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Historical question, what happens to RNAS 6?

Posted By: SteveW

Historical question, what happens to RNAS 6? - 09/30/16 02:42 AM

So, I'm a Nieuport guy, and RNAS6 gives me the N17bis for the longest amount of time. Two guns, how nice, armament similar to the SE5. Plus the squadron personnel are crappy, bad pilots, low morale, so from a WOFF role-playing concept it's fun to come in as Flight Commander and see if you can whip these thumblebums into shape. They pick up Camels in June, but on August 27th the squadron comes to an end. Anybody know what happened to them? Were they dispersed to other units? Google found me one notable pilot, Christopher Draper, aka, "The Mad Major". He had two claimed victories in 6, and slightly wounded Werner Voss and forced him to land. I'm sure I'm missing some place to look for histories, but if anybody has any ideas let me know. Thanks, S
Posted By: CatKnight

Re: Historical question, what happens to RNAS 6? - 09/30/16 02:47 AM

Here's the writeup from Wikipedia:

Formation and early years
No. 206 Squadron was formed on 31 December 1916 as No. 6 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, a fighter unit operating Nieuport 17s and later Sopwith Camels over the Western Front before disbanding on 27 August 1917. The squadron was reformed on 1 January 1918 as a bomber and reconnaissance unit, operating Airco DH9s. With the establishment of the RAF in 1918 the squadron was renumbered No. 206 Squadron, RAF, being used for photo-reconnaissance in support of the British Second Army and for bombing support during the Allies final offensive. Following the Armistice it was used to operate an air mail service for the British occupying army in Germany, before being deployed to Helwan, Egypt in June 1919. It was renumbered as 47 Squadron on 1 February 1920.

Flying ace Major (later Group Captain) Ernest Norton served in the squadron during World War I, as did Albert Gregory Waller.
Posted By: SteveW

Re: Historical question, what happens to RNAS 6? - 09/30/16 03:35 AM

Thanks much CK. Chalk that up to my lazy research. Cool deal. They are fun to fly with, no HA's in that bunch. S
Posted By: Shredward

Re: Historical question, what happens to RNAS 6? - 09/30/16 09:46 PM

No HAs ?
Posted By: SteveW

Re: Historical question, what happens to RNAS 6? - 10/01/16 01:35 AM

No, just me and a bunch of schleps. Love the descriptions: "A very bad flyer, seems to be coping." "Average pilot, formation flying poor" "A barely competent pilot, morale is OK, but changeable" "A pilot who is bad at most things, is nervous and low" And I'm supposed to lead these guys upward and onward! I transferred to 6RNAS from another unit with 6k's of my own, but in just a few days I've already lost two of these guys. They just won't follow orders! I'm actually having a lot of fun with this group, and enjoying the challenge of trying to keep everybody alive and still get in some missions.
Posted By: zifnow

Re: Historical question, what happens to RNAS 6? - 10/01/16 09:38 AM

ask in www.theaerodrome.com forum, those guys are a damn WW1 aerial wikipedia and the archives got thousands of very interesting discussions the aerodrome
Posted By: SteveW

Re: Historical question, what happens to RNAS 6? - 10/01/16 12:25 PM

Thanks for the help guys, I think I found what I needed. And yes, I do go to The Aerodrome site often for all kinds of info. When I come across something like this it just reminds me how meticulous the research is on WOFF. And thanks to the devs for making the effort.
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