Australia had a significant presence in the WWI air War, both in the Middle East and in Europe as the only Commonwealth Nation to participate with its own Air Arm, the Australian Flying Corps. (AFC), comprising a total of four Operational Squadrons and four UK based Training Units. In Australia, training of overseas AFC pilots was also carried out at the Central Flying School (CFS) at Point Cook Victoria. Australians also served in the various British Air Arms – The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). Australia then punched well above its weight in the air in WWI and this aspect of Australian WWI service is largely under-represented as we remember this part of the Centenary of World War 1.
Warbirds Online continues its series on the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) machines of WWI with a feature on the famous Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8. The R.E.8 (Reconnaissance Experimental 8), a British two-seat biplane, was the result of a line of aircraft developed by the Royal Aircraft Factory in the UK for use as a reconnaissance […]
Australian Flying Corps, Historic Aircraft, WW1 aircraft
One of the most bizarre victories of the air war in WWI was accomplished by an Australian, George Ingle Finch, who was not a pilot or even in the Australian Armed Forces. George Ingle Finch was born in Orange NSW in 1888 and was a chemist and Alpine climber who was also the putative father […]
WW1 aircraft