RAF S.E.5a

The S.E.5 fighter was designed by H.P. Folland at the Royal Aircraft Factory and became the most celebrated aeroplane to emerge from those workshops. 5,205 were built including a number of two seat trainers.

The aeroplane became one of the most successful and popular fighters of the war after entering service with the Royal Flying Corps in June 1917 with squadrons based at the front line in France and in England for home defence. Other squadrons served in Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia. By the close of WWI the newly formed Royal Air Force had 16 operational squadrons of S.E.5as at its disposal but within a year all the aircraft had been withdrawn from service use.

About this aircraft

This aircraft was built by Wolseley Motors and issued to No 84 Squadron RAF in France in November 1918. It was in action on 10 November piloted by Major C.E.M. Pickthorn MC, the squadron commander, when he successfully destroyed a Fokker DVII in the vicinity of Chimay in Belgium. Post war the now surplus aircraft was bought, with others, by Major J.C. Savage for his skywriting business and, registered G-EBIA, used  from 1924 to 1928 when it was put into store.

In 1955, it was recovered from storage in the roof of the Armstrong Whitworth flight shed at Baginton and restored for The Collection by staff and apprentices at RAE Farnborough, flying again in August 1959 fitted with a geared Hispano Suiza. When the crankshaft of this engine sheared in flight in 1975 the aircraft was rebuilt with a 200hp Wolseley Viper.

Extensively refurbished in 2007, the S.E.5a is now displayed in the colours and markings of 84 Squadron.

Specification