• Royal Flying Corps •

• Caudron •

The following table lists the Caudron aircraft (the first two with Anzani engines and later machines with Gnome) operated by the RFC.

French manufactures issued each aircraft with a construction number, which in most cases ran sequentially commencing at 1.

In addition a further sequential 'series number' was issued, commencing at 1 for the first aircraft of each series. Similar types were considered to be one series: for example the Morane L and Morane LA were both considered to be the 'L' series.

French military aircraft also received a military serial or SFA (Service des Fabrications de l'Aviation) which was shown on the tail of the aircraft, prefixed by a letter code indicating the manufacturer, 'C' being used for Caudron.

The system caused much confusion to the RFC and as a result the available records do not allow a complete cross-reference of RFC serials to French identities.

The position in regard to Caudron is particularly confusing. The RFC serial was only allotted when the aircraft arrived at the Aircraft Park, and a number of Caudron aircraft crashed on their delivery flight. Many aircraft were sent directly to the UK and flew in the UK with their French identities, although some subsequently received an RFC serial. To further complicate matters, some aircraft were sent to the UK after operating in France with an RFC serial, but were re-serialled in the UK.