SE5A and Lancing College Chapel - Shoreham at it`s Best by Colin J Williams Photography
The Great War Display Team (GWDT) consists of up to 10 replica WW1 aircraft including 4xSE5s, Sopwith Triplane, Sopwith Pup, Fokker Dr.1 Triplane, 2xJunkers CL.1s, and a Nieuport 17.
The SE5As flying with the Team are 7/8ths replicas but handle and perform just like the real aircraft. Three are in the markings of 24 Sqn RFC and the fourth in the markings of 25th American Pursuit Sqn, which operated ex-RFC SE5As. One of the RFC aircraft is flown by Doug Gregory who is now 84 years young, and is the only member of the team to have done this for real, flying Beaufighters, Mosquito and Spitfires in the Second World War and earning himself a DFC in the process!
Lancing College Chapel is the largest school chapel in the world – the height of the nave is 90ft to the apex of the vault.
The outstanding feature is the Rose window, dedicated by archbishop Coggan in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales, in 1978 – At 32ft in diameter it is the largest in England.
Comments
There won’t be too many people alive today who would remember these – they were certainly long gone when I came on the scene. The nearest (in appearance) to this in my early years was the Gloster Gladiator, three of which (named Faith, Hope and Charity) were the initial defenders of Malta until “Screwball” Buerling and his motley crew arrived to take over. Beautiful photo of this SE as it taxis along – are these replicas all capable of flying? Peter
Thanks Peter !
– Colin J Williams Photography
Sorry – I hadn’t noticed you had written more further down – and that answers my question.
O. K.
– Colin J Williams Photography
Excellent image, Colin!
Thanks Bela !
– Colin J Williams Photography
Super Colin. An excellent replica of this famous old aeroplane (Watched the old film Reach for the Sky again this week, reminded me never to call these machines planes – they are aeroplanes!) An incredible memorial to the brave pilots that flew these machines. Regards Bob
Thanks Bob !
– Colin J Williams Photography
Wonderrful image and great information Colin …
Thanks Tom !
– Colin J Williams Photography
Great capture and composition and the history, I really like Shoreham Airport
Thanks, it`s a great place !
– Colin J Williams Photography
I love it. Marvelous image!
great capture!!