British Flying Clothing in the Great War 

Vernon Creek 

8.00 pm BST 18th October 2023 

Hawker: Film Event

Daniel Arbon

8.00 pm BST 28th November 2023 

Private viewing of 'Hawker' and Director's Chat

Maj Lanoe Hawker VC DSO is the subject of a new short film due for release later this year. Hawker tells the story of the action of 25th July 1915 when Capt Hawker became the first British pilot to successfully shoot down an enemy aircraft by mounting a Lewis Gun to the side of his Bristol Scout. His victories on that day, on top of his sustained bravery since the outset of the war, resulted in the awarding of the Victoria Cross. It was only the third VC given to an Airman and the first for Air to Air combat with another Aeroplane.  This film event is offered to GWAS members and will be accompanied by an opportunity to hear film director Daniel Arbon talk about the story of the making of the film.

Daniel Arbon has always been interested in aviation, and initially trained in aerospace manufacturing, serving a Modern Apprenticeship with Rolls Royce (In a factory built to manufacture “Merlin” engines during WW2). He went on to RMA Sandhurst as Officer Cadet in the British Army in 2005 before being medically discharged. He began his career in the arts as an actor, graduating from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2011.  He made his first film, “Ironheart”, in 2016 and formed  Middle Realm Productions, producing short dramas and corporate films.  

Breaking Racial Barriers in the RFC

Jon Guttman

December 2023

Among the many social changes that emerged amid World War I was the first entry of non-Europeans into the seemingly elite realm of military aviation. Although they faced prejudice, by 1918 pilots of African descent turned up in the Italian air corps, the Turkish navy, Britain’s Royal Flying Corps and the French air service.

Among the many social changes that emerged amid World War I was the first entry of non-Europeans into the seemingly elite realm of military aviation. Although they faced prejudice, by 1918 pilots of African descent turned up in the Italian air corps, the Turkish navy, Britain’s Royal Flying Corps and the French air service.

Jon Guttman, a resident of Leesburg, Virginia, is currently the senior editor for Historynet.com. Specialising in World War I aviation, he has written nineteen titles for Osprey, including the popular Aircraft of the Aces 66: Balloon-Busting Aces of World War I, as well as Grim Reapers: French Escadrille 94 in World War I and Aerial Foreign Legion: Volunteer Foreign Airmen in French Escadrille Service.