Sopwith Pup

[Ratch]

Sopwith Pup (Beardmore Type 9901a) N6453, Sqn-Cdr E. H. Dunning, H.M.S. Furious, summer 1917.
Dunning landed his Sopwith Pup on HMS Furious in Scapa Flow, Orkney on 2 August 1917. He was killed five days later, during his third landing attempt of the day, when an updraft caught his port wing, throwing his plane overboard. Knocked unconscious, he drowned in the cockpit. He is buried at St Lawrence's Church, Bradfield, between his parents. A plaque in the church states:

The Admiralty wish you to know what great service he performed for the Navy. It was in fact a demonstration of landing an Aeroplane on the deck of a Man-of-War whilst the latter was under way. This had never been done before; and the data obtained was of the utmost value. It will make Aeroplanes indispensable to a fleet;& possibly, revolutionise Naval Warfare. The risk taken by Squadron Commander Dunning needed much courage. He had already made two successful landings; but expressed a wish to land again himself, before other Pilots did so; and in this last run he was killed. My Lords desire to place on record their sense of the loss to the Naval Service of this gallant Officer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[swralph]

Looks great Ratch.😀

[Ratch]

Thank you 

[keith in the uk]

Nice little model with an interesting story , well done .  

[Ratch]

Cheers Keith 

[stevehnz]

Nicely done Ratch, a poignant reminder of the debt naval aviation has to a brave man. 

Steve.

[Ratch]

Thanks Steve. Because I didn't have decals for the kit I was looking for a simple scheme and came across an illustration for this a/c. It was only after I'd built it that I discovered the story of E. H. Dunning, a brave man indeed.