 Due to an increase in German bombing raids and the heavier commitment of Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) aircraft in France, the Royal Flying Corps was given the task of Home Defence, setting up a number of squadrons, with flights spread over the length of the British coastline.The coast in North East England between Whitby and Newcastle was protected by No.36 (Home Defence) Squadron, equipped with the B.E.2c and B.E.12.