Royal Enfield Flying Flea 1944



          

    


The Royal Enfield WD/RE (Flying Flea) was designed for the requirements of airborne forces.  Its lightweight construction enabled it to be carried by glider or aircraft or for it to be dropped by parachute within a specially designed cradle. It was also employed for communications purposes in the assault landings in 1943 and 1944. 

Background

The Royal Enfield Flying Flea was purchased in September 2018 with my good friend Julien Morgan. We had seen the Flea at the War and Peace show. We took the Flea to Normandy in 2019.

       

                    
               The Flea in action 
             Chateau de Martragny June 2019

Vehicle history

Registration WTO 350 from the Cardboard Buff RF60 log book)

First registration  9th March 1956 (Previously Government vehicle) 

Owner 1 Dawsons Cars and Motorcycles - Shakespeare Street, Nottingham 9th March 1956. Dawsons was one of the main ex-Minsistry of Defence (MOD) motorcyle dealers purchasing motorcycles from the Ruddington sales.

Owner 2 Arthur Pye - Drayton Estate, Norwich 17th March 1956 (Licences issued in Norwich until 1966)

Owner 3 Clive Scarfe - Lowestoft

Owner 4 Andrew Biddle, Lichfield - 2018

WTO 350 before restoration

The Flea came with plenty of documentation


Vehicle history

Frame no. 10760*  Engine no. 10760 Bike no. 1854

Contract S7112* Production 10th July - 14th December 1944 with delivery up to  November 1945

Contract no on tank from 5859206 C No. C5861060 Only 370 made for army

28th August 1945 Liverpool

Batch of 3224 (1000 not built)

Specification 

Production1939–1945
PredecessorDKW RT100
SuccessorRE125
ClassMilitary
Engine126 cc air-cooled two stroke single
Top speed45 mph
Power3.5 hp @ 4,500
Transmissionthree-speed, chain final drive
Suspensionfixed
Brakesdrum
DimensionsL: 75 in
W: 26 in
Weight130 lb (59 kg)
Fuel consumption130 mpg (2.1L/100km)

The information above is sourced from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Enfield_WD/RE

This link also contains information on the Flying Fleas purpose and development.

Production history

The first contracts were placed in 1943 with the final contract in December 1944. 6,978 "Flying Fleas" were manufactured.


Sources

Maintenance manual and instruction book for motor cycle, solo 125 cc two stroke Royal Enfield Model WD/RE Book No. 101/ RE4

Spare Parts List  for motor cycle, solo 125 cc two stroke Royal Enfield Model WD/RE 

Drivers handbook  for motor cycle, solo 125 cc two stroke Royal Enfield Model WD/RE Book No. 100/ RE4

British Forces Motorcycles 1925-45 (2017) Chris Orchard and Steve Madden* Source for WT0 350 service history

Windscreen - The magazine of the Military Vehicle Trust Winter 2005 Issue 109. Article by Denis Chorlton - Denis does battle with the Flying Flea.

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