George, Thomas William

Killed in Flying Accident 1917-10-18

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born: Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland

William Cromar George OBE & Mary Ann Allingham

Home: Lellerewe, Invergordon, Scotland (Parents)

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RFC

Unit

40 (OT) TS- Training Squadron (RFC)

Base

Gosport England

Rank

Second-Lieutenant

Position

Second-Lieutenant

Service Numbers

1917-10-18: George was critically injured on this date when his Sopwith Pup broke up in the air and nose-dived to the ground. He was taken to Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, where he later died.

Sopwith Pup

Source Kestrel Publications.

The Sopwith Pup quickly became a favourite with pilots of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). It was superior to the Fokker D.III and more than a match for any of the new Halberstadt and Albatros scouts.

Armed with a single synchronous machine gun, it was lighter and less dangerous than its successor, the Sopwith Camel. Although underpowered, pilots liked the plane because it was maneuverable and fast. It could climb and hold its altitude better than any other fighter. In August 1917, the Sopwith Pup was the first aircraft to land aboard a moving ship, the Royal Navy's H.M.S. Furious. Canadian crews saw service withSopwith Pups while attached to the Royal Naval Air Service.

At least three Sopwith Pups were also allocated to No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron of the Canadian Air Force (CAF) at Shoreham-by-the-Sea in the UK in 1918 likely as proficiency trainers. No. 1 (CAF) Squadron had Sopwith Dolphin and Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a's on strength as the primary fighter aircraft. Kestrel Publications

I have looked up the booklet that is all I have on the Sopwith Pup. There is a brief list of the serial numbers, And all I can tell is that B5333 and B5348 were built at Whitehead Aircraft, Richmond as part of the series B5251-B5400. None of the serials B4158, B4148, B4338 that you asked about seem to be valid according to the list that I have here (no serials from any of the producing factories begin with B4).

Kestrel Publications Sopwith Pup Details - Kestrel Publications