Kerby, Harold Spencer

Survived 0001-01-01

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born: Hamilton, Wentworth County, Ontario

Rev. George William. Kirby & Emily Spencer

Home: London, England

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Decorations: CB, DSO, AFC, LoM(USA)

Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order

Service

RAF

Unit

3 (F) Wing- Wing (RNAS)

Base

France

Rank

Air Vice Marshall, RCAF

Position

Flt. sub-Lieutenant, RAF

Service Numbers

First Burial
Google Mapnot found
Kerby was wounded at Gallipoli, and transferred to the RNAS in February 1915. Flt Sub-Lt Kerby received RAeC cert. 1214 at the Grahame-White School, Hendon on 1915-05-05. He was posted to Naval 3 in the Dardanelles on 1915-06-12 and was wounded on 1915-11-26. Flying the Sopwith Pup, Kerby scored nine victories during 1917. While serving at Walmer Air Station, he scored his last two victories in August 1917, shooting down two Gotha bombers. Kerby remained in the Royal Air Force after the war ended and served in India from 1923 to 1927. He was then attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force for two years and later commanded a squadron in Britain and was air attache at Shanghai for two years. Promoted to Air Vice Marshal, he assumed command of the Royal Air Force in East Africa in 1943. He retired from the R.A.F. in 1946.

Sopwith Pup

Source Kestrel Publications.
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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