Grange, Edward Rochfort

Survived 1917-01-04

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born: Lansing, Michigan, USA; to British parents

Edward A. A. Grange & Bessie Kile Webster

Home: Preston, Ontario

Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment Date: 1915-09-22

Decorations: DSC, CDGF

Croix de Guerre France Distinguished Service Cross

Service

RNAS

Unit

8 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RNAS)

Base

Rank

Captain

Position

Flt. Lieutenant

Service Numbers

37530

Home
Google MapPreston, Ontario
First Burial
Google MapWoodlawn Memorial Park, Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario
He was posted to 1 Wing, RNAS in February, 1916. In October, 1917 he was transferred to 8(N) Sqn. He scored four victories in 3 days in January 1917, bringing his total to five and was awarded the DSC. On January 7, after shooting down the 4th enemy aircraft he was shot in the right elbow, but managed to land successfully on the allied side of the lines. He spent time in hospital recovering and was transferred to Home Establishment to 42TS at Eastbourne as an instructor. By the end of the year he had trained over 300 men.

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Pup N5194

Male Head

Captain Grange, Edward Rochfort (RNAS)
pilot
Survived
1917-January-04
cemetery unknown

Sopwith Pup

Source Kestrel Publications.
60fec0c1afd8a0c4ed40178f_Sopwith-Pup-RNAS.jpeg image not found

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