by George Grasse

AEROCLUB ACK418 BOXART

RAF RE.8 3-VIEW DRAWING

This 3-view drawing is credited to J. D. Carrick or F. Yeoman and appeared in Reconnaissance and Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War page 56, compiled by W. M. Lamberton and published by Harleyford Publications Limited.   The disastrous mis-adventures of the BE.2 series during the period of the Fokker Eindecker 'Scourge' did not go unnoticed by RFC authorities.  The RE.8 series had been underway but its introduction as a replacement did not occur soon enough.  Aerial tactics had a lot to do with heavy British aviation losses because fighter aircraft were "programmed" to pursue German fighters and their corps reconaissance aircraft - not protect their own vulnerable corps aircraft burdened with the under-powered, un-manuverable BE.2 series.  Finally, improved aircraft in the form of the RE.8 and a major change in RFC aerial tactics began the process of equalizing control of the Western Front airspace.

 

THE MODEL TO BE BUILT

Royal Aircraft Factory (RAF or R.A.F.) RE.8 F.6097 was flown by Lt. Croye Rothes Pithey (p) and Lt. Hervey Rhodes (o) of RFC No.12 Squadron, France 1918.  This crew accounted for 2 balloons (!) and eight German aircraft (three two-seaters and five fighters (!).  The high-scoring crew ended their service after both were wounded in action 27 September 1918.  Pithey's final score was 11, Rhodes was 12!

In the pilot's seat,  Lt. Croye Rothes Pithey and in the observer's seat, Lt. Hervey Rhodes (o) of RFC No.12 Squadron, France 1918

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No. 1

Preparing to start.. . . . . . . . .

  

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Bibliography: 

British RFC/RAF Squadrons:  https://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/research/squadrons/

Bruce, J. M. RAF RE.8, Windsock Datafile 24.  Berkhamsted, UK: Albatros Productions, 1990.

Franks, Norman, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Above the War Fronts.  London, UK: Grub Street, 1997.

Guttman, Jon.  Reconnaissance and Bomber Aces of World War 1.  Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2015.

Lamberton, W. M., Compiler, and E. F. Cheesman, Editor. Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War.   Los Angeles, CA: Aero Publishers, 1962.

Rogers, Les.  British Aviation Squadron Markings of World War I.  Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 2001.

Shores, Christopher, Norman Franks and Russell Guest.  Above the Trenches. London, UK: Grub Street, 1996.

Wingnut Wings.  RE.8 'Harry Tate' 1/32 Scale Instruction Manual.  Wellington, NZ (via the internat): Wingnut Wings Ltd, 2010

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16 April 2026