The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Like the Hurricane compared to the Spitfire in the Second World War, the S.E.5 was not as glamorous as the Sopwith Camel, nor did it achieve the same iconic status, but it was one of the most important and influential aircraft of the war. The S.E.5 was instrumental in ensuring that the period of German dominance known as Bloody April 1917 was not repeated.

The S.E.5 (Scout Experimental 5) was designed by Henry P. Folland and J. Kenworthy of the Royal Aircraft Factory in Farnborough. It was built around the new 150-hp (112 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8a V8 engine which, while it provided excellent performance, was under-developed and unreliable. The first of three prototypes flew on November 22nd, 1916. The first two prototypes were lost in crashes and the third underwent modification before production commenced.

Only 77 original S.E.5s were built before the improved S.E.5a model took over. In total 5,205 S.E.5s were built by six manufacturers including Austin Motors and Vickers. A few were converted as two-seat trainers and there were plans for Curtiss to build 1000 S.E.5s in the United States but only one was completed before the end of the war.

Pictured here is a 1:48 scale replica of a Royal Flying Corps S.E.5a fighter that was piloted by Major Keith Logan Caldwell, who was attached to No.74 Squadron, then deployed to Clairmarais, France, during September 1918. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-1/4-inches
Wingspan: 6-3/4-inches

Release Date: December 2024

Historical Account: "Kiwi" - Already celebrated as a brave and tenacious pilot, New Zealander Keith Caldwell would surpass his own high standards of incredible airmanship when his fighter was involved in a mid-air collision in September 1918. With his aircraft damaged and spinning earthwards, Caldwell climbed out to stand on the wing of the fighter, where he attempted to pull the wing and strut closer together.

At the same time, he kept his other foot on the rudder peddle and attempted to bring the aircraft under some control. Miraculously, the aircraft started to respond, but continued dropping at an alarming rate, however, it was now something of a controlled fall. Knowing he wouldn't be able to affect a controlled crash landing, Caldwell brought the stricken fighter in low over Allied lines, jumping clear of the aircraft just seconds before it struck the ground and disintegrated.

Allied troops watching on could hardly believe what they had witnessed, and later recounted how as the SE5a smashed into the ground, Caldwell picked himself up, dusted himself down and calmly strolled towards Allied positions. For most men, having survived such an incident, they would have taken this opportunity to use their rank and take a desk job for the rest of the war, but that wasn't Keith Caldwell's style. He was straight back to his squadron and back flying operational patrols, once he'd been checked out by station doctors.