Curtis JN-3 3365 at Scarborough.
This aeroplane was damaged on landing at Scarborough aerodrome on 20th April 1916 during a flight with the RNAS Home Defence Flight, the pilot was not injured.
Pilot - FSL Hubert Charles Gerrard Allen RNAS.
Hubert Allen was born on 1st May 1891 in London. He had initially served as a P.O.Mechanic in the RNAS before remustering as a pilot. He appears to have gained his Royal Aero Club aviators' certificate (Certificate No.1335) on 16th June 1915 at Chingford then re-joined the RNAS on 5th September 1915. From Chingford he was posted to RNAS Redcar then to RNAS Scarborough in January 1916. He was posted to Dover on 27th May 1916. On 2nd December 1916 an injury to his right ankle saw him taken off flying duties. His commission was terminated on 4th March 1917 as he was deemed physically unfit though later re-instated on 20th November 1917 but saw him continue service for ground duties only. He survived the War having transferred to the newly created RAF in April 1918. What he did after WW1 is not yet known. He was granted a commission in the RAFVR as P/O on probation on 9th September 1939 in the Admin and Special Duties Branch (service no.73842). He was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 9th September 1940 and F/Lt (temp) on 1st March 1942 but resigned his commission on 25th December 1944, retaining the rank of F/Lt.
Curtis KN-3 3365 was ordered in March 1915 and was built to contract C.P.61533/15 by Curtiss in Toronto, Canada. It was delivered by sea to the UK and arrived at Hendon on 9th August 1915 where it was erected and tested on 16th August 1915. It was issued to No.5 Wing at Dover on 21st August but whilst on the delivery flight suffered engine failure, and made a forced landing at Cherkley Court, near Leatherhead and overturned sustaining damage. The pilot in this case being FSL J R Potts, who was not injured. It was dismantled and returned to Hendon by 31st August 1915 and then went to Fairey Aviation at Hendon on 3rd September for repair. It was passed to RNAS Killingholme on 3rd November 1915 after repair and later transferred to RNAS Scarborough Home Defence Flight on 14th November via RNAS Atwick. It was damaged on landing at Scarborough on 20th April 1916 and does not appear to have been repaired as it was deleted from RNAS records on 13th September 1916.