Photo Sopwith

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of a Sopwith 1 1/2 Struuter in french service at:


https://www.ebay.it/itm/photo-ww1-so...sAAOSw0~5ed5q3


and:


https://www.ebay.it/itm/photo-ww1-so...wAAOSwq29ed5pv


A possible serial 344 on the second photo?



Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Could be Clint

However with over 4000 Sopwith 1A2 and 1B1/2 built in France there could be one more digit not visible.

Again the photos are pretty indifferent and it is impossible to say which unit they served with. At least the BR 123 used Sopwiths in their earlier life....

Cheers
Stig

[musec04]

Hello,


On ebay a nice photo of a Sopwith 1F.1 Camel with a 180 hp Clerget Engine as tested by France:


https://www.ebay.fr/itm/2-PHOTOS-NIE...UAAOSwKqlbnUBX


also shown according to the seller a Nieuport Parasol which appears to bear british roundels. Anyone know more about this machine?



Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Clint

While the Camel as you say was used by Clerget for various engine tests the Nieuport monoplane fighter prototype is more shady.

Late in the war (well from mid 1917 or so), the company tried its best to renew their designs and even drop the biplane formula and try the monoplane shape.
There are various photos of one (or two) airplanes built from late 1917 to early/mid 1918. They all conform to the same monoplane shape with mostly different landing gear and tail configurations. For all I can say, it could actually be one and the same airframe rebuilt over and over again.

They (it?) never received any type number which to me indicate that maybe Nieuport itself was not very interested in switching to monoplanes. Since they continued with their biplane designs and was given large orders for their Nieuport-Delage 29 model, I would say were quite correct!

Checking my sources, they are very reluctant to give anything away, and most seems to repeat what Jean Noel stated som 50 years ago....first aircraft being under construction in October 1917 and the idea being abandoned in May 1918. They all show two-three photos, this one being one of them.

Cheers
Stig

[musec04]

Hi Stig,


Thanks for the reply. Your reply contains I think all that seems to be known about this Nieuport Monoplane (the name given in Davilla and Soltan).TBH I was hoping something might have turned up since that was published - though admittedly I wasn't optimistic. The seller of that item has a number of other (to my mind overly pricey) examples of prototype French aircraft. Perhaps all were taken at the C.R.P.


Regards,


Clint

[musec04]

Hello,


A further photo of a Sopwith 1A2 9413 is currently on ebay at:


https://www.ebay.fr/itm/photo-britis...MAAOSwZ-RelHWB


Regards,


Clint

[Buckeye30]

Snipe E6353 ... either "2" or "3" ( Slavo-British) sqns. in N. Russia, with RAF volunteers from the W. Front; a variety of aircraft including
Camels, DH9s, DH9As, Nieuports, 1/1/2 Strutters, & Snipes.


Snipe E8008 (probably not 4AFC)... was with 43 Sqn RAF returned from Eil ( Koln) 23/8/19.
You can just see their sloping bars and letter ("Z" ?). It's in their history.
4AFC's Snipes are listed on "ADF Serials"; they had a short vertical bar in front of the cocarde with a letter or number to the rear.
Regards
Nick

[musec04]

Hello Nick,


Thanks for the reply and the helpful additional information. It can be very different to judge the accuracy of the sellers information (re 4 AFC) though in truth I should have crosschecked with the ADF page.


Here are another couple of Camels:


Sopwith F.1 Camel B9233 5 TS

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sopwith-Camel-Biplane-B9233-Crash-Large-Original-Photo-BZ829/393177570577?hash=item5b8b359d11:g:QfwAAOSwpZtgQi8 w


Sopwith F.1 Camel D6447

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-WW1-photo-Royal-Flying-Corps-6-Squadron-Sopwith-Camel-WW1-RAF/114717676178?hash=item1ab5b4d292:g:wBAAAOSwALxgRSr Q



Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Clint

Agree with Nick, E8008 came nowhere near 4 AFC.

Regarding the Camels, my version of what happened to B9233 is that it was being collected by an 80 Sq pilot (2/Lt Oldridge) from No 5 TS. On 26 Jan 1918 he crashed and was killed. Two reports exist and it is not possible by me to see where this is, so I don't know which version is correct.

D6447 was with No 72 Sq when it was dubbed 'Susan' (Sep 1918 is a fixed date)
No idea from where the original caption writer got 6 (N) Sq from. Not a single source of mine claims that.

I hope for the buyers sake that the quality of the actual photos sold by this "throughtheireyes" are far better then they appear on ebay....

Cheers
Stig

[musec04]

Hi Stig,


Thanks. I deduced that D6447 was with 72 Squadron when the photo was taken.But good to have confirmation.


I'm not claiming any certainty about the fate of B9233. I used http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918.htm as my source and he wrote 5 TS.But of course no detail about the machine being picked up by a 80 Squadron pilot.


I must say these photos come from an unusual photo album.The pilot seems to have got around a lot.. I must agree the photo quality is a bit variable,which is why I stuck a general link in the thread on the Bristol aircraft rather than continuing to post by manufacturer as per usual.Alsoo too many posts!!!


Regards,


Clint