The Martin-Handasyde Scout 1 was a British biplane aircraft of the early part of the First World War built by Martin-Handasyde Limited.

Design and development

It was a single-seat biplane with a Gnome engine in tractor configuration.

Operational service

Sixty of the S.1 were built and these were used for about 6 months on the Western Front by the Royal Flying Corps before it was relegated to training. Although initially intended for use in Home Defence operating from the UK, it was found to be inadequate for that too. It was reported to be unstable, and it was the aircraft Captain

Louis Strange Louis Arbon Strange, (27 July 1891 – 15 November 1966) was an English aviator, who served in both World War I and World War II. Early life Louis Strange was born in Tarrant Keyneston, Dorset, and was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford, jo ...

was flying in a combat with a German two-seater, when one of the oddest incidents of WW1 took place. He was changing a drum on his overhead Lewis gun, when the aircraft turned over - and he fell out. However, he held on with one hand to the spade grip of the gun, and somehow managed to hook one leg into the cockpit, then the other. The plane righted itself, and he fell back in, breaking the seat. The German crew, convinced they saw their opponent fall out, claimed a kill, and were (so it was said by the ace,

Bruno Loerzer Bruno Loerzer (22 January 1891 – 23 August 1960) was a German air force officer during World War I and World War II. Credited with 44 aerial victories during World War I, he was one of Germany's leading flying aces, as well as commander of ...

, who was based in the area), ribbed afterwards, when no wreckage was found. ('The Friendless Sky' - A McKee)

Operators

; *

Australian Flying Corps The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I, and the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The AFC was established in 1912, though it was not until ...

Mesopotamian Half Flight The Mesopotamian Half-Flight (MHF), or Australian Half-Flight, was the first Australian Flying Corps (AFC) unit to see active service during World War I. Formed in April 1915 at the request of the Indian Government, the half-flight's personnel w ...

; * Royal Flying Corps ** No. 1 Squadron RFC ** No. 2 Squadron RFC ** No. 4 Squadron RFC ** No. 5 Squadron RFC ** No. 6 Squadron RFC ** No. 9 Squadron RFC ** No. 10 Squadron RFC **

No. 12 Squadron RFC Number 12 Squadron, also known as No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron and occasionally as No. XII Squadron, is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The squadron reformed in July 2018 as a joint RAF/Qatar Emiri Air Force squadron. It is currently ...

** No. 14 Squadron RFC ** No. 16 Squadron RFC ** No. 18 Squadron RFC ** No. 19 Squadron RFC ** No. 20 Squadron RFC ** No. 22 Squadron RFC ** No. 23 Squadron RFC ** No. 24 Squadron RFC ** No. 25 Squadron RFC ** No. 30 Squadron RFC

Specification

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * Angelucci, Enzo. ''The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914–1980''. San Diego, California: The Military Press, 1983. . * Bruce, J.M. ''War Planes of the First World War: Volume One Fighters''. London: Macdonald, 1965. * Bruce, J.M. ''The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing)''. London: Putnam, 1982.

External links