Finding a squadron and colours

[srob]

I'm starting to plan a painting I'd like to do, of Lawrence of Arabia on his Brough Superior racing a Bristol F2B aeroplane.

It's written about in his book and shown here in reasonable detail, and I've found where the road was (the A15 near Lincoln). The Brough's details can be found relatively easily (he named all his bikes!) but what I'm struggling with is finding what colours the 'plane would have been.

I'm not entirely sure of the date that the race happened, but he had his first SS100 "Boanerges" in 1922 I think, so it was after that. As far as I can find, the majority of Bristols were out of commission in 1919. He mentions "Whitewash Villas" as being where the 'plane's from but I can't find any reference to an RAF base called that.

Anyone suggest anywhere that I can search?

Thanks

[MikeGTi]

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ePLQAwAAQBAJ&a...

From the above it would appear that Whitewash Villas refers to RAF Digby.

ETA: From that, and given the date- it's possible that the aircraft was from No. 2 Flying Training School RAF. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Digby#Between_th...

Edited by MikeGTi on Monday 2nd January 17:12

[srob]

MikeGTi said:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ePLQAwAAQBAJ&a...

From the above it would appear that Whitewash Villas refers to RAF Digby.

Thanks, your searching skills are clearly better than mine

[MikeGTi]

No worries!

[ecsrobin]

Off topic I notice Wikipedia says that it's a former RAF base however to my knowledge (and unless any things changed recently) it still is an RAF base.

I highly recommend a visit to the WW2 bunker if it's still accessible on a Saturday morning.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

ecsrobin said:

Off topic I notice Wikipedia says that it's a former RAF base

It's still known as RAF Digby but (just like Wyton) it's now joint service - in this case the Joint Service Signals Organisation.

Bunker tours are available from May to October on Sunday mornings at 11:00.

If you go past Digby to the east into the village of Scopwick, you will find in the cemetary the grave of John Gillespie Magee (author of the poem 'High Flight').

Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Monday 2nd January 20:45