Felix was in The Royal Flying Corps (RFC), then the RAF, as a Pilot Officer, 233 Squadron, Thornaby Yorkshire. His Avro Anson Reconnaissance plane ditched and burned at sea off the coast at Sheringham, Norfolk. No explanation, but the plane circled low over a Newcastle Collier ship, the "Birtley", attempting to attract attention, it then fell and burst into flames upon impact with the sea. Wreckage was found some 5 miles East of the Dudgeon light vessel, but no bodies were recovered. Loss of all crew. (The London Times 08 April 1938).
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred totally on support of the British Army, via artillery cooperationand photographic reconnaissance. This work gradually led RFC pilots into aerial battles with German pilots and later in the war included the strafing of enemy infantry and emplacements, the bombing of German airfields and later the strategic bombing of German industrial and transportation facilities. On 1 April 1918, the RFC was amalgamated with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force.
RAF Thornaby was located at the Teesside town of Thornaby, Cleveland (formerly North Yorkshire). The station was created in the mid 1920s and fell into the hands of 18 group RAF Coastal Command in 1939. It was used mostly for reconnaissance work over theNorth Sea.
