RAF RE8 A'4397

This is the RE8 'Sylvia' of 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps which was the common mount of Captain Reginald G.D. Francis. Sylvia set a record amongst British and Dominion Forces by completing 440 hours of service flying 147 flights across German lines. Reg Francis set a record in 3 Sqn flying a total of 542 hours and 25 minutes which was over 200 hours more than the next pilot in the squadron. Francis, a Melbourne native, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his flying exploits;

During two consecutive days, this officer carried out most valuable work in ranging on batteries. Flying 8 and 1/2 hours on the first day and 4 hours on the second, he successfully ranged our artillery on seven hostile batteries. In cooperating with our artillery he shows conspicuous bravery and marked ability.

While 3 Squadron were fighting on the Armentieres-Ypres front in March of 1918 Francis and Hainsworth were involved in a decisive combat with an DFW aircraft, Harry Wrigley relates;

The most noteworthy feature of the first day of April, 1918, was a successful combat, practically the whole of which was witnessed from the Squadron aerodrome. Lieutenant R.G.D. Francis and Lieutenant R. Hainsworth as observer, was observing the fire from the 263rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, when he was attacked by a DFW Aviatik, which dived on him out of the sun. Lieutenant Francis immediately joined combat and manoeuvred his aircraft so that his observer was able to fire several bursts into the enemy. The enemy endeavoured to withdraw by flying into some clouds, but was pursued by Lieutenant Francis and completely out-manoeuvred and out-fought. During the course of the combat the pilot of the enemy aircraft was severely wounded, with the result that the hostile aircraft crashed midway between Poperinghe and Vlametinghe.

Francis had been a founding member of the squadron and travelled across from England with it as part of A Flight when the squadron became operational. In March of 1918, Francis was sent back to England as part of 7 Training Squadron to train RE8 aircrew with his accrued knowledge of the western front. In May of 1918 Francis returned to 3 Sqn as commander of A Flight, replacing Captain E.J. Jones.

This profile shows A'4397 with a Kewpie Doll in the D. The photograph this is taken from has Reg Francis standing next to the kewpie doll insignia. It is unknown what the colours on the kewpie doll were. Also note the very small size of the serial, this suggests that the serial was repainted at the squadron after the tail was damaged or replaced. Sylvia was shipped to Australia after the war and displayed in an exhibition held in Melbourne in 1920. Unfortunately its ultimate fate was unknown.