Lives of the First World War

Before being posted to St Omer in France. In Royal Flying Corps uniform

Photograph taken on newly joining the RFC

Hundreds of volunteers training to become Wireless Operators and learning to send and receive Morse Code messages

This is the aeroplane that Dad fought in for the longest time

IWM 69650 reproduced by kind permission of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London, to use in the article about my Dad. It shows how dangerous it was for the Observer in an FE2B. Also interesting is the position of the Lewis gun in the front cockpit. My Dad mentioned that he and his pilot developed a new position for this gun and they themselves made a new bracket at the back of the Observer's cockpit. This enabled the pilot to fire the gun forwards whilst the Observer stood up on his thin, plywood seat to operate the Lewis gun mounted on the top wing to fire backwards. I remember Dad saying he had to be very careful because the pilot fired between his legs. THE OBSERVER IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH COULD HAVE BEEN MY DAD ! !

This park in London was the nearest open space to the Regent Street Polytechnic where volunteers were trained as Wireless Operators

Successful Wireless Operators now called "Air Mechanics" on their passing out parade through Russell Square

Notice Dad is wearing his Royal Flying Corps tie.

He said quietly "It was one of these that shot us down"

L I Howden was born on the 15th of June 1897 and died on 10th April 1978.

This confirms he was born on the 15 June 1897 and died on 10 April 1978

Mum

This is Leslie Howden's second son; who developed the metal Niobium for use by NASA in Moon rockets, played a part in the development of underwater welding and, even though he was British, he was appointed President of The American Welding Society. Mum and David had a narrow escape in 1941; full story in www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk; search "Bombers shatter the peace"; 3 November 2008.

David's orbituary - Leslie's second son

"One Spring in Picardy: a pilots story of WW1": William Stanley 1973; Corgy 0552 09601 6; Transworld Publishers Ltd. Although this is a novel it gives a good insight into the hazards of the Fe2b aeroplanes I am grateful to The Random House Group Permissions Officer who has kindly allowed me to show this cover.

"For God, England and Ethel": The Forgotten Heroes of the Royal Flying Corps". Steve "Buster" Johnson, 2009. Trafford Publishing (phone: +44(0)1865 487 395); ISBN 978-1-4251-8973-0 Steve Johnson is a historian for no.6 squadron and the official adviser on the Royal Flying Corps for the WW1 Centenary. This book is a novel based on true facts from the diary of his Grandfather, 1st Class Air Mechanic Frederick Johnson. The research, resulting in attention to very accurate detail, is excellent. Steve Johnson has very kindly given permission for me to include his book as a reference text. PS my Dad always spoke very highly of Talbot House and the TOC H in Poperinge which Steve covers very well in his descriptions.

"Somme Success: The Royal Flying Corps and the Battle of the Somme 1916"; Peter Hart,,2001; published by Pen and Sword Books; www.pen-sword.co.uk. ISBN 0-85052-741-4

Showing websites and sublimated photographs

By James Hamilton-Paterson published by Head of Zeus Ltd, 2015. ISBN number 9781784970406. The best account of the Royal Flying Corps, its formation and background as to "why" things developed. Its only omission was a mention of the call for volunteers from the ranks in autumn 1914 to join as aircrew in this new service. My Dad, who was one of these men who volunteered, mentioned that large numbers of enlisted men were trained as pilots and observers before the service later became an officer-based profession in May 1916.

My Dad is shown wearing an army uniform as he had been transferred back into the army to fight in a "Combination Battalion" against the German break-through in March 1918. He did once mention the 51st Regiment which, I assume , they could have been attached to. Notice his deformed left hand which had been injured a year before this photo was taken.

This is the insignia which was queried on the Great War Forum on Dad's army uniform replacement. It signifies that this soldier was "wounded in action". I notice that his RFC Observers brevit is not being worn; there was a Government directive that aircrew could wear their RFC insignia on any uniform. Perhaps this had not come into effect yet.