A Fine Collection of Awards to the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force (Part II)
‘Lower down the coast, the war flight at Felixstowe met with more success in their offensive operations. At 7.20 on the morning of the 28th September 1917, a flying boat, with Flight Lieutenant B. D. Hobbs, Flight Sub. Lieutenant R. F. L. Dickey, and Air Mechanics J. A. Mortimer (Engineer), E. M. Nicol (W./T. Operator), as crew, left Felixstowe to search for a submarine, whose wireless signals had shown her to be operating near the North Hinder. After an hour’s flight, the Wireless Operator picked up signals from some vessel within ten miles, and ten minutes later the crew from the flying boat sighted a hostile submarine a mile ahead. She was still at full buoyancy, with mast and gun showing. The [American] flying boat was at once opened up to eighty knots, and at 600 ft. flew straight for her prey, firing recognition signals as she went. These remained unanswered, and flying directly over the submarine one 250-lb. bomb was dropped and the boat turned to make a second run. Thereupon the U-boat opened fire - one shell exploding 50 ft. in front of the flying boat. Almost at the same moment the flying boat’s bomb burst on the tail of the enemy craft, making a large rent in the deck. Several red flashes now appeared on the water some distance in front of the flying boat, and through the mist three other submarines, with three enemy destroyers immediately behind them, were sighted line abreast. Escorting this detachment were two seaplanes which, however, did not attack, apparently owing to the barrage put up by the ships.
Unconcerned by the volume of shell fire, the flying boat was turned about, and passing over the already stricken craft - now sinking by the stern - dropped another 250-lb. bomb. This exploded dead on, 15 ft. ahead of the bow. The submarine sank immediately. The flying boat, after sending a wireless message giving the position of the hostile flotilla, returned home. The submarine destroyed proved to be the UC-6, a minelayer, operating from Zeebrugge. On receipt of the wireless message at Felixstowe, three more flying boats were despatched to hunt for the enemy ships and seaplanes. Although the detachment was sighted, attempts at attack were made abortive by the barrage of anti-aircraft fire put up by the enemy.’
Mortimer, who had earlier been present at the destruction of the UC-1 off North Hinder on 24 July 1917, and Nicol were awarded D.S. Ms, while Flight Lieutenant B. D. Hobbs added a Bar to his D.S.C. and Flight Sub. Lieutenant R. F. L. Dickey a second Bar to his D.S.C., the latter having been decorated for earlier exploits that led to the destruction of a zeppelin; sold with a file of research.
458
A scarce Great War M.M group of four awarded to Chief Master Mechanic C. I. Collett, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps, who served as an Observer in R.E. 8s of No. 12 Squadron
MILITARYMEDAL, G.V.R. (413 Fl. Sjt. C. I. Collett, 12/Sq. R.F.C.); 1914-15 STAR (413 Cpl. C. I. Collett, R.F.C.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (413 T.S.M. C. I. Collett, R.F.C.), generally good very fine (4)
£1100-1300 M.M. London Gazette 27 October 1916. The original recommendation states:
‘On the evening of 17 March 1916, a British aeroplane had to land just W. of Arras in full view of the German lines. No. 12 Squadron sent a party to render assistance. Flight Sergeant Collett, Corporal Beddows and 1st A.M. Gill salved the instruments, Lewis gun and mountings under very close and accurate shell fire. At the ninth shot the machine was hit direct and set on fire. During this time a French officer and soldier, who were standing close by, were hit, one being killed and the other wounded.’
Charles Inglis Collett, who was born in Stratford-on-Avon in February 1890, originally served as a Bombardier in the Warwickshire R. H.A. (Territorial Force), from which he transferred to the fledgling Royal Flying Corps in October 1912, in common with two of his brothers. Appointed an Air Mechanic 1st Class in No. 5 Squadron in August 1914, he first went out to France in April 1915, but returned to the Home Establishment in the following month. Then in October of the same year he returned once more to active service in France.
And he was serving on the strength of No. 12 Squadron by the time of his M.M.-winning exploits on the Arras front early in the following year. After then being advanced to the temporary rank of Sergeant-Major, he qualified as a Gunner & Observer in September 1916 and flew in the Squadron’s R.E. 8s, gaining mention in at least one R.F.C. communique for good work in assisting our gunners in hitting an enemy battery. Ordered back home in October 1917, Collett was appointed Chief Master Mechanic in the newly established Royal Air Force in April 1918, and was discharged in October 1920; sold with a file of research.
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