This is a short story on the Royal Enfield WD/RE – affectionately referred to as the “Flying Flea”.
The Flying Flea was a British motorcycle developed by Royal Enfield for the British War Office. The Government had requested a simple, lightweight motorcycle that could be dropped by parachute alongside airborne troops, with the intention that, upon landing, the bike could be used to quickly get to frontline troops to convey communications and enhance the mobility of the attacking force.
And this was what Royal Enfield came up with… it was basic, but ticked all the boxes. The Flea weighed only 56kg which allowed the average squaddie to lift it over their shoulder and negotiate obstacles, rivers and pretty much anything that got in the way. Oh, and it was also perfect for chucking out the back of a Lancaster.
The little frame housed a 126cc air-cooled two stroke single, making it capable of around 45mph – not quite a Black Shadow, but the motor provided a power to weight ratio more than enough for the demands of the terrain it would be up against. The low compression piston also meant that it could run on the cruddiest war fuel – another handy feature for front line duties.
The next hurdle was to work out how to safely drop the Enfield without it ending up in a crumpled mess in the landing zone, alongside one unhappy soldier. A tubular crate was designed to provide a framework that cradled the motorcycle and protect it on impact.
The bike required various modifications to fit in the cradle and to fulfil duties in the battlefield… the handlebars were rotated to fit in the frame; the kick-starter and footrests were replaced with foldable ones; the seat height was raised; and an expansion chamber was added to reduce exhaust sound for stealth behind enemy lines.
The cradle eventually conformed to drop tests and requirements, and went into production at the Enfield’s Calton Hill factory in December of 1942.
A small number of Fleas were actually dropped into the battle zone by parachute. Instead, the Army opted to load and strap the bikes into troop carrying gliders, four at a time. Not quite as cool as the original plan, but maybe more practical none-the-less.
The bikes also went waterborne, and many were involved in beach landings in 1943 and 1944 and used for communication between the beaches and the nearest front line forces.
Having been used and abused in battle, only a handful of original Flying Fleas have survived. As with other pieces of military equipment in WWII, the bikes were often seen as disposable and sent on a one-way ticket across the Channel. Their role in moving brave servicemen however should not be underestimated and forgotten.
What an inspirational little machine.
an article by The Girder Club
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