Sopwith Snipe, National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC

The Sopwith Snipe on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C. USA, was one of four that made their way to the United States for evaluation by the USAS. The aircraft the museum displays was originally a two seater aircraft. Trials were conducted with the Sopwith built Sopwith Snipe serial J3628 by the USAS in 1921.

The Sopwith Snipe of E.J Richards was an early Sopwith built Snipe with the early two piece tail and the non balanced ailerons on the wings. The NASM Snipe bears the later production fixed tail surface and the balanced ailerons. The displays at the NASM for the Australian Flying Corps were marked as "Royal Australian Flying Corps", in subsequent correspondance Tom Dietz of the National Air and Space Museum wrote, "When we have the oppurtunity, we will make the correction.". The NASM website also has the Australian Flying Corps marked as "Royal Australian Flying Corps".

At the time of writing this is the only display aircraft outside of Australia in the markings of the Australian Flying Corps.

From "Australian Airmen", by E.J. Richards. The photo shows E8082 in it's original scheme while at Bickendorff, Cologne during ealry 1919. Of the 23 flights E8082 made between October 4th 1918 and November 11th 1918, including delivery, travelling, testing and operational flights, E.J. Richards flew 18 of them.

National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC, USA. Sopwith Snipe in markings of E8082, 4 Sqn AFC. Underneath tail view.

National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC, USA. Sopwith Snipe in markings of E8082, 4 Sqn AFC. Underneath forward view.

National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC, USA. Sopwith Snipe in markings of E8082, 4 Sqn AFC. Underneath forward view with detail.

National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC, USA. Sopwith Snipe in markings of E8082, 4 Sqn AFC. Underneath side view, with detail of serial and squadron markings.