First World War fighter planes heading for Cosford

A Bristol M1c, a Sopwith 1½ Strutter and a Sopwith 'Pup' Scout will arrive at the museum on the back of two lorries at around 3pm tomorrow.

The planes are being transported from Cosford's sister museum in London, and will go on display in December as part of the First World War In The Air exhibition.

Museum marketing officer Michelle Morgans said the planes would be driven via the M1, M6 and M54 motorways, and their wings would be detached during transportation.

"They will then be taken into our conservation area, where they will be stored until they go on show later in the year," she said.

The Sopwith 1½ Strutter was a biplane which first went into service in December, 1915, and was the first British-designed two seater tractor fighter.

It was also the first British aircraft to enter service with a synchronised machine gun.

It was given the name "1½ Strutter" because of the 'one-and-a-half' (long and short) pairs of cabane struts supporting the top wing.

The Sopwith Scout, commonly known as the Pup because it was seen as the smaller brother to the Strutter, was considered by many pilots to be the perfect flying machine. It was used extensively by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps both at home and abroad.

The Bristol M1c was an early example of a fighter monoplane, and served in the Middle East and Balkans during the last two years of the war.

"The exhibitions will allow museum audiences to discover and explore the unique and often overlooked role of air power during the First World War through the incredible stories of the men and women who took part," said Mrs Morgans.

She added that the exhibition was made possible with a grant of £898,558 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.