A Silver Royal Flying Corps F.E.2b ‘Pusher’ Biplane by silversmith Edward Dines for Royal jewellers Mappin & Webb of Regent Street, London

Farman Experimental (F.E.2b)

Arriving on Western Front in January 1916, the F.E.2b was initially deployed with marked success and helped win air superiority for the First Battle of the Somme. The installation of a 160 h.p. engine increased its competitive edge, but by the end of 1916 it was hopelessly outclassed in aerial combat and was withdrawn from daylight operations in early 1917. Re-issued later that year as night bomber, it continued to be used until the Armistice. Night operations further revealed that F.E.2b was particularly suited to anti-Zeppelin patrol work. Accordingly the F.E. was used extensively by the Home Defence Squadrons, often with ‘flame reducers’ fitted to the exhausts and Michelin reconnaissance flares carried on fuselage mounted racks.