Identification of WW1 Aircraft Types Please

[jednastka]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

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]

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