Description
Physical description
2 - bladed propeller
wooden propeller (L 122in x W 14in x H 8in) from a German Gotha bomber; the item bears stamped markings: '3258', 'S165', 'D305', 'PS260' and also a metal plate with a commemorative inscription: 'Devil-In-The-Dusk, East Ham, May 19/20 1918'.
Label
Propeller from a First World War German Gotha bomber, that was shot down by a Bristol Fighter of 39 Squadron RAF, on the evening of May 19/20, 1918, at East Ham, London. The pilot of the Bristol Fighter C4636, (named 'Devil in the Dusk') was Lieutenant A J Arkell, and his gunner was 1st Air Mechanic A T C Stagg.
'Tony' Arkell, a parson's son aged 19, had joined 39 Squadron in February 1918, having previously been with 50 and 112 Squadrons. This was at least his eleventh home-defence sortie.
His gunner, Albert Stagg, had begun his career in 1½ Strutters of 78 Squadron, and when the Squadron re-equipped with Camels, he transferred to 39 Squadron; this was his fifth operational trip.
Arkell had been patrolling at an altitude of 11,000 feet for about an hour, when, at 00.05am on 20 May 1918, just north of Hainault, he spotted the twin exhaust flames of a Gotha bomber about 1,000ft below his machine. During the attack both he and Stagg firing at the bomber as opportunities presented themselves, until at 1,500ft, a final burst from Stagg set fire to the Gotha's starboard engine. The bomber span into the ground, just off Roman Road, East Ham, and burst into flames, the time being 00.20am.
Lieutenant Arkell's medals are also in the Museum's Collections (see OMD 4239-4243).
History note
At 10:56 pm on 19 May, 1918, Lieutenant AJ Arkell and Air Mechanic 1st Class ATC Stagg took off from North Weald in 39 (Home Defence) Squadron Bristol F2B Fighter C4636 A6 on a home defence patrol. At just after midnight German Gotha GV bomber 978/16 was intercepted near Roman Road, East Ham. Fire was exchanged and the Bristol was heavily shot up before the Gotha was hit in one of its engines, forcing it to crash at 12:20 am on 20 May. This was one of three Gothas shot down that night. The wreck of the Gotha was given the RFC registration AB6. It is probable that the Gotha belonged to BG3/Bs 18, and the crew consisted of Gefr Wilhelm Shulte (gunner), Leutnant Paul Sapokowick (observer) and Vfw Hans Tiedke (pilot). Gefr Ernst Jostmeyer, BG3/Bs 15, is recorded as having been killed at East Ham on the same day.
Arkell collected one of the propellers of the Gotha as a souvenir.
1: engraved metal plate.
2: Stamped
1: 'Devil-In-The-Dusk, East Ham, May 19/20 1918'
2: 3258, S165, D305, PS260.
