Military History > Camps and Barracks
Royal Flying Corps, Hythe
Cosmo Smallpiece:
Hi, stumbled across this old thread.
Hythe was an RFC gunnery school. Part of their training involved shooting technics. "Vanishing Targets" are targets that pop in and out of view. Training on these improves reaction in aerial shooting. So has same meaning as "snap shooting".
https://www.rifleman.org.uk/Sub-target_devices.html
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=k_VDBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=pilot+gunnery+clay+pigeon&source=bl&ots=j4iHidaTqt&sig=ACfU3U3GoLrf51uXtNts4ZMODKL7nEGmvw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZhdb-v_zpAhWSUcAKHX_AADMQ6AEwAHoECAIQAQ#v=onepage&q=pilot%20gunnery%20clay%20pigeon&f=false
Nemo:
"Near the flying field and where the RH&DR line now runs stand four long brick-built sheds. Two of them were used for photographic laboratories and dark rooms. All the film taken by the air crews of the mock dog fights, aerial gunnery and target practice were processed there. Edith Nesbit, the author, owned two sheds that were later turned into bungalows. In fact she lived there for some two years and most of the time was in ill health. Her husband Captain Tucker named the bungalows Longboat and Jollyboat. Both still stand today and can be seen at the bottom of Nesbit Road."
https://theromneymarsh.net/stmarysbayairfield
Nemo:
http://www.airhistory.org.uk/rfc/people_index.html
Complicated, no?
grandarog:
Ha Ha , I saw the Sqdn of Pigs fly over heading your way for an air display. :)
grandarog:
Probably ,but in some cases where an Officer has transferred to the RFC from his Army Regiment I understand he would take his Army Batman with him. Presumably the chap would then transfer to the RFC .
Bear in mind the RFC was the flying body of the ARMY, until it became independent as the Royal Air Force in 1918. Most of the Officer/Pilots and Observers still wore their Army Uniforms and retained Army ways. My Godfather was an Air Mechanic in the RFC and the RAF from 1916 with 70 Sqdn in France and finally Germany. If you look at the Pictures below of 70 Squadron Officers and other ranks taken on a Deer Hunt during 1917 you will see the Officers are still wearing the Cap Badges of their Regiments. Sid is the Chap bottom left with the grin in both Pics. The second has all the men named.
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