Very first RAF aircraft ever lost?

[Feathered_IV]

This is a tricky one, and online searches seemed to have failed me for the moment.

 

I imagine when the RAF was first formed on the 1st of April 1918, it was business as usual on the Western Front.  This got me wondering.... what was the very first aircraft to fall in combat under the new title?  Does anybody know?  I figured if ever I'm to find out, I'll find it here. 

[TG-55Panthercules]

Interesting question - I would have posted it on the RoF forums, but then most of us there are probably also over here from time to time (except perhaps for a few die hards).

 

My source (The Sky Their Battlefield II) indicates perhaps as many as 27 aircraft were lost (or at least damaged) by the RAF on the first day, April 1, 1918 - 8 Camels, 6 S.E.5a's, 2 Bristol F2B's, 4 DH-4's, 2 RE-8's, 4 A.W. FK8's and 1 SPAD XIII.  Can't tell for sure which one might have been first, though it might have been a No.8 Squadron A.W. FK8, no. C3684, which left at 6:20 am (though it may only have been damaged and not shot down).  Or maybe a No. 35 Squadron A.W. FK8, no. B3380, downed by rifle fire, which had left at 7:30 am.  Or maybe a No. 65 Squadron Sopwith Camel, no. D1811, claimed shot down by Jasta 4 at 8 am, or a No. 57 Squadron DH-4, no. A7401, claimed shot down by Jasta 6 at 8 am.

 

In any event, it didn't take long for the RAF to lose its first aircraft.

Edited November 14, 2017 by TG-55Panthercules

[Feathered_IV]

Thank you very much Panthercules, that is great information!  I had a feeling it might have been an Ack W.  I'll save that information and look into the squadrons a bit further.  I really appreciate it. 

[Guest deleted@149057]

I've just joined this forum because it came up in a search for "C3684". My great uncle was the Observer in this plane when it was brought down by enemy action early on 1st April 1918, and have often wondered whether it was the first RAF plane to be lost. Both he and his pilot were wounded in the action, and my great uncle died of septicaemia several days later. Very interested to know whether it was the first.