WWI Art....

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1918 SPAD XIII and Salmson USAS....

1917 Rumpler C.VII - Zdenek Machacek....

1917 FBA type H - Daniel Bechennec....

1917 Albatros DV Otto Konnecke vs SE5a - Zdenek Machacek....

1916 Nieuport 11 Navarre over Verdun -Tony Theobald....

 

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1918 Pfalz DIIIa Hans Müller Jasta 18 - Russell Smith....

Of all of the German aerial units which served during World War I, Jastas 15 and 18 shared the most unusual history. After assuming command of JGII in March, 1918, Hptm Rudolph Berthold tried to have his old unit, Jasta 18, attached to JGII. After failing to do so, he then arranged to have all of Jasta 18's flying personnel, aircraft, and unit markings swapped out with those of Jasta 15, a unit already attached to JGII. Jasta 18 became Jasta 15, and Jasta 15 became 18.
After the transition, Jasta 18 was commanded by Ltn August Raben and the unit became unofficially known by its commander's name - Jasta Raben (German for "ravens"). The unit's new colors featured a distinctive red and white color scheme with a black Raven emblazoned on the fuselage.
Though the unit was mostly made up of Albatrosses, and later, DVII's, this particular Pfalz DIIIa was also assigned to the unit. Ltn d R Hans Müller, a 12 victory ace, is known to have flown this aircraft during the spring of 1918. Müller's personal insignia included diagonal fuselage bands and a chevron striped tailplane, however no photographic evidence is known to exist to suggest that this aircraft carried those markings.

1920 Bristol F2B in Polish service - Robert Firszt....

1917 Sopwith Camel 10 Naval Sqn Norman MacGregor....

1917 The Forge - Heinz Krebs....

High above the trenches on the Western Front, German aviator Gustav Boehl and his gunner are engaged in mortal combat as their Halberstadt CL II comes under attack from French Spads. It's the dawn of a new age in military history, and a new weapon is being forged, the aerial force. In the late stages of World War One German military commanders recognized a growing necessity for the close protection of reconnaissance and artillery control aircraft. As a result the so-called "Schutzstaffeln" (protection units) came into beingThe typical aircraft model used by such units were "C" type aircraft which were subsequently replaced by lighter machines known as "CL" type aeroplanes. Popular manufacturers of CL types were the "Hannoversche Waggonfabrik" and the "Halberstaedter Flugzeugwerke" as well as, later in the war, the Junkers aircraft company.Although aircraft made by the "Hannoversche Waggonfabrik" were designed by German aviation pioneer Claude Dornier, they weren't near as popular with German combat crews as the aircraft made by the "Halberstaedter Flugzeugwerke". Due to their agility and speed, their airplanes, only slightly larger dimensioned than single seat fighters, were especially well suited for use with the "Schutzstaffeln".On October 13th, 1917 Gustav Boehl was transferred from the military flight training unit "Armeeflugpark 4" to the front line unit "Schutzstaffel 19", where he served as a combat pilot in the rank of a Sergeant. "Schutzstaffel 19" was renamed "Schlachtstaffel 19" (Schlasta 19) on March 27th, 1918. The "Schlachtstaffeln" are commonly regarded as the forerunner of the fighter bomber units in later years of military aviation history.In the spring of 1918 such a "Schlachtstaffel" would have typically consisted of six aircraft, mostly either Halberstadt CL IIs or CL IVs. The units were commanded by a Lieutenant or First Lieutenant, himself not necessarily a pilot. The pilots were routinely non-commissioned officers, the gunners normally being corporals or privates. These gunners were often able to master more than just their close support routine. This was impressively demonstrated by one of their ranks, Gottfried Ehmann who managed to down a total of 12 attacking fighter aircraft during the course of his military carreer.

1917 07 Sopwith Camel vs Albatros - Roy Cross....

 

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1914 Etrich (Rumpler) Taube - Russell Smith....

The Taube was a pre-World War I German monoplane and the first mass-produced military plane in Germany. It was used for all common military aircraft applications, including as a fighter, bomber, surveillance plane and trainer from its first flight in 1910 until the beginning of World War I.
The name Taube, which is Geman for "dove", does not refer to a specific make or manufacturer of the aircraft, but rather to the design itself. Thus, the plane, which was very popular in the years immediately prior to the First World War, was produced by a number of manufacturers in both Germany and Austria. The most well known versions, however, were those produced by Etrich and Rumpler. By 1914 the Taube proved lacking as a serious warplane and was soon replaced.

1910 Bleriot XI - Piotr Dubowik....

1919 Fokker DVIII Stefan Stec - Robert Firszt....

1918 AEG GIV - Shigeo Koike....

1918 Bristol Fighters of 88 Squadron RFC - Steven Heyen....

 

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1918 Fokker DrI 152.17....

1918 Fokker Dr.I 152_17 - Don Greer....

1918 MacLeod's Feat - Thijs Postma....

The depicted combat took place on March 17, 1918. Pilot McLeod, who climbs from the burning cockpit of his FK 8 onto the wing, tries to keep the flames away from his observer/gunner Hammond, who shot down three of the attacking Fokker Dr.1s.

1917 Sopwith Pup - John Howell....

1917 Hannover CL.II Schusta - Zdenek Machacek....

 

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1917 Albatros DV Jasta 12 Ulrich Neckel - Don Greer....

1916 Von Richthofen's 14th victory - Thomas La Padula....

It was fine flying weather on Wednesday December 20, 1916, when Richthofen and 4 planes of his Staffel encountered an English squadron. of encountered. At a quarter to 2 in the afternoon over Moreuil, MvR zeroed in and attacked the last plane. According to Richthofen's combat report the British plane was an FE.2b No., A5446 piloted by a Lt Darcy and the observer was unknown due to the lack of an identification disc. At three thousand meters Richthofen began his attack and after his first pass the motor of the FE2b began to smoke and the observer was wounded. "The plane went down in large curves. I followed and fired at the closest range. I had also killed, as was ascertained later on the pilot. Finally, the plane crashed on the ground." The pilot of the ill-fated FE. 2b was Lieutenant Lionel George D'Arcy, who had only been with the squadron for a little over two weeks. His plane was a gift of the Matalan People and it had written in block letters Malaya No.11 on its nacelle. D'Arcy's unknown observer was identified as Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Cuthbert Whiteside, a volunteer reserve of the Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division. Neither graves nor the bodies of D'Arcy or Whiteside were ever found, and both are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing in Arras, France.

1916 Von Richthofen's 15th victory - Thomas La Padula....

Richthofen received credit for downing the DH.2n No, 5985 as his 15th victim. This victory was collaborated by artillery men on the ground. According to Richthofen in a head-on firing pass he went head-to-head with the British plane. The DH.2 flown by James Thomas Byford McCudden did not crash behind British lines, as Richthofen noted in the day's Combat Report. McCudden observed the German Squadron and attacked. The German combat version states that the enemy was pushed back. The British combat version is very different. McCudden notes, "I fired around 15 shots and drove him (MvR) off. He turned and came towards me, firing. I opened fire at 100 yards and after about 8 shots my gun stopped due to cross feed. As the hostile machine was engaging me at close range. I turned on my back and dived vertically in a slow spin and in this way regained our lines." McCudden cleared his jammed guns and renewed the chase but due to the Barons superior aircraft the British pilot was already outdistanced. Richthofen under the assumption that McCudden had crashed, renewed his squadron, by rejoining his patrol that then withdrew.Richthofen learned from his mentor Oswald Boelke not to pursue an enemy too low over unfriendly lines. Ground fire and antiaircraft fire were not the airman's friends. A heavy presence of British AA batteries gave MvR the reason to leave the area and resume his Staffel; having seen McCudden dive, Richthofen could only assume he had shot the British pilot down.Sergeant McCudden who would live to fight another day survived aerial combat and achieved 57 aerial victories. He was decorated with the Victoria Cross, the DSO and Bar, the MC and Bar and was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French. In the last summer of the war McCudden died in a flying accident when his plane had an engine stoppage and he side slipped into the ground. He was 21 years old.

1917 Von Richthofen's 16th victory - Thomas La Padula....

Richthofen's 16th Victory.

The First Canadian pilot to fall under the guns of the Red Baron was Flight Lieutenant Allan Switzer Todd. As part of the Royal Naval Air Services, 8th Squadron, Todd was flying a Sopwith Pup, No. 5193 on January 4, 1917. Todd and his Squadron were sent to the Somme Front to counter the aggressive activity of the German Albatros aircraft. The British pilots attacked aggressively when Richthofen's Jasta arrived on the scene. So much so that Todd \pilot \out the Red Baron and began his attack. Unfortunately, as Richthofen puts it," the enemy plane was superior to ours. Only because we were three against one, we detected the enemy's week points. I managed to get behind him and shoot him down."

Todd's plane fell apart while falling through the sky, landing in the vicinity of Metz-en-Couture. Cause of death was either from gunshot wounds or crash trauma. Some valuables of Todd were collected by the Germans and returned. Over time his gravesite became lost due to the turmoil of war. Todd's name is on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.

Two days after shooting down Todd, Richthofen received a telegram from the Kaiser. It read simply: 'His Majesty, the Kaiser, has awarded the Orden Pur le Merite to Leutnant von Richthofen'. The Orden Pur le Merite could be awarded to any military officer regardless of his branch of service, however its most famous recipients were German Pilots during the Great War. The medal was to be worn whenever the recipient was in uniform. Informally known as the Blue Max, it was supposedly given that name in honor of the German ace Max Immelman, who awarded the medal on the same day in 1916 as Otto Boelcke, Richthofen's mentor. Originally given for 8 Aerial Victories the number was later raised to 16 in early 2017.It was awarded to Richthofen on January 12, 1917. It was Prussia's highest Military award, and it was awarded to MvR for the successful confirmation of shooting down 16 enemy planes.

1917 SE5 Ball vs Rumpler - Graham Turner....

While No. 56 Squadron was equipped with S.E.5s, Britain's top ace, flight commander Captain Albert Ball (with 30 aerial victories, mostly in a Nieuport), was sceptical about the new machine and was given permission to continue tofly his Nieuport 23 on lone patrols. On 23 April 1917, No. 56 Squadron began patrols with the S.E.5s. Because his Nieuport had been damaged in an early-morning encounter, Ball took up an S.E.5 (no. A4850) at 1130hrs and soonran into a flight of Albatros D.IIIs. He downed one and managed to break contact with the rest using the S.E.5's superior speed. While returning to his airfield at 1230hrs, Ball encountered a lone Albatros C.III observation planefrom Flieger Abt 7 near the front lines north of Cambrai. In a diving attack Captain Ball put 40 rounds into the German machine, disabling it and wounding the observer. With a smoking engine, the German aircraft dived to the ground and managed to land. The German pilot and observer survived. Captain Ball now saw the worth of the S.E.5. Not only did the two machine guns give him extra firepower, but the speed advantage of the S.E.5 gave the pilot the initiative to initiate or break contact with enemy aircraft. Captain Ball would go on to shoot down 11 more German aircraft before his death in combat in May 1917.

 

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1916 Richthofen's 13th victory - Thomas La Padula....

Like all Richthofen aerial victories, there was a beginning, a middle, and an end to number thirteen. While flying on or about 300 meters on December 20, 1916, MvR along with four fellow Germans attacked a DH2 squadron. Over Menchy, at about 11:30am, Richthofen singled out an adversary and pressed his attack. This unlucky victim was Captain Arthur Gerald Knight flying DH2 No. 7927, who at 21 years of age was a baby-faced experienced aviator with eight victories and a DSO (Distinguished Service Order awarded for meritorious service and MC, (the Military Cross for an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy), already to his credit. Richthofen after some curve fighting managed to press Hunt down to 1500 meters and keep on him until 1200 meters from the ground. When Richthofen fired his last shots, he was only a plane's length behind Knight. Finally British observers on the ground witnessed Knight's plane corkscrewing in a dive east of Adinfer Wood, near Monchy-au-Bois.This was the actual location of the encounter and not Menchy. These mistakes in translation from German into English were common in respect to accuracy in bookkeeping, the fog of war or just plain clerical or translation errors. Even though Knight became Richthofen's thirteenth victim, he was the only plane shot down that day, despite a good deal of the British squadron having been shot up. Richthofen more than likely was flying a dark colored maybe earth toned Albatros D.ll, it could have been Number 491/16 or 481/16 due to lack of corresponding notation or record keeping. What is known is that Capt. Knight's craft was painted an olive drab tone with a light under wing color painted either nacelle fabric or white. Knight's body was never returned to England, but lies in the Douchy-les-Ayette British Cemetery in France.

1920 Albatros DIII Poland - Don Greer....

Merian C. Cooper's Oeffag Albatros 253 "White No.5", 7th Kosciuszko Squadron 1919-20.

1918 Dangerous life - Norman Clifford....

Mid 1918, and Captain Les Holden in his red SE5A Fighting Scout, is in mock combat with two pupils of No. 6 (Training) Squadron Australian Flying Corps over Minchinhampton, Gloucester, England. The trainers are also flying SE5A's.Holden was a 'fighting instructor; with 1st (Training) Wing.The Red of Holden's SE was a concession to the instructor's combat experience in France against some colourful German fighters including the Red Baron and his famous 'circus'.A fighting instructor' s life was hardly less dangerous than a combat pilot's since he had to contend with his pupils' enthusiastic but unpredictable and inexpert manoeuvres.

1918 Sopwith Pup trainers - Norman Clifford....

Just prior to a cross country flight, instructors issue final directives to pilots of two Sopwith Pups of No. 6 (Training) Squadron, AFC.The Australian Flying Corps Training Wing was established in Gloucester in 1918 and its role was to prepare pilots to be sent as reinforcements to operational squadrons in France.Trainee pilots began on Avro 540Ks and the Pup was an ideal intermediate step to the advanced Sopwith Camel.

1918 Particularly hazardous combat - Norman Clifford

Captain Harry Cobby on No. 4 Squadron AFC in a swirling dogfight over France in 1918. Near-collisions were an added hazard under circumstances like this and Cobby is momentarily distracted as a trip lane perilously close to his Sopwith Camel.The pilot's view is over twin Vickers synchronised machine guns and between these is the Aldis Tube Sight, topped by a bead and ring sight. On the right-hand gun barrel is an alternative ring and bead sight.The circular leather pads on the gun butts are for the protection of the pilot's face during manoeuvres or crash-landings.With 29 enemy aircraft downed, Cobby finished the way as the AFC's leading ace.

 

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1918 Funeral of the Red Baron - Norman Clifford....

The legendary Captain Manfred von Richthofen, who brought down 80 Allied airman in 18 months, was killed in action in France on Sunday, April 21, 1918.He was flying very low in pursuit of a Sopwith Camel over an area of the Somme held by the Australian Army Corps when he was hit by ground fire.The famous Scarlett Fokker triplane crashed in front of the Australian lines and the Red Baron's body was brought back behind the lines to No. 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps. On Monday April 22, a full military funeral appropriate to von Richthofen' s rank was organised at Poulainville aerodrome.The coffin was carried by six captains drawn from British squadrons in the area. The firing party and leader were Australian.In the background are transportable canvas hangars and two-seater RE8's of No. 3 Sauadron.This painting is based on an unpublished photo that was held in a private collection for over 70 years. Other pictures of the funeral taken by the official photographer (centre foreground) have been published, but the picture he was taking when HE was photographed has never been seen.

1918 Surprised at 18,000 feet - Norman Clifford....

Led by Captain Harry Cobby, three Sopwith Camels of No. 4 Squadron Australian Flying Corps, tear into a flight of Fokker triplanes 10,000 feet over the front lines in France around March 1918. The classic little fighters were evenly matched and the outcome of combat was down to pilot ability…and sometimes, luck.In this instance the element of surprise was a deciding factor.Cobby was a master of the grim and exhausting art of aerial war fare and in his 11 months at the front, shot down 29 enemy aircraft…the highest tally for an AFC pilot.Cobby is flying the Camel centre left, while the one above and behind him is piloted by Lieutenant Roy King, who in nine months at the front, accounted for 10 and a half enemy aeroplanes and six balloons…third highest AFC score.The lower Camel is flown by Lieutenant R.G. Smallwood, whose kill tally was three.

1918 Encounter over Bapaume - Norman Clifford....

As Harry Cobby described the event in his autobiography: "We were flying north at 4,000 feet along the row of balloons and a little to their east, believing that we were on our side of the line, when suddenly three red Albatross scouts in "V" formation poked their noses through the mist to the west of us. We were just above the surface of the fog and the sun had barely cleared it, and from their unconcern it seemed the glare must have prevented them from seeing us. They were followed by a string of other scouts of different types, all colored red, with the exception of one Albatross that was painted black and yellow – and they were flying on a course parallel to our own a little lower, and only a hundred yards away…I rocked my machine up and down, the usual signal to follow the leader into action, and turned and dived into the centre of them…Courtney came down from above and for a while an all-in dogfight ensued. It was undoubtedly the Richthofen Circus, but the leaders had got into another layer of fog and missed what was going on…I came up under the tail of one of them, a red triplane, and fired a burst from about ten feet away. He heeled over and went straight down through the mist all 'arsey tarsey.'…In a few moments it was all over, and Wright and I were the only ones of our formation left above the mist. I circled round for a few moments and presently Tab came pushing up through the murk…The Bruay 'drome was still fairly clear and we got in without any trouble. We all congratulated ourselves on the successful culmination of the flight's first "do" with the celebrated Circus. We admitted our great luck in that three enemy leaders missed the show; if they had joined in the fight an entirely different ending would most likely have ensued, especially as one of them was most likely Richthofen."

1917 Single bullet - Norman Clifford....

On a winter afternoon in 1917, two men from No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps: Lieutenant L.J. Sandy (pilot) and Sergeant H.F. Hughes (observer/gunner) were over an Australian-held section of the Western Front in their artillery-observation and reconnaissance RE8 biplane when they were attacked by six German Albatross DV fighters.Hughes shot one down, then another RE8 flew in to assist and the Germans broke off the action.It was concluded from the stable flight of their aircraft, that Sandy and Hughes were unharmed when the second RE8 also left.But that was the last that was heard of the two Australians until the following morning, when a field hospital 50 miles up the line reported that an RE8 had crashed nearby.Sandy was still in the pilot seat, dead from a bullet wound to the head, while the frozen body of Hughes was lying on the bottom wing.It was clear that a single bullet had passed through Hughes' chest, then hit his pilot in the head, killing him instantly.The RE8, trimmed to fly straight and level, had continued to fly in wide, left-hand circles until running out of fuel and crashing in a snowdrift.Hughes had evidently survived the shooting and landing, but was mortally wounded, and died after struggling out of the rear cockpit in an attempt to get help.

1917 Palestine, Huns coming - Norman Clifford....

A pilot kits up while his Bristol Fighter F2B is prepared for take off from the No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps aerodrome at Weli Sheikh Nuran in Palestine. The observer is already in position in the rear cockpit. They are going out to meet enemy aircraft heading towards them with intent to reconnoitre or bomb. On a clear day, ground troops in the Allied front lines could hear the German pilots start their engines and would signal back to alert the Australians.

 

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1917 Offensive Patrol - Norman Clifford....

A flight of DH5 fighters returning from close offensive patrol over the front line on the Western Front.Australia's first fighter unit, No. 2 Squadron, AFC, was equipped with the Geoffrey de Havilland designed DH5's. The type was the first allied fighter equipped with a Vickers machine gun synchronised to fire through the propeller blades.The little aeroplane was slow and lacked manoeuvrability and success in action was moderate, and it was used by the Australians only between September 21 and December 6, 1917. It was then exchanged for the SE5 fighter which No 2 Squadron flew for the remainder of the war.

1917 Australian RE8 - Norman Clifford....

1916 Avro 504 trainers - Norman Clifford....

1916 A glide like a brick - Norman Clifford....

In 1914, a wealthy Queensland grazier bought a French-designed, British-built Caudron G2 Military Biplane. It eventually came into the hands of the Australian Defence Department, who purchased it from another private owner who bought it from the grazier.An attempt to fly the Caudron from Queensland to Melbourne was abandoned and it eventually reached the Central Flying School via rail and road. Its first flight at the school was in March 1916.The School's Commanding Officer, Captain Eric Harrison, judged the aeroplane non-standard and it was never used as an instructional type. It was difficult to fly and had a top speed of only 65 mph. Lateral control was by means of warping the wings.The Caudron was used for extra-curricular jaunts and occasionally VIP's and officers' wives were 'taken aloft' in it by instructors. Air Marshall Sir Richard Williams flew it as a young Lieutenant and recalled that it had "a glide like a brick".The Caudron is shown over the hangars of Point Cook foreshore as they were in 1916. The one on the right still stands. In front of the hangars is a Bristol Boxkite engaged in a spot landing test.

1915 Perfect flying conditions - Norman Clifford....

The light, low powered types of 1914 were extremely wind-sensitive so instructors from Central Flying School, Point Cook would silk handkerchiefs or a wet finger to assess air movement before deciding to fly. Morning and evening were optimum calm air times and this picture shows an evening flight by a Maurice Farman Shorthorn (left) and a Graham White Boxkite.The Geelong-Melbourne train has just passed Laverton siding and the track on the other side of the rails is the one along which hangars for No. 1 Squadron, RAAF and No. 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF were built in the late 1920s.Both types shown were elementary two-seater trainers…the Boxkite was in its last weeks while the Shorthorn had just arrived at Point Cook.There were two Maurice Farman models, Shorthorn and Longhorn. The names came from the difference in length of the anti-overturn outriggers set between the wheels.

 

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1920 Friedrichshafen FF-33E & ORP 'Podhalania' - Jaroslaw Wrobel....

1920 Gotha G IV - Polish 21 Destroyer Squadron - Robert Firszt....

1920 Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin, 19 Eskadra, Polish Air Force - Seweryn Fleischer....

1920 Rescue of a training D. H. 9A after an accident in Egypt - Keith Woodcock....

1924 Guerra de Marruecos, Cobba Darsa, Breguet XIV - Carlos Alonso....

 

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1917 Pfalz DII Eastern Front - Carlos Alonso - Kovozávody Prostejov....

1917 Roland DII Jasta 15 - Carlos Alonso - Kovozávody Prostejov....

1919 Salmson 2A2 Poland - Carlos Alonso....

1919 Fokker DVIII Poland - Robert Firszt....

1919 Breguet XIV, Polish Soviet war - Jaroslaw Wrobel....

 

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1918 Halberstadt CL II Schlasta 27b '2 Brunhilde'....

1918 Fokker EV - Steve Anderson....

1918 Red Baron - Jack Fellows....

1918 Between heaven and hell - 41 Sqn vs Jasta 7 - James Dietz....

1918 06 Fokker DVII Ernst Udet - Shigeo Koike....

 

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1917 Rumpler C.IV - Valery Petelin....

1917 The Golden Triumvirate - Russell Smith....

Among the German Jastas, one of the highest scoring was Jasta 5, with over 250 victories to its credit. Three of its most notable pilots – Ltn d R Fritz Rumey, Ltn d R Josef Mai and Ltn d R Otto Könnecke – gained such a notable reputation that they acquired the nickname "The Golden Triumvirate." Between them, these three non-commissioned officers scored 110 victories by the war's end.
Like all other German Jastas, Jasta 5 was based at several different aerodromes during the war. However, the unit is usually associated with with the Boistrancourt aerodrome, shown here. Boistrancourt was notable in that it was one of the only German Aerodromes to have hard, fixed hangars rather than the canvas tent hangars which were normally utilized. Behind the aerodrome was a chateau and a sugar refinery which added to its distinctive look.

Pictured from front to back are: Ltn d R Josef Mai, 30 victories; Ltn d R Otto Könnecke, 35 victories; Ltn d R Fritz Rumey, 45 victories.

1917 04 Chemin des Dames - Graham Turner....

Letord Artillery Spotting
A Letord of the French C 11 Observation Squadron directs artillery fire onto the rear of the German lines east of Rheims on 11th April 1917, prior to the ground offensive.The Letord is piloted by Cpt Joseph Vuillemin, who commanded the C 11 Observation Squadron through the campaigns at Verdun and the Somme. A former NCO, he was commissioned as an artillery officer in 1910 and became a pilot in 1913, specialising in aerial spotting. In the 1916 and 1917 campaigns he flew more than 100 combat missions in support of the army. During his career as an observation pilot he is also credited with shooting down seven German aircraft.

1917 Albatros DIII von Richthofen Jasta 11 - Ivan Berryman....

1916 Boelcke's Boys - Russell Smith....

Note: I am not sure about the date, I checked my books on Jasta 2 and couldn't get a certain fix, it could be early 1917 as well.

'Boelcke's Boys' depicts two early Albatros scouts of Jasta 2 near their airfield at Lagnicourt, France.In the lead we see Lt. Diether Collin in his Albatros D.I, 385/16. According to author and historian Bruno Schmaeling, this Albatros was painted chrome yellow and bore Collin's signature "Co" on the fuselage. The bottom of the aircraft was light blue and the wings were painted in the standard 2-tone camouflage. This was a prototype Albatros D.I and had the water tank mounted in front of the first engine cylinder, not above the cylinders as usual. Diether Collin achieved 13 victories before being fatally wounded in aerial combat in 1918.Behind Collin we see Manfred von Richthofen in his Albatros D.II, 481/16. According to Schmaeling, the fuselage of this aircraft was painted all red and bore a white spinner, grey-green metal nose ring, and most likely black and white stripes behind the nose ring. Richthofen would go on to become the highest scoring ace of the war and one of the most legendary airmen in history.This artwork will be featured as the cover art for Bruno Schmaeling's upcoming book on Jasta 2, published by Aeronaut Books.

 

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1916 Richthofen's 8th victory - Thomas La Padula....

Richthofen's combat report stated that the weather was bright and clear on November 9, 1916, when he claimed his 8th victory. Over Beugny, his Staffel encountered an enemy bombing squadron at 10:30 in the morning. Flying an Albatros D.II 491/16, he singled out a BE.2c, No.2506 at 2500 meters. The British plane was flying without an observer in lieu of bombs."Just short of the target I caught up with the last of the opponents" Richthofen wrote, also stating he burned him around the edges a bit. The BE.2c pilot 2nd Lt John Ian Gilmour Cameron, tried to land with his bombs. His speed in doing so in any case he decided to land with his bombs. The speed with which the wounded Cameron flew to reach the ground increased greatly, causing him to either crash or make a hard landing at Beugny. Cameron died of wounds in enemy hands 2 days later.

1916 Richthofen's 9th victory - Thomas La Padula....

Monday 20 November 1916 was a good day for Richthofen he scored two victories. The first at 0940 during morning patrol, he and his Staffel attacked a British squadron at 1800 meters. "After having harassed a Be. 2c, No2767for a time, the plane disappeared in the clouds and then crashed to the ground between the trenches south of Grandcourt.This is one of the MvR's victories that is still debated. The Royal Flying Corps only identifies one plane lost in this action and both Richthofen and the Jasta2 Staffelfurher ObLt. Stefan Kirmaier stated they each shot down a Be.2c aircraft. There is evidence that Kirmaier may have been the actual victor, for both he and Richthofen claimed victories within ten minutes of each other two miles of each other. It is unknown if MvR lost the Be.2c in the clouds and presumed he had downed it having later seen it on the ground. Both Richthofen and Kirmaier were awarded victories in this action.

1916 Richthofen's 10th victory - Thomas La Padula....

On November 20 at around 4:15, Richthofen scored his tenth. "Together with 4 planes I attacked a Vickers two-seater type above the clouds at 2500 meters alt. After 300 shots the adversary broke through clouds pursued by me, Near Grandcourt I shot him down."7 The second plane MvR shot down that day was a FE.2b, No. 4848, piloted by @nd Lt. Gilbert Sudbury Hall and his Observer, 2nd Lt George Dougherty. Both men either died of wounds or crash trauma.Numerous times Richthofen and other pilots made mistakes in naming the aircraft they either encountered or killed due to the rigors of aerial combat and the fog of war.

1916 Richthofen's 11th victory - Thomas La Padula....

On 23 November 1916, MvR met Major Lanoe George Hawker in the sky over Bapaume, France. Hawker was already an ace with 9 victories and had won his nation's highest honor the Victoria Cross.Richthofen immediately upon attacking realized that his enemy was in his words, …" keenly aware that I was not dealing with a beginner." A sweeping curving battle brought both planes down to around 500 meters. At what seemed a propitious moment, Maj, Hawker made a break Southward for his own lines.7 Richthofen gave chase after Hawker who was zigzagging left and right, while MvR's two Spandau machine guns blazed until they both jammed. Now on the chase the German Ace flew with one hand on his control stick and the other trying to unjam his guns by banging a small hammer on them, that he carried just for this purpose.The two airplanes went lower and lower as Richthofen fought," the most difficult battle … that I experienced so far…"8 Hawker dropped down to about 150 meters when suddenly one of Richthofen's guns cleared and he fired hitting Hawker in the head. His plane dropped and to the ground. Hawker was buried on the spot about 250m east of Luisenh of Ferme, just south of Bapaume along the road to Flers. Richthofen removed the serial number from Hawker's rudder as well as his machine gun and as an ornament for the entrance of his dwelling.

1916 Richthofen's 12th victory - Thomas La Padula....

Richthofen dove into a Squadron of eight DH2's over Arras, France at almost noon on the eleventh of December in 1916. Accompanied by Lt. Wortmann MVR attacked at 2800 meters above the French countryside. The enemy aircraft Richthofen singled out was a DH2, No. 5986 piloted by Lieutenant Benedict Philip Gerald Hunt. It was a fine morning, that later clouded up with some mist and eventually rain. Hunt was an experienced flier with one aerial victory and another shared victory to his credit. This time the German patrol was flying further North when it encountered the British Squadron." After a short, curved flight I ruined the adversary's motor and forced him to land behind our lines9…", as the Baron described it in his combat report. Lt. Hunt outfitted his plane with two Lewis guns instead of the usual one and more than likely carried extra ammunition which made his plane heavier. This weight could have restricted his speed and maneuverability in the air putting him at a definite disadvantage against Richthofen and his more maneuverable Albatros. Out turning Hunt would have been easy for MvR. Hunt with a wound in his liver and engine problems was forced down behind German lines and taken prisoner. Initially listed as MIA, his fate was confirmed and his status was later changed to POW. In 1918 Lt. Hunt was exchanged for a German prisoner to Holland, a neutral country, due to his poor health, where he sat out the remainder of the war, and later returned home to England at the close of hostilities.

 

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1916 Richthofen's 6th victory - Thomas La Padula....

Richthofen's victory number 6 also has some discrepancies between after action reports and Richthofen's own narrative. There are differences in time between Jasta 2's report and Richthofen's statement. Also, conflicting reports of what type of plane Richthofen shot down. The KOFL weekly report and MvR designates the victim as a British BE.12, While the R.F.C. combat report describes the plane as a BE. 12 serial number 6629. Richthofen while over the trenches fired 200 shots at L. James Fischer seriously wounded him in the lower abdomen. Fischer went down in large right hand curves and eventually crashed.

1916 Richthofen's 7th victory - Thomas La Padula....

November 3, 1916 was a misty day with clear intervals of blue sky in the afternoon. At 2:10 PM Lieutenant Richthofen was flying as a member of Jagdtraffel 2 encountered a two-seater Vickers aircraft, No. 7010.This Fe2b piloted by Sgt, Cuthbert Godfrey Baldwin while 2nd Lieutenant George Andrew Bentham manned the gun and acted as observer when it came under attack by Richthofen over Gommecourt. Richthofen and another German aircraft attacked the British plane that was flying at 1800 meters. After 400 shots the FE.2b In Richthofen's words, the enemy," dashed to the ground and smashed to pieces ", Northeast of Grevilles Wood. Both British airmen were KIA either from wounds or from crash trauma. There is a good possibility MvR was flying an Albatros D.ll.

1911 Warsaw, Michal Scipio del Campo and his Etrich Taube - Robert Firszt....

1911 Antoinette Monobloc over Paris - Keith Woodcock....

1919 Albatros DIII Oeffag Poland - Robert Firszt....

 

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1916 Von Richthofen's 5th victory - Thomas La Padula....

Above Betincourt on Monday, October 16, along with 4 other planes flying at 2800 meters Richthofen claimed his fifth victim. After firing 350 shots the BE.12, No 6580, piloted by 2nd Lt. John Thompson "crashed to the ground smashed" near Yrtes. Lt. Thompson was killed either by gunshot wounds or crash trauma. For some time MvR's fifth victim was originally thought to be Lt. E.W. Capper. It had been thought that Thompson borrowed some flying gear of Capper's that was marked with the latter's name. Leading Richthofen to misidentify the pilot. As souvenir Richthofen had the serial number 6580 cut from the plane's stabilizer where it hung on the wall in Richthofen's quarters in the Roucourt chateau, France.

1916 Leefe-Robinson's victory over the Schutte-Lanz airship SL 11 - Wilf Hardy....

1918The Swarm - James Dietz....

A SPAD XIII of 95 Aero Squadron meets the Fokker DVIIs of Jasta 19.

1918 Bristol F2B vs Kempf DrI - Russell Smith....

One of Russell Smith's latest masterpieces is this depiction of Bristol Fighters (apparently from 'B' Flight of No.48 Squadron) in an encounter with Fritz Kempf of Jasta Boelcke, in one of his famous Triplanes.

1917 Sopwith Camels over Gosport - Rick Marshall....

 

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1917 Bristol F2B C4614 - Wilf Hardy....

1919 Vickers Vimy, Alcock and Brown - Wilf Hardy....

First crossing of the Atlantic.

1918 Fokker EV Jasta 6 - Serge Stone....

1918 Siemens Schuckert DIV Jasta 12 JG II....

1918 06 LVG CVI - Zdenek Machacek....

 

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1918 05 Fokker Dr.I Josef Jacobs Jasta 7....

1918 Fokker DVI - Serge Stone....

Camels over Italy.
1917 Sopwith Camel B6354 No 45 Squadron.

1916 Von Richthofen's Fourth - Thomas La Padula....

Richthofen's fourth victory according to his Combat Report: "was against a new type and not seen before two decked bi-plane." The BE12 was a scout plane with a gun mounted on the port side of the plane. The weather conditions on October 7, 1916, were described as low clouds and strong winds-stormy all day. Richthofen's Staffel attacked at 3000 meters. MvR singled out the BE. 12, # 6618 flown by Lt. William Cecil Fenwick, over Rancourt, France. Richthofen fired 400 rounds killing Fenwick with a head wound: the plane dashing downwards. The Baron took many souvenirs of his victories, usually manufacturing placards, guns, and squadron insignia. He even had silver schnapps cups engraved with each victory number. Aerial victories 1-60 were commemorated this way by MvR and would have continued to the end if not for silver shortages in Germany later in the war.

1918 LVG CVI - Zdenek Machacek....

Seems the crew has applied mud to the fuselage in an attempt at camouflage, but Greg Van Wyngarden corrected me:

" This LVG C.VI was not splotched with mud, it was a very carefully applied and unique camouflage paint job, painted on at the unit leve
l."