Imagine flying a strategic air raid in an Avro 504. It happened in November 1914 when three machines took off from Belfort with four 20-lb bombs each to attack the Zeppelin works in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, 200 km (125 miles) away. Although the raid was an RNAS affair, the planes were RFC serials 873, 874 and 875. RFC 179 failed to get airborne. Some of the pilots had never flown a 504 before. 873 was shot down and Squadron Commander Edward Briggs was taken prisoner. The raid caused little damage, but was successful in that the Germans took extensive defensive measures. Belfort - Fontaine was then an airship station. Photo from: KB - National Library of the Netherlands

The titles had changed from the earlier "TAT Cargo" to "TAT Express-Reseau National". After the service with TAT, this ex-Piedmont aircraft was operated by Transvalair until around 1999. Last noted in 2010, it was probably scrapped at Dinard, still in Transvalair colours.