Daron Sopwith Camel Australian Flying Corps Postage Stamp

Die-cast metal plane with a plastic stand

The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was established in 1912 and was the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) which was formed on 31st March 1921. The AFC's No 1 Squadron flew against Turkey in the Middle East from 1915 to 1918 and no's 2,3 & 4 Squadrons against Germany on the Western Front from 1916 till the Armistice in 1918. The AFC's best fighter aircraft in the final stages of WW l was the famous Sopwith Camel which could climb to 3000 metres (12,000 feet) in 12 minutes, fully loaded with weapons and ammunition.

The Sopwith Camel was a single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced to the Western Front in 1917. The Sopwith Camel was powered by a single rotary engine and armed with twin synchronised Vickers machine guns.

The AFC's 3 top Aces A. H. Cobby, E. R. King and E. J. McCloughry all flew Sopwith Camels in No.4 Sqn. AFC.