Sopwith Camel of the Red Arrows display team - 1920

[RAFF-35]

Diary of Squadron Leader George Dummet on the formation of the Red Arrows display team

April 6th 1920.
War leaves its scars long after the guns fall silent. It has been more than a year since I learned of Armstrong's death. Victor to his family, but to us always "D'urban." He was a rare soul. Bold and reckless in combat, yet compassionate and full of humor on the ground. His flying had a flourish to it, a joy that not even the trenches could dull. That he should die not in combat but while looping his Camel low over a crowd of cheering soldiers at Bouvinourt feels almost unbearable. To fall to war is one thing; to fall to celebration, another cruelty altogether.
When the grim news reached me on the 17th of November, I could not let him slip away unmarked. With eight of his closest companions, I led a formation of Camels, each painted blood red in honour of D'urban's own mount, C6713. We swept in close order over the fields where he once flew. It was meant as a farewell, a salute in the sky to a friend we could not bring home. Yet as we passed, the sight of us drew a cheer from the crowd below. For an instant grief turned, strangely, into something quite different.
After that, the requests came quickly. First from squaddies and sappers, then from officers, until even the high command asked us to perform for them.
What began as a gesture became a duty, and from duty, an artform. At the Air Vice-Marshal's birthday last year we flew in proper sequence, blending our combat maneuvers with daring passes and close formation flying. From that was born our proudest shape. The Diamond Nine.
Now, in 1920, it has grown into something larger than any of us imagined. The newspapers have given us a name that clings to us still, "the Red Arrows". Our Sopwiths carry the emblem beneath their bellies, a white-edged arrow as familiar as any regimental badge. I have also devised a trick of fitting small diesel tanks under our fuselages that trail smoke at the flick of a switch, so that our formations leave patterns behind. Curves, crosses, hearts in the sky itself. For a brief moment, the heavens become our canvas.
We are called everywhere now, to state occasions, civic ceremonies, even foreign tours. A new kind of diplomacy, not with pen or sabre, but with the joy of flight. And always, I wonder what Durban would make of it. I think he would throw back his head and  laugh before asking when he might take the lead once more.

[kerick]

Story and build are beautiful.

[Steel Penguin]

Just sublime   

[RAFF-35]

Thanks chaps! I've just got A.I. to render one of my images to make it look realistic

[RAFF-35]

For those of you who were wondering,  D'urban Victor Armstrong was real, and this was his aircraft.

[Wardukw]

Great build Raff mate 👌 👍
I'm gonna read that story later today that's for sure 

[PR19_Kit]

That backstory needs a Whiffy Award just on its own!

It's MAGNIFICENT!

On a more poignant note, and remembering recent comments on funerals in Pellson's thread, Nov 17th was the date of Mrs_PR19s death too. 

[RAFF-35]

Great build Raff mate 👌 👍
I'm gonna read that story later today that's for sure 

Do I fill up your lunch break story time or something? 

[RAFF-35]

That backstory needs a Whiffy Award just on its own!

It's MAGNIFICENT!

On a more poignant note, and remembering recent comments on funerals in Pellson's thread, Nov 17th was the date of Mrs_PR19s death too. 

Thank you very much!! 

I'm sorry to have picked such a sombre date. I just chose it at random a few days after Armstrong died in 1918.

[PR19_Kit]

I'm sorry to have picked such a sombre date. I just chose it at random a few days after Armstrong died in 1918.

It's fine, as she herself said 'You're born, you live your life, and you die. That's life'

[Rick Lowe]

Nicely done, story & model both. 

[NARSES2]

That backstory needs a Whiffy Award just on its own!

Well nominate it then   

[NARSES2]

Terrific build and story 

[PR19_Kit]

That backstory needs a Whiffy Award just on its own!

Well nominate it then   

Oh, I didn't know I could nominate just the backstory. I will do just that.   

[kitbasher]

Terrific build and story 

Indeed.