1917 Frank Lankshear and 6 Squadron RFC

LANKSHEAR, Pte Frank. S/7140 RAOC attd 6^th Sqdn RFC. DOW received in aerial combat 21 Aug 1917 aged 22. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Lankshear of 13 Poyser St, Cambridge Heath, London. Born in Bermondsey and enlisted in London. Lijssenthoek Mil Cem, Belgium - XVII K 19A.  

In Memory of Private FRANK LANKSHEAR - details of his burial from CWGC 6 Squadron celebrated their 90th anniversary in 2004  6th Squadron Association  ( http://www.sixsqnassociation.org.uk/ RAF History Pictures of the men and machines of No 6 Squadron RFC (later RAF) during the Great War http://website.lineone.net/~shinysix/6WW1.htm .Frank' s Bible and Which Bible Version and Bible Cover around 5 inch by 3 1/2 Letter from the King - the Plaque sent with the letter

From http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/collections/ms/86-11/86-11-B.HTML

Book II of the aerial photographs of battlegrounds, this one entitled, "The Second Army Offensive in Flanders, July 31st to October 26th, 1917. B.I.S. Xth Corps, No. 6 Squadron, R.F.C." The "flyleaf" notation is: "Photographs taken from approximately 8000 ft., showing results of shell fire before and after the Battle." This was the Battle of Passchendale. There is an air photo of Ypres in addition to approximately 72 of the battle area--Menin Road before and after, Bassevillebeek, Veldhoek, Dumbarton Lakes, Ghedvelt, Moorslede, and of the Ypres-Comines Railway and Canal. These pictures, also, are somewhat faded but otherwise well preserved.

This sure sounds like Frank died at the time of the Battle of Passchendale whilst an Observer taking photographs and manning the Lewis Gun

I thought 6 was a scout squadron but From http://www.citigraph.com/rac/orderofbattle1917.htm it says July 31st 1917 - Battle of Ypres - RFC  2 Corps 6 squadron were at Abeele flying  RE8

And http://www.repligun.com/AircraftDrawingsMR.html and http://www.3squadron.org.au/indexpages/pics.htm have pictures of aircraft and an RE8 

Some RE8 pictures	Bottom row a crew and one that crashed