The Australian Flying Corps Website is a growing website dedicated to the aerial arm of the Australian Imperial Force in the First World War. The Webiste covers many aspects of the AFC, from detailed information of the AFC, to biographies on the aces, to old photographs, to modern photographs of old locations, to the aircraft they flew in.

What are you interested in?

The Aces?
With the release of the Grub Street Aces books much attention has focused on the aces of World War I. The Australian Flying Corps boasted 43 Aces from a flying complement of less than 300 pilots and observers. Added to that total, Australians serving in the British Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force created a furthur 31 aces, the New Zealand aces in the British Services numbered another 11. The leading Australian Ace was Robert A. Little who flew with the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force. Little was credited with 47 victories. The leading Ace of the Australian Flying Corps was Arthur H. Cobby who was credited with 29 victories while flying with 4 Squadron AFC. The leading New Zealand Ace was Keith L. Caldwell who flew with the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force and accredited with 25 victories. The leading Kiwi Ace in the Australian Flying Corps was Herbert G. Watson.

The Aircraft?
The Australian Flying Corps many operational and training aircraft in nearly every theatre of the First World War. From the pugnacious DH5 flown by 2 Sqn AFC to the Sopwith Strutters flown from HMAS Australia, to the French Nieuport's flown by Australian pilots to the colourful "Red Devil" SE5a aircraft flown by the fighting instructors like Les Holden which feature in the Profiles Section.

Nitty Gritty Details?
The Australian Flying Corps comprised of approximately 3000 Servicemen, the AFC Website is building a list of all AFC Servicemen from the Australian Imperial Force Nominal Roll at the time of demobilization. The AFC during it's service generated many paper documents, some appear in the Official Documents Section, including Combat Reports and AIF Attestation Papers. A list of the books and journals the AFC Website and contributers to the Website use are contained in the References Section.

Photographs?
The AFC Gallery includes photographs of the National Aerospace Museum in Washington D.C, USA's Sopwith Snipe in Australian Flying Corps markings. Aerial views taken of Australia Hill in the Cotswolds, England. Photographs of Arthur Cobby's Charlie Chaplin from the RAAF Museum in Victoria, Australia.

Histories, Biographies and Articles?
The Operational Squadrons of the AFC have their histories in the Squadrons Section while the Flying Schools have their histories and details in the Central Flying School Section. The Sections include Newspaper Articles and markings information. The Aces Section contains biographies for Aces such as "Harry" Cobby, "Bo" King, "King" Cole, "Bob" Little, "Breguet" Dallas and "Taps" Taplin. Other biographies are contained in the Articles Section for AFC members such as William Lord and McNamara. The Articles Section also contains incidents that the AFC fought their way through. The Features Section contains larger and more detailed examinations of men and episodes in the Australian Flying Corps history. Including a feature on Oswald Watt, and on 2 Sqn AFC's operational period through the Battle of Cambrai.

Miscellaneous Details about the Website?
Some more about the Website and the contributors to the Website.

You are a relative of an AFC Member?
If you cannot find any mention of your realtive on the Australian Flying Corps Website, either post a question on www.theaerodrome.com's forum or email myself direct. Your best bet is to post a question on theaerodrome's forum as many AFC enthusiasts regularly check and post to that forum board.

The Forum Boards?
As mentioned above the best Forum for Aviation on the web is www.theaerodrome.com's forum at http://216.169.126.3/forum/index.shtml

Just want Links?
Try the Links section, it covers links to sites on the Australian Military in the First World War and Australian and New Zealand Aviation.

Made a mistake and you browse through here often?
Try the Updates Section.