British Military Aviation in 1917 - Part 1

Part 2

1 January
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) School of Photography is formed at Farnborough.

7 January
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Sergeant T. Mottershead of No.20 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

This is the only Victoria Cross to be won by a non-commissioned officer of the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, for recovering his burning aircraft, a Royal Aircraft Factory FE2d, from a fighting patrol in Ploegsteert Wood in France and for saving the life of his observer, Lieutenant W.E. Gower.

13 January
Captain C.F. Collet of the Royal Flying Corps becomes the the first British service flyer to make parachute jump when he uses a Calthrop 'Guardian Angel' parachute for an experimental jump from 600 feet.

February
The Sopwith Triplane enters service with No.1 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).

2 February
The Government approves a scheme giving the Air Board responsibility for experimental work and approval of aircraft design, the number to be ordered and their allocation between the Services. The Ministry of Munitions undertakes production, inspection and delivery.

19 February
The first recorded casualty evacuation flight is carried out by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), when a wounded trooper of the Imperial Camel Corps is flown from Bir-el-Hassana in the Sinai Desert to the airfield at Kilo 143 in an Royal Flying Corps aircraft. This would have been a three-day journey by the available surface transport, but the flight took 45 minutes.

March
While under construction, the battle-cruiser HMS Furious is ordered to be converted into an aircraft carrier.

March
A remotely controlled bomber is tested unsuccessfully at Upavon.

12 March
A British fighter pilot James McCudden wins the Military Cross.

12 March
The Russian Revolution begins.

20 March
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant F.H. McNamara of No.67 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, the only Australian airman to be so decorated. The Victoria Cross is awarded for his rescue of a downed fellow pilot, Captain D.W. Rutherford, after a bombing attack on a railway across Wadi Hesse at Tel el Hesi in Palestine.

21 March
The first British guided missile anti-tank weapon is designed by Professor A.M. Low and begins flight trials at Upavon.

24 March
The Royal Flying Corps' first night-bombing squadron, No.100 Squadron, equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b aircraft, departs for France.

25 March
Canadian fighter pilot William Avery Bishop claims the first of his 72 victories.

Part 2