Beaver, Willfred

Survived 1917-02-17

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born: Kingswood, Gloucestershire, England

John & Flora Beaver (separated 1911)

Home: Columbus, Mississippi, USA

Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment Date: 1914-08-07

Decorations: MC

Military Cross

Service

RAF

Unit

20 (FR) Sqn- Squadron (RFC)

Base

Rank

Captain

Position

Captain

Service Numbers

43060 CEF

In 1914 Wilfred enlisted in the 1st Canadian Heavy Battery of the CEF. He served in the Battery for 2 1/2 years, before transferring to the RFC on 1917-02-17. Since his parents were both British, the son was too, until his majority at 21 years. He enlisted in the RFC before this date. He was put on the Unemployed List 1919-04-03.Wilfred emigrated to the United States on 23 April, 1919. He lived in Greenville, Mississippi in 1920. He became a naturalized citizen on 21 September 1926. His 1930 residence was Jamestown, New York.

Bristol F.2 Fighter F.2A F.2B

Bristol F.2b Fighter serial D8096 (Source Wikipedia)
The Shuttleworth Collection's Bristol F.2B Fighter
BristolF2.jpg image not found

The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War developed by Frank Barnwell at the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter, other popular names include the "Brisfit" or "Biff".

Although the type was intended initially as a replacement for the pre-war Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c reconnaissance aircraft, the new Rolls-Royce Falcon V12 engine gave it the performance of a two-seat fighter.

Despite a disastrous start to its career, the definitive F.2B version proved to be a manoeuvrable aircraft that was able to hold its own against single-seat fighters; its robust design ensured that it remained in military service into the 1930s. Some surplus aircraft were registered for civilian use and civilian versions proved popular.

Perhaps one of the best known flying aces to use the type was Canadian Andrew Edward McKeever, and his regular observer L.F. Powell.[18] By the end of 1917 McKeever had accumulated 30 shoot-downs of enemy aircraft, while Powell had achieved eight aerial kills, while operating the Fighter. McKeever later became a flying instructor stationed in England before becoming the commanding officer of No. 1 Squadron of the newly formed Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), where he continued to use the Fighter as his personal aircraft, which was later transferred to CanadaWikipedia

YouTube Bristol F 2b Fighter

Wikipedia Wikipedia Bristol F 2b Fighter

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