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| An unusually large aircraft by contemporary standards
for a single-seater, the Elephant two-bay equi-span
staggered biplane was designed by A A Fletcher of the Martinsyde Company, a prototype powered by a 120hp
Austro-Daimler engine entering test in the autumn of
1915. The initial production version, the G.100, was
powered by a 120hp six-cylinder Beardmore engine
and was armed with a single 7.7rnm Lewis
gun mounted above the centre section (this later being
augmented by a similar weapon bracket-mounted to
port behind the cockpit), deliveries to the RFC commencing
in 1916. The G.100 was succeeded by the G.102
version which differed in having a 160hp Beardmore
engine and replaced the lower-powered model progressively.
The G.100 and G.102 Elephants were used
in France and the Middle East, although only one RFC
squadron was completely equipped with this type, a
total of 270 being manufactured. While not particularly
successful as a fighter owing to its poor agility by comparison
with its smaller contemporaries, the Elephant
performed a useful service as a bomber, carrying up to
104kg.
 | A three-view drawing of G.100 (1280 x 886) |
| MODEL | G.102 |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 1115 kg | 2458 lb |
| Empty weight | 813 kg | 1792 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 11.58 m | 38 ft 0 in |
| Length | 8.08 m | 27 ft 6 in |
| Height | 2.95 m | 10 ft 8 in |
| Wing area | 38.09 m2 | 410.00 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 166 km/h | 103 mph |
| ARMAMENT | 2 machine-guns, 118kg of bombs |
| Laurent Bourque, e-mail, 08.03.2016 01:25 I have a copy of an ink drawing of a Martinsyde G100 or 102 with an inscription on the tail 4871. The drawing is signed with the initials G.W dated 23 /4 /18. He produced this drawing whhile in the Fairfield hospital. Would it be possible to have the name of the pilot. Thank you reply | | sven, 15.12.2012 20:58 Re the railway story . I belive this is true and think it was in the Dardenells or the middle east. I will research and get back to you reply | | Mark De Luca, e-mail, 14.12.2012 18:58 67 Sqn RFC were said to have made a prop driven railway car from an old "Elephant" front fuselage and used it to patrol rail lines.Is this true and if so do photos survive.
Most consensus is that this story is a hoax.Please advise reply | | Ian Pearson, e-mail, 21.07.2012 19:41 Martinsyde Attack on 16th November 1916 by 27 Squadron
In bitter weather on 16th Capt Sherrin led Six Martinsydes over 90miles to drop eight 112-lb bombs on the railway station at Hirson from just 1,000feet. Six coaches were blown off the tracks and buildings and other rolling stock were destroyed.
Info I found from The Martinsyde File by Ray Sanger
This book has a very detailed account of all Martinsydes ever flown reply | |
| | john stringer, e-mail, 13.04.2011 21:11 my father ec stringer also in 27 squadnon.i have elephant plaque taken from martinside he flew on bombing raid on 16 /11 /16. reply | | steve clarke, e-mail, 31.01.2010 18:55 I have a prop stock (now a clock) with the following written on it: Avro 120 120hp Daimler Beardmore Martinsyde Biplane. The are 3 other marks including a war office arrow. Does anyone know if this is from a G102 Elephant bomber? If not what? reply | | CRAIG GREEN, e-mail, 09.10.2009 21:51 I HAVE A PROPELLER FROM A MARTINSYDE G100 BIPLANE ANY INTEREST PLEASE CONTACT ME ON ABOVE EMAIL
MANY THANKS reply | | Ian C. Pearson, e-mail, 19.03.2009 20:25 50 Martinsyde G102 Elephant Bomber Reconnaissance Tractor Biplane(160-hp Beardmore, 120hp Beardmore from A1570?) ordered 21st June 1916 under Contract No 87 /A /487, serial Numbers A1561 to A1610
A1582 - Farnborough by 22.11.16; C sqn 26.2.12; X AP26.2.17; 14 Sqn 9.3.17; SOC 25.4.17
A1592 - Farnborough by 22.11.16; C Flight CFS Upavon by May 1917; 19 TS Hounslow September 1917; Flew into trees, 1.10.17 (Lt B F G Cunliffe injured)
50 Martinsyde G100 Elephant Bomber Reconnaissance Tractor Biplanes (120hp Beardmore) ordered 22.11.1915 under WO Contract No 87 /A /192 (and also Contract 94 /A /298?)
Serial Numbers 7258 to 7307
7282 - Tested Farnborough 17.3.16; 39 Sqn from 14.4.16; to France 19.5.16; 2 AD to 27 Sqn 11.6.16; damaged in Combat 31.7.16 (Lt R H C Usher wounded); to 2 AD 2.8.16; 27 Sqn; Shot down in flames, 31.8.16 (Capt A Skinner killed)
Information from The Martinsyde File by Ray Sanger
Ian Pearson reply | | Ian C Pearson, e-mail, 05.01.2008 11:12 Hi
I am now in the possesion of my Grandfathers RFC Log Book.
His name was Captain Kenneth Noble Pearson MC.
I thought you may find the following useful. If you have any cross references to photo's of the actual plane he flew I would be truely Greatful. I do have dome photo's he took of his aircraft which you may find interesting.
The Log starts by saying he was in No 20 and 21 Squadron.
He starts off in Castle Bromwich in a MF2962, MF2968 on August 9th 1915. by the 17th August he was flying Solo. This page was sigend by a Captain R Rodwell Commanding No 5 RAS, RFC.
Netheraison 26 /8 /1915 A792,A760,A762 (May be Netheravon)
13 Sept 1915 Joined wing
21 /9 /1915 BE1679, BE1681, BE5387
10th November 1915 Farnborough BE4114
26 /11 /1915 - BE2C 4128 Filton to Milford to Eversley to Farnborough
8th December BE2C 5388 TRIAL FLIGHTS
19th & 20th December BE2C Bristol to Farnborough Delivery flights
5th January 1916 BE2C 4158
8th January 1916 Flying in 21 Squadron RE 5 & 7's
RE5 688, RE7 2357, RE7 2353, RE7 2356 Practice dropping 500lb bombs
27-1-1916 RE2357 to Folkeston
3rd February 1916 Oreicas, France
RE2135 and RE2351 Patroling north and South course, Formation flying and Camera Obseving
2nd March RE2359 Bombing raid 3-112lb bombs - Shot down
10th and 11th March 1916 Monterial to Brisingden
13-March 1916 BF20-5 tests new engine
14th March 1916 Arras, St Pol Omer - Observer Lt Townsend put hole on prop.
18th March 1916 Bristol Scout St Omer
30th March 1916 BF 2950 own craft
30th March 1916 Martinsyde AD Scout Aerdrome
31st March 1916 RE7 2290 - Omer
5th April 1916 BE2C
10-04-16 BF 5-5
10-04-16 BE2C
21-04-16 RE7 RAF
23-04-16 Martinsyde
24-04-16 RE7 2367 St Andre to St Omer
21-04-16 C.F. 12-15
25-04-16 B.F. 12-15
25-04-16 RE7 2372 Own machine
26-04-16 RE7 2370, RE7 2361
27-04-16 RE7 2372 Bombing Raid 340lb bomb Engine blew out Starting Plug.
02-05-16 RE2C Observation test
27-05-16 RE7 St Andre - Paris Plage - Dropped 340lb bomb failed to detonate
17-05-16 M Scout (Martinsyde!!) Test guns at sea
08-06-16 RE7 2372 Total Flying time in France 90hrs 20mins Total Flying 122hrs 59mins
Flying in 27 Squadron Martinside Scouts Squadron
14-06-16 MS 7267, MS 7271
16-06-16 MS 7300
17-06-16 MS 7290 Recon to Cumbrage
20-06-16 MS 7271 Crashed undercarriage by running into hole in Aerodrome.
21-06-16 MS 7273
26-06-16 MS7298
01-07-16 MS 7300 Push Started - Offensive Patrol 2.5 Hrs over lines
02-07-16 MS 7298 - Offensive Patrol
06-07-16 MS 7300 - Offensive Patrol had 4 scraps with Huns. Hit prop. coul and intercection were listen also in planes - 15 huns
06-07-16 MS 7272 Setting Gun Sights
13-07-16 MS 7464 Cumbrai went down to 500feet and bomber train NE of Cumbrai 30 miles behind lines.
21-07-16 MS 7364 Bapauine Dropped 1 -112lb Bomb escorted RE brough down Archie. Direct hit 1 scrap him
30-07-16 MS 7300 V ... reply |
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