Randy’s Warbird Profile: WWI Sopwith Snipe Reproduction

In his latest profile, Randy Malmstrom examines the history of the Sopwith Snipe reproduction, showcasing its story and significance at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Since his childhood, Randy Malmstrom has had a passion for aviation history and historic military aircraft in particular. He has a particular penchant for documenting specific airframes with a highly detailed series of walk-around images and an in-depth exploration of their history, which have proved to be popular with many of those who have seen them, and we thought our readers would be equally fascinated too. This installment of Randy’s Warbird Profiles takes a look at the Sopwith Snipe reproduction on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

Sopwith Snipe (7F.1). Reproduction at Museum of Flight (MOF) in Seattle. Photos courtesy of Don England at MOF, thanks. This reproduction was built by Richard Day of Colonia, New Jersey. Completed in 1982 and powered by a Continental 220-horsepower radial engine and armed with two .303-inch Vickers machine guns represent a Snipe in postwar Royal Air Force service.

View of the Continental radial engine installed on the Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe reproduction on display at the Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington. (Don England via Randy Malmstrom)

Editor’s note: This aircraft was issued the FAA N-number N3765D and displayed at the Champlin Fighter Museum at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona until it was transferred to the Museum of Flight.

The Sopwith Snipe was developed in 1917 as a replacement for the famous Sopwith Camel. Armed with two 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns and powered by a single 230 hp Bentley BR2 nine-cylinder rotary engine, the Snipe did not enter widespread operational service until August 1918, and the most notable action involving a Sopwith Snipe during WWI was when Canadian ace Major William George “Billy” Barker single-handedly attacked a German Rumpler two-seat observation aircraft near the French-Belgian border over Forêt de Mormal on October 27, 1918. After downing the Rumpler, he was set upon by a formation of up 15 Fokker D.VII fighters of Jadgruppe 12. Upon engaging the German over Canadian lines, he downed at least three Fokker D.VIIs, despite sustaining multiple wounds that rendered him temporarily unconscious twice during the dogfight. Afterwards, Barker managed to break off from the remaining Germans and force landed behind Allied lines. For this action, Barker was awarded the British Empire’s most prestigious medal for gallantry, the Victoria Cross.

→ Read the entire article on the Vintage Aviation News website here:

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