WWI Sopwith Camel G.B. Jarrett Flown Linen Acrylic Relic Desk Display

A rare opportunity to own and display an authentic piece of World War I aviation history combined with the breathtaking original art by Ron Cole in a two-sided 6x8-inch acrylic desk display.

While nearly 5,500 Sopwith Camels were built between 1917 and 1919 - only 8 survive today, and nearly all of those original aircraft have been rebuilt using new materials. 

This original Sopwith Camel linen is original to this aircraft, built by Hooper & Company Ltd. of Westminster, London after September 1918. After flying with the RAF for a short period, it was sold to the American aviation pioneer Clarence Chamberlin in 1925, who flew it as a personal aircraft. It was then sold to the famous aircraft preservationist George B. Jarrett, who rebuilt the aircraft and displayed it as part of his collection at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City between 1936 and 1947 (see photos).

During Jarrett's 1936 rebuild, he recovered the aircraft with new American-made linen but saved portions of the original material (see photos). Much of it was cut into smaller pieces and stored together until acquired by Ron Cole as part of a huge acquisition of Jarrett's preserved memorabilia. Several wartime-applied factory stencils were found among the original linen pieces which allowed Cole's Aircraft to identify the origins of this rare airplane which now still exists in flying condition in New Zealand (though reconstructed with new materials). Until then, nothing had been known about the history of this Camel prior to its ownership by Chamberlin.  

Ron Cole has reconstructed what this Sopwith Camel likely looked like during the last months of World War I based upon known information, the production of Camels by Hooper & Company at the time, and evidence suggested by the surviving samples of original linen in the Cole's Aircraft collection.

Ron has combined 1x1-inch carefully selected pieces of authentic linen from this Sopwith Camel with his original artwork of this aircraft in flight c. 1919. Each swatch of linen is free-floating within the display and may be viewed from each side. 

Each is signed & numbered by the artist one of only 100.