It looks like a Camel taking part in ditching trials. In 1918 larger
warships carried an aeroplane which would take off from a platform rigged
over a gun turret, but there was no way for the aeroplane to land on the
ship again after its mission. The idea was that the aeroplane would ditch
in the ocean and be recovered. A lot of work went in to trying various
means of reducing damage to ditching aircraft, including vanes on the
undercarriage, inflatable flotation bags, etc.



The pilot seems to be wearing RNAS uniform, but the men on the vessel appear
to be in RAF gear. Perhaps the airman didn't want his new uniform to be
saturated.