File:100 years of the RAF MOD 45163632.jpg

English: A padre uses the observer's cockpit of an FE.2b aircraft, as his pulpit during a service held at the 2 Aircraft Servicing Depot in France.

The image was taken on the 1st of September 1918, and demonstrates the lack of protection afforded to the observers who occupied this seat during air-to-air combat.

When the RAF was formed on 1 April 1918, there were seven squadrons of F.E.2s serving as night bombers and a further four squadrons of the type used for night flying training. The last of the type in front-line service served with occupation forces in Germany until March 1919.

The pilot occupied the rear cockpit and the gunner the front, giving his one or two Lewis machine guns an unobstructed field of fire of over 180 degrees. Used in offensive patrols over enemy lines to escort unarmed reconnaissance aircraft, with a 160hp Beardmore engine giving a maximum speed at sea level of 147km/h/91.5 mph the F.E.2s were generally outperformed by German fighter aircraft by late 1916 which led to their night-time rather than daytime use.

The F.E.2b was specifically designed for large-scale wartime production by companies inexperienced in aircraft production.

• Some of these images have had some dodging and burning done and have been retouched to remove detritus and dust and scratch marks only*
• Organization: RAF
• Object Name: AHB-WW1-FE2dSermon
• Category: MOD
• Supplemental Categories: Aircraft, Equipment, People, Historic
• Keywords: WWI, World War One, War, Army, Service, padre, Sermon, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b, Historic Aircraft, RAF, Royal Air Force, Historic, Equipment, Aircraft, Occasion, Historic Event, Black and White, B&W, RAF 100
• Country: France