Contrary to the widely held view that the RFC was tardy in replacing the much maligned BE-2 proposals to do so were in place as early as the autumn of 1915, a bare two months after Max Immelman's first victory with the Fokker EI. The proposals retained all the qualities then thought desirable in an observation machine and gave full consideration to the provision of the effective defensive armament so manifestly lacking in the BE-2.

The replacement which emerged in the summer of 1916 was the Royal Aircraft Factory RE-8. So often said to offer little improvement the RE-8 was, despite undeniable faults, superior in every respect to it's predecessor. Respectable by 1916 standards overall performance was broadly comparable to contemporary German "C" types and the 103mph top speed the equal of some opposing scouts. But the operational necessity of flying a lazy eight at a constant altitude above a fixed point in hostile airspace, and all whilst facing an enemy capable to the last of enforcing local air superiority almost at will, renders any such comparison meaningless. Dubbed "Harry Tate" by it's intimates the RE-8 became Britain's most widely used two seater still equipping fifteen RAF squadrons at the armistice. Conceived even before the full height of the Fokker scourge it may be said that it laboured too long. But for that no blame can attach to an aeroplane perhaps undeserving of it's poor reputation.

Crated and shipped to France in October 1918 F-3556 arrived too late for active service. Following the armistice it returned to Britain and was placed in storage until February 1920 when it was presented to the Imperial War Museum (IWM), then housed in the old Chrystal Palace but soon relocated to the former Bethlehem assylum from which the term "Bedlam" derives . After many years hanging from the rafters of the IWM's South Lambeth home the restored aircraft is now displayed at the museum's Duxford airfield where these pictures were taken. Photographs of F-3556 are by kind permission of Nick Saunders to whom I am indebted for his generosity.

Airfix's somewhat fanciful artwork from thier nineteen seventies bagged issue. In fact F-3556 spent armistice day languishing in a transit crate and was destined never to see active service with the Royal Air Force. The legend "A PADDY BIRD FROM CEYLON" is a presentation inscription