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An agile, highly maneuverable biplane, the Sopwith F.1 Camel accounted for more aerial victories than any other Allied aircraft during World War I. Credited with destroying 1,294 enemy aircraft, it was called the Camel due to the humped fairing over its twin machine guns. Much like a real camel, this aircraft could turn and bite you. Noted for its tendency to kill inexperienced flyers, many pilots feared its vicious spin characteristics. Until sufficient speed was developed during takeoff, Camel pilots maintained full right rudder to counteract the torque the rotary engine. Failure to do so often resulted in a ground loop with the Camel crashing on its starboard wingtip. During World War I, 413 pilots died in combat and 385 pilots died from non-combat related causes while flying the Sopwith Camel.
"A great number of trainee pilots had been killed learning to fly this machine, as its tricks took some learning, although they were really simple to overcome. Its main trouble was that owing to its very small wingspan, and its purposely unstable characteristics, coupled with the gyroscopic effect of a rotating engine and propeller, it flipped into a spin very easily at low speeds. Consequently, in landing and taking off, a tremendous number of fatal accidents occurred, and a general felling of dislike for the machine was prevalent. It really had people frightened." Arthur Cobby
On 4 June 1917, Canadian ace Alexander Shook became the first ace to shoot down an enemy aircraft with the Sopwith Camel.
Canadian ace Roy Brown was flying a Camel when he was credited with shooting down Manfred von Richtofen.
With 54 victories, Canadian Donald MacLaren scored more victories with the Camel than any other ace.
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| Sopwith Camel Specifications |
| Country: |
Great Britain |
| Manufacturer: |
Sopwith Aviation Company |
| Type: |
Fighter |
| First Entered Service: |
May 1917 |
| Number Built: |
5,734 |
| Engine(s): |
Bentley BR.1, 150 hp
Reciprocating Le Rhône Rotary x 1, 110 hp
Clerget 9B, 9 cylinder, air cooled rotary, 130 hp
Clerget 9Bf, 9 cylinder, air cooled rotary, 140 hp |
| Wing Span: |
28 ft |
| Length: |
18 ft 8 in |
| Height: |
8 ft 6 in |
| Empty Weight: |
889 lb |
| Gross Weight: |
1,422 lb |
| Max Speed: |
118 mph |
| Ceiling: |
19,000 ft |
| Endurance: |
2.5 hours |
| Crew: |
1 |
| Armament: |
2 Vickers .303 machine guns (F.1)
1 Vickers .303 and 1 Lewis .303 machine guns
or 2 Lewis .303 machine guns (2F.1) |
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| Sopwith Camel Units |
| Australian Flying Corps: |
4 |
| Belgian Air Service: |
1ère, 9me, 11me |
| Royal Air Force: |
139, 150, 151, 201, 203, 204, 208, 209, 210, 213 |
| Royal Flying Corps: |
3, 28, 37, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, 51, 54, 60, 61, 65, 66, 70, 71, 73, 80 |
| Royal Naval Air Service: |
1N, 3N, 4N, 6N, 8N, 9N, 10N, 11N, 12N, 13N |
| United States Air Service: |
17th, 41st, 148th |
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| Sopwith Camel Aces (260) |
| 1 |
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MacLaren, Donald Roderick |
54 |
| 2 |
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Barker, William George |
46 |
| 3 |
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Jordan, William Lancelot |
39 |
| 4 |
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Gilmour, John Inglis |
36 |
| 5 |
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Quigley, Frank Granger |
33 |
| 6 |
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Woollett, Henry Winslow |
30 |
| 7 |
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Cobby, Arthur Henry |
29 |
| 8 |
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Fall, Joseph Stewart Temple |
28 |
| 9 |
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McEwen, Clifford Mackay |
27 |
| 10 |
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Kinkead, Samuel Marcus |
26 |
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