Royal Aircraft Factory S.E. 5a. Replica
« AIRCRAFTOne of the world's finest first fighters
One of the most famous of the British fighters of World War I, the S.E. 5a. on display is a 2/3rd-scale replica. The S.E. 5a., along with its more famous counterpart the Sopwith Camel, was responsible for downing many German aircraft. The S.E. 5a. was preferred by many World War I aces such as Capt. James T. B. McCudden (56 kills), William A. "Billy" Bishop (72 kills) and Lt. A. P. F. Rys Davids (23 kills).
The U. S. War Department purchased 38 S.E.5a in Britain, and the design was put into production in America with Curtiss Aeroplane. Only one was completed by the time of the armistice, but parts were shipped from Britain for another 56.
After the war, the S.E. 5a. was used by barnstormers to thrill crowds in mock dogfights with captured German fighters. Many of these came from a lot of fifty assembled from parts made by the Eberhart Steel Products Company. Known as SE-5E, they were also used by the Army Air Service for trainers. Today, there are a few S.E. 5a. and SE-5E still gracing the skies. Some are full scale replicas while some are built at 2/3rds of the original fighter's size.
The S.E. 5a. replica on display at the Arkansas Air Museum was donated by A. L. Goss of Fayetteville, Ark. Goss was a student pilot in the Civilian Pilot Training Program and War Training Service at Drake Field during 1941-42.
