Flanders B.2 Tractor 918 biplane near Hornsea.
This aircraft had been owned by Vivian Gaskell-Blackburn immediately prior to the outbreak of the First World War when it was requisitioned by the RNAS. It had been hangered at the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company hanger at Filey in the days prior to Britain declaring war on Germany and appears to have remained on the Yorkshire coast for the next few weeks. Gaskell-Blackburn was granted a commission in the RNAS on 18th August 1914. On 2nd September 1914 the aeroplane appears to have been flown south toward RNAS Eastchurch by the former owner when it suffered engine failure in the Hornsea area. A forced landing had to be made and the aeroplane sustained damage.
Pilot - FSL Vivian Gaskell-Blackburn RNAS.
Vivian Gaskell-Blackburn was born in Leeds on 8th March 1891 and was the son of H. Gaskell-Blackburn, a chartered accountant of Leeds and Horsforth. Around 1910 he was involved with constructing his own aeroplane but very little is known about it other than it was constructed from parts of three older aeroplanes, namely The Champel, The Parsons and The Pashley Brothers' Sommer with it being powered by two engines with pusher propellers. It was tested in 1910 at Apperley Bridge, near Bradford. He later trained and then was awarded his Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.617) at the Bristol School, Brooklands on 10th September 1913. In 1914 he purchased the only 70h.p. Flanders Bi-plane built as a two-seater and flew this in 1914 until it was requisitioned / purchased by the RNAS in August 1914 and registered as 918. Gaskell-Blackburn also applied to join the RNAS the same month but while his commission was considered he was allowed to fly his own Flanders B2 aeroplane. The commission came through but may have been back-dated to 18th August 1914 after this date. In December he took part in a naval air raid on Cuxhaven. He was awarded the DSC for service during the advance on Kut-el-Amara on 27th / 28th September 1915. The citation, from the London Gazette of 21st January 1916 reads.."Flight-Lieutenant Blackburn did excellent air reconnaissance work, and came under heavy fire on the afternoon of September 28th, whilst carrying despatches between the General Officer Commanding and the "Comet"." He was Mentioned in Despatches a number of times, Gazetted on 19th February 1915, 5th May 1916 and 13th July 1916. On 28th September 1916 he crashed Caudron GIII 3280 at Redcar. Later, "for distinguished service rendered during active operations in Iraq during 1920-21" Gazetted on 10th October 1922. He was awarded the Bar to the DSC, Gazetted on 17th May 1918 "for services in the advance and retreat from Ctesiphon, when he performed most excellent work." He was also awarded the AFC, Gazetted on 10th October 1919. Vivian Gaskill-Blackburn was finally placed on the Retired List as a Group Captain in 1947 and died in October 1956. His medal set sold at auction in 2007.
This aircraft was built by the Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Company Ltd. in 1912 and was originally a Military Trials aircraft No.14. On 30th August 1914 it was scheduled for delivery to RNAS Eastchurch then received damage on 2nd September 1914 near Hornsea on what was presumably the first leg of the long flight south. It was then dismantled on site and transported by rail to RNAS Yarmouth where it arrived on 11th September 1914. After assessment it was initially condemned but was later rebuilt at Yarmouth, being completed by New Year 1915. After trials a larger elevator was fitted to the aircraft on 19th January 1915. On 23rd January 1915 it carried out an anti-Zeppelin patrol but force landed whilst flying in fog at Ormesby damaging a wing. It was again dismantled and returned to RNAS Yarmouth but after assessment it was deleted as beyond economic repair.