Moments In Time SEPTEMBER 19, 1915
The Royal Flying Corps’ 8 Squadron suffered its first loss to the ‘Fokker Scourge’ during World War One’s Battle of Loos, as Andrew Thomas describes
MAIN IMAGE: A BE.2c sits among the trees at Marieux in late August, as preparations for battle are made
ALL IMAGES AUTHOR’S COLLECTION UNLESS STATED
Capt John Stott was one of the senior figures in 8 Squadron at the start of the battle of Loos
At the end of May 1915, six weeks after 8 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (RFC) had moved to France, the First Army under Lt Gen Sir Douglas Haig assumed control of a sector of the front from the French – reaching from La Bassée Canal to Loos. The plan was then to attack at the latter,in the hope of a breakthrough, and preparations for what was to be the biggest British offensive of 1915. In mid-August, 8 Squadron commanded by Maj Archie MacLean moved into the then newly-completed Marieux aerodrome southeast of Doullens, equipped with a BE.2a and nine BE.2c aircraft. One of the senior figures within the unit was Capt JNS Stott, who flew as an observer and acted as the adjutant.
