On 5th July 1915 this RNAS aeroplane was flown three times on practice flights in the general area of RNAS Redcar. On the third, it took off at 16.15hrs but on landing at Redcar it through a fence. The nose and one of the struts were damaged. It was noted as ready for flight on 6th July 1915. It was almost certainly being used by the RNAS Home Defence Flight at the time.

Pilot - Flight Sub-Lt Thomas Francis Netterville Gerrard RNAS.

Thomas "Teddy" Francis Nettenville Gerrard was an outstanding and well known fighter pilot of his day. He was born on 30th August 1897 in Malaya and gained his aviators certificate (no.1180) at RNAS Hendon on 11th April 1915. He was awarded the DSC for recognition of his services during a flight on 4th June 1917 in the rank of Flight Commander, the citation reads.. "In recognition of his services during an air fight on June 4th, 1917. This officer led his flight against fifteen to twenty hostile aeroplanes, and alone had ten engagements with these machines. He attacked one and fired 60 rounds into the cockpit at pointblank range, the enemy machine rolling over and over for 3,000 ft. and then falling vertically out of control. He then attacked another enemy machine which had dived on to one of our machines from behind, and with the help of a scout he shot it down, the enemy being seen to crash to the ground. Another hostile scout was then attacked by this ground. Another hostile scout was then attacked by this pilot end on and received a long burst at very close range. the enemy going down in a spin, but apparently righting himself lower down. During the last encounter Flight- Comdr. Gerrard's machine was riddled with bullets, but by fine piloting he landed safely, although all but his lateral controls were shot away and his machine damaged to such an extent as to require return to depot for complete rebuilding. This officer has now destroyed at least seven hostile aircraft. He was on active service in France and Belgium from April to September 1916, and during that period performed much valuable work." He later transferred to the newly created RAF in April 1918 and in total he was credited with ten "kills" with all the units he flew with; nine of the ten were as a pilot of the Sopwith Tri-plane. He sadly died in a polo accident in 1921 and was only twenty four years old.