Sopwith Tabloid
Serial Number:
168
Period: WWI
Collection Ref: 83/A/526
Location: RAF Museum London, Grahame-White Factory
The Tabloid was developed as a civil demonstrator and
racing biplane, but its military potential was obvious and it was ordered
by both the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service; the latter
using it for some of the earliest strategic bombing attacks against Germany.
When it first appeared in 1913 its performance was quite outstanding,
being far better than any previous biplane. The Royal Naval Air Service
used their Tabloids in early bombing attacks against the airship sheds
at Cologne and Dusseldorf in an attempt to deny the Germans the use of
operating bases close to the North Sea. The first raid took place on 22
September 1914 and although not a success was the first ever air raid
on Germany. The second raid was much more successful.
Royal Flying Corps Tabloids were used for scouting duties and were involved
in some of the earliest experiments in arming aircraft. Although it was
one of the first aircraft to have a machine gun fitted to fire through
the propeller arc it was only after the Tabloid had been withdrawn from
operational service in the spring of 1915 that a successful interrupter
gear was developed.
