Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/index.php)
-   Pre-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/forumdisplay.php?f=34)
-   -   Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=54113)

Tim O. 4th June 2019 13:26

Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
4 Attachment(s)
I am just going through my grandfather's photos of WW1 aircraft and am unsure of the types shown in these images. I think the captured German plane is an Albatross but not sure which model. Any help in identifying the aircraft types will be appreciated.

Buckeye30 4th June 2019 15:06

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Hi Tim
Albatros D.I
Martinsyde F.1 experimental
Voisin VIII modified
Sopwith Camel F.1 Nieuport-built trainer ( they put the serial in a white block)
Nick

Tim O. 4th June 2019 16:15

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckeye30 (Post 270189)
Hi Tim
Albatros D.I
Martinsyde F.1 experimental
Voisin VIII modified
Sopwith Camel F.1 Nieuport-built trainer ( they put the serial in a white block)
Nick

Nick

You are a star! Thank you for the very quick reply. This is very helpful.

jednastka 5th June 2019 03:54

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckeye30 (Post 270189)
Hi Tim
Albatros D.I
Martinsyde F.1 experimental
Voisin VIII modified
Sopwith Camel F.1 Nieuport-built trainer ( they put the serial in a white block)
Nick

I'll quibble on a minor point, the Albatros is most likely a D.II, since less that 50 D.I's were built and some 300 D.II's were built. Only the D.I and the D.II had such protruding radiators on both sides of the fuselage.

A questi8on on the Sopwith. Definitely a Sopwith from the tail, but I thought all Sopwith F-1's had cutouts in the upper wing for improved viewing. I do not see cutouts there.

Vic

Stig Jarlevik 5th June 2019 11:51

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Tim

Just to expand slightly on the above correct details I would say
1. The Albatros is clearly a D.I (look at the inward slanting struts above the engine and the high set top wing). It is in British markings which indicates it is the former D.391/16 flown by Ltn Büttner of Jasta Boelcke and captured 1 Dec 1916. It was painted with British roundels sometime during the spring of 1917.

2. Martinsyde F.1 A3933 (A3934 was never fisnished), a failed Bristol Fighter competitor and I would say it lost for one primary reason, the old fashioned thinking of putting the observer in front of the pilot. It was highly criticized when under test. It is seen here being in one single colour probably rather late in life so 1918 is more likely than 1917.

3. Voisin LAP (type VIIIBn2) V.1721 a French long range night bomber used mainly in 1917 by frontline units. It has no distinguishing markings (except the interesting digits 544).

4. Sopwith Camel F.1 C87 and most probably its final end. The Nieuport mentioned by Nick is not the French company but Nieuport & General Aircraft Co Ltd at Cricklewood

Questions:
a) Can you give us some better dates Tim?
b) Anything else you can tell us, such as where the photos were taken?
c) Nick, you say the Voisin LAP is modified. How/where??

Cheers
Stig

Buckeye30 5th June 2019 17:32

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Vic. I think the cut-out ( the normal small half-circle) is above the man's right shoulder: the top wing has been pushed to the right and the cabane struts broken off that side.


Stig, I was thinking the main undercarriage had been strengthened but looking at other photos of LAPs there were several styles.

The Camel....I should have said "probably" from a Reserve / Training squadron as it's unarmed and has a typical individual marking although a few Camels in the Aegean had similar narrow bands though not as a squadron marking.
Regards
Nick

Stig Jarlevik 5th June 2019 18:24

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Thanks Nick

The LAP (type VIIIBn2) had many problems, one being the undercarriage which, due to the increased engine power, had to be modified a number of times. The other main one was the engine itself....

With regard to the Camel it seems it was delivered in April 1918 to 201/202 TDS (Training Depot Stations) at Cranwell and later to 62TS (Training Squadron) at Hounslow where it was SOC 18.5.1918.
A very short life....

Cheers
Stig

jednastka 5th June 2019 20:05

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Stig;I defer to your greater wisdom; you are absolutely correct re. Albatros D.I.

Vic

Buckeye30 6th June 2019 14:05

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Stig. The Training Squadron didn't last much longer, disbanded in July.
If you havn't seen them you may find these interesting as regards serials etc.
Nick


http://albindenis.free.fr/Site_escad...fabricants.htm
http://www.airhistory.org.uk/rfc/French.html

Stig Jarlevik 6th June 2019 15:44

Re: Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please
 
Thanks Nick

Yes, I am aware of the sites, but have only been nibbling on both of them.
Unfortunately I belong to those "old duffers" who are rather more comfortable with their books than the internet.....

Guess it has something to do with "Old dogs" and all that....

Cheers
Stig


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 01:45.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2018, 12oclockhigh.net