RAF SE5a D3542

This is an SE5a aircraft of unknown pilot from 6 Training Squadron Australian Flying Corps. This is taken from a photograph in the Australian War Memorial collection showing a line up of SE5a aircraft. The caption for the photograph reads, "United Kingdom C. 1917. A line of Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a aircraft under the control of No. 6 (Training) Squadron Australian Flying Corps ( Serial Numbers D3500, D3501, D3541, D3542 )."

D3542 is the aircraft closest to the camera in the picture. The red coloured band on the rear of the fuselage may be black or red. The wheels may also be black, but it is more likely they are red. 1 Wing ( Training ) AFC flew many varied and colourful aircraft over the skies of England in late 1917 and through 1918.

Note the odd manner in which the white area at the tip of the fixed tail surface has been applied, in a manner which would suggest it was sprayed on rather than painted. Which is unusual for British aircraft, unless it was a modification at the aerodrome. Still an unusual manner to apply paint in the AFC.