Who's Sopwith Snipe was this?

[Olham]

Under the cockpit, I read "Likestep Canada" (?); and note the Indian head on the rudder.

Who's Snipe was this?

 

 

[RAF_Louvert]

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Olham, that is one of Captain Donald R. MacLaren's planes, though the photo I have of that particular kite sitting at Upper Hayford in late 1918 does not have the wording under the cockpit, so perhaps your photo of the same plane is from some time after that. Also, (and I am not 100 percent positive about this), I do not think he flew this kite until after the War.

 

 

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Edited August 3, 2011 by RAF_Louvert

[Olham]

Thank you, Lou - what does "Likestep" mean???

[RAF_Louvert]

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Olham, I think it says 'LEICESTER CANADA'. Leicester in a small town in Alberta, and while I do know that MacLaren grew up in Alberta I am not sure of the significance of that particular town name on the plane. After a bit more reading it looks as if that Snipe was in the mixed group of planes that were sent over to Canada in 1919 to form the nucleus of that country's fledgling national air force.

 

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[Burning Beard]

Looks like a good skinnin' project. Reproducing that Indian would be fun.

 

Beard

[Olham]

You're right, Lou - "Leicester" it must be.

[RAF_Louvert]

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I'd like to know just why that particular town name was painted on the bird. You know there's an interesting story behind it if only someone had remembered what it was and wrote it down.

 

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And BB, I agree. This would be a fun little skinning project.

 

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[Slartibartfast]

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I'd like to know just why that particular town name was painted on the bird. You know there's an interesting story behind it if only someone had remembered what it was and wrote it down.

 

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And BB, I agree. This would be a fun little skinning project.

 

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Could be that it was paid for by the town as I know ships aircraft in both World Wars where paid for this way or part paid for... but as you said we will never know...

[Olham]

Just found this website with a model.

 

http://www.airfieldo...s/mpcandas.html

 

 

 

...and then there was this post over at The Aerodrome:

 

According to Datafile 46 and C&C V.14#2 it is Snipe E8213.

It was presented to Canada by the city of Leicester on Jan.21 1919.

It was taken on strength by the RCAF on Aug.5 1919.

A MR. H. S. Quigley sought permission to borrow it and enter the 1919

Toronto-New York air race. It crashed on Aug.25 in Toronto while being

tested prior to the race.

 

Cliff

Edited August 4, 2011 by Olham