On 8th November 1916 this RNAS Flying School aeroplane was damaged in crash at Redcar. Very basic information !

Pilot - Probationary FSL Geoffrey William Hemming RNAS.

Geoffrey Hemming was born on 3rd August 1898 in Worcestershire. He was appointed to a commission in the RNAS on 5th July 1916 and trained at the RNAS Redcar Flying School between 29th July 1916 and 27th December 1916. Following time at RNAS Cranwell and RNAS Dover he was posted to France. He joined 4 Naval Squadron RNAS soon after it's formation and in total he was credited with at least six enemy aircraft as downed. His service file lists dates and numbers claimed as shot down but this differs from published lists made by established First World War air historians and I cannot offer proof of which is correct. For his WW1 service he was awarded the DSC, Gazetted on 30th November 1917, the citation reads.. "In recognition of his services with a Wing of the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk between March and September 1917, during which period he has been continuously employed on the Belgian coast, and on many occasions has been in charge of a flight. On the 22nd September 1917, he led his flight against a formation of twenty enemy aircraft, and engaging three consecutively, brought them all down." He was also awarded the Belgian Order of the Crown and Croix de Guerre and the French Croix de Guerre. No.4 Naval Squadron RNAS became 204 Squadron RAF on the RAF's formation in April 1918 and he transferred to the RAF. Having survived WW1 he remained in the RAF but sadly died in a Fairey IIId flying accident at RAF Calshot on 26th February 1926.