On this Day (WWI aviation news), Vol. 2

[Dutch522]

Love it! Not old enough to remember the original pulps, but "The Best of Flying Aces" enjoyed a brief resurrection when I was about 12. I've got this issue still, although sadly my others have vanished...



There was some great stuff in it: plans for a solid-wood JU-86 (sans death-ray, unfortunately); a learn-to-fly course in the form of comic strips (the FAA must have loved them); and on and on. A lot of the stories in the original pulp magazine were by Arch Whitehouse, RFC combat observer & later one of the great early WWI historians, as well as USMC naval aviator Maj Donald Keyhoe, who became famous in the 1950s for writing some of the first serious treatments of the UFO phenomenon and founding NICAP, the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomenon.

Dutch

[PJ Fisher]

There was some great stuff in it: plans for a solid-wood JU-86 (sans death-ray, unfortunately)...

But is your death-ray powerful enough to stop these Sky Leopards? 

[PJ Fisher]

Bombing Machines
Though similar in composition, this cacophony in the clouds is not as overdramatic than yesterday's magazine covers yet still conveys the thrills of aerial combat.
(from the Pictorial History of the Great War, 1919):



And speaking of thrills, check out forum member Michael Scarborough's incredible AEG diorama:  https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=9583.0

[KiwiZac]

Thanks for the turkey link PJ, and man are there some fun model ideas on those book and magazine covers!! Almost enough for a group build...

[PJ Fisher]

Aerodrome Attack
Located northeast of Ghent, vliegveld Oostakker initiated operations in July 1917 and by October become home to the Gothas bombers Kasta 17 and 18 
(from the Barre Daily Times, 13 December 1917):



(image:  the airfield's remnants, circa 2009, via forgottenairfields.com).


Here's a page dedicated to this abandoned airfield: https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-oostakker-88.html

[PJ Fisher]

Victory and Defeat: First and Final Flight
Despite all of the fanciful, fictional magazine covers shared this week we mustn't forget that early air combat was stressful, glorious, frightening, and deadly.  Benjamin Stuart Walcott no doubt experienced this all during his single day of combat.  The ivy-league American had joined France's Service Aeronautique in June and was posted to Escadrille Spa.84 in late October. 

"On December 12, 1917 Walcott flew his first combat patrol. Over the Champagne sector, he engaged a German bi-place {sic} aircraft over enemy lines and succeeded in shooting it down. As he headed back for friendly territory, he was jumped by three enemy Albatross {sic} scouts and was shot down and killed near Saint Souplet. Initially buried by German troops at Leffincourt, his remains were moved to the Lafayette Flying corps Memorial just West of Paris in 1928". (uswarmemorials.org)
(from the Taxoma Times, 14 December 1917):



...formed on January 3, 1917 in Lyon Bron.  Squadron N 84 adopted a fox head during the 1st quarter of 1917. The design was proposed by soldier Gaston Meunier, an armorer, to Capt. Paul Gastin, the squadron commander, who adopted it for his unit . The choice of the canine seemed obvious because the 84 had two foxes as mascots at the time... The N84 became SPA 84 on March 10, 1918 when it received its SPAD VII and XIII aircraft.

[KiwiZac]

My goodness, what a story. Thanks for sharing PJ, you always find such gems. Speaking of: how fascinating to see the abandoned Belgian aerodrome!

I need to show this to my friends who fly WW1 aircraft and see if any are keen to wear this garb themselves 

[PJ Fisher]

With Escadrille Spa.84's official mascot being the fox... Lt. Walcott clearly took his uniform seriously.

[PJ Fisher]

Air Raid on... Los Angeles?
Just another day in the City of Angels.
(respectively from the Evening Capital News and the Arizona Republican; 15, 17 December 1917):

[Dutch522]

Shades of Speilberg's 1941... if only Lt. "Wild Bill" Kelso had been around with his faithful P-40.

Dutch

[PJ Fisher]

Shades of Speilberg's 1941... if only Lt. "Wild Bill" Kelso had been around with his faithful P-40.

Dutch

Ha! I forgot about that flick

[PJ Fisher]

First U.S. Camo?
Here's a quirky paint scheme on what looks to be a Thomas-Morse S-4.  Anyone recognize this image?  Would love to see a better-quality version.
(from the Evening Star, 16 December 1917):



I don't think we've encountered one of these in the news here before... check out forum member kensar's amazing 'Tommy' builld: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=10684.0

[PJ Fisher]

Parasols on Parade
Today's news bring us another aeroplane type we don't often see in the period press... a lineup of Morane-Saulnier Type P's (MoS 21) in service with the Royal Flying Corps.  The serial numbers have been redacted by wartime censors; I'm assuming this flight was with No.1 or 3 Squadron. 
(from the Birmingham Age-Herald, 17 December 1916)



Here's a teaser article on French Moranes in British service by Trevor Henshaw from the August 2016 issue of Cross & Cockade: https://www.crossandcockade.com/uploads/Moranes.pdf.  And here's a clean build of a Type P, this one in Russian service, from the old 1/72 Joystick vacuform kit by forum member harbarnold99: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=11916.msg221750#msg221750

[PJ Fisher]

Follow the Fleet
Introduced in summer of 1915, America's revered Curtiss JN's were certainly obsolete by European standards at the time this enthusiastic photo-story went to press.  6,813 examples were produced; none saw combat service in Europe.  Coincidently, the Curtiss JN was designed by Englishman Benjamin Douglas Thomas, formerly of the Sopwith Aviation Company, who also designed the Thomas-Morse S-4 that headlined here two days ago.   
(from the Washington Times, 18 December 1917):

[PJ Fisher]

Santa Swaps Sleigh
Peace to everyone around the world!
(from the Bismarck Tribune, 25 December 1917):