1918

Sopwith Snipe

One of the last British aeroplanes to see active service was Sopwith’s Snipe; its powerful Bentley rotary engine giving the fighter a top rate overall performance. Its late entry had a limited effect on the air war but the Snipe is long-remembered for a classic battle in late October 1918. Canadian Captain William Barker, en route to England following a fortnight’s ‘refresher’ course in France was unable to resist one last look at the Front. He shot down a two-seater that crossed his path before coming under surprise attack by two dozen Fokker D.VIIs. A furious clash ensued during which the feisty Barker was struck several times. Shot and badly wounded in both legs and elbow, his Snipe bullet-ridden, Barker succeeded in downing five of his attackers and with a ruptured fuel tank, near fainting through loss of blood, made an emergency landing behind British lines. When recovered, he was awarded the VC for his efforts and later wrote: ‘By Jove, I was a foolish boy, but anyhow I taught them a lesson’…