Throughout the First World War, the most widely used fighter
aircraft by the Allies was the
Sopwith Camel. It was known for its manoeuvrability, making
it superior to any aircraft used by the Germans at the time.
Some of the best pilots from Western Canada flew the Sopwith
Camel, like Donald
MacLaren, who was known as the highest scoring Camel pilot
of the First World War.
Arthur Roy Brown
was flying a Sopwith Camel when he was credited with shooting
down the Red Baron on 21 April 1918. Before he was shot down,
the Baron had been in pursuit of another well-known Alberta
aviator, Captain
Wilfrid Reid (Wop) May of Edmonton, who was also flying a
Camel.
During the First World War, the Sopwith Camel was used to
bring down 1,294 enemy aircraft. |