Fellowes force landed a JN4 at Hendon on 5.2.1917, and overturned a Bristol Scot at Redcar on 17.3.1917, before taking over as OC of 2(Naval) on 1.4.1917. Doesn’t leave a lot of time for going to Russia ?
According to Meinertzhagen, a intelligence officer who never let the fact ruin the retelling of a good story, “On July 1st everything was ready and the plane took off. Success was not complete and I find it too dangerous to give details. One child was literally thrown in to the plane at Ekateringburg, much bruised and brought to Britain where she still is.” The Czar and Czarina were too well guarded to be rescued, but their children (2 women & 3 teenagers) supposedly were.
So, this begs the question as to what sort of aeroplane the RAF had which was capable of carrying this many people and flying to Russia and back, without refuelling ?
There is nothing in Fellowes’ service record to suggest that he would be chosen to fly anything other than a single-engined aircraft, and certainly nothing like an O/400.