that gave the Camel its name. Several Camels were also shipped to Canada in the post-war period as part of an Imperial gift. Three registered Sopwith F.1 Camels entered service with the RCAF at Camp Borden in 1924. The following year, the RCAF purchased seven additional aircraft to provide further spares for the active aircraft. These latter aircraft were in fact 2F.1 models that had been "navalized" variants. Used primarily by wartime experienced fighter pilots for refresher training, the Camels lasted another five years before finally being scrapped.Wikipedia

YouTube Sopwith Camel

Wikipedia Wikipedia Sopwith Camel

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrel Publications Sopwith Camel - Kestrel Publications