On this Day (WWI aviation news), Vol. 3

[PJ Fisher]

First Ace Falls
Pioneer pilot Adolphe Célestin Pégoud's aerial feats remain legendary.  Some were outlined here last February (https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg262815#msg262815).  Pégoud earned his wings in March 1913, became a test pilot for Bleriot, and was also a flight instructor before the Great War.  He then joined France's Aéronautique Militaire.  In less than one month following his first aerial victory, Pégoud became 'the first pilot to achieve ace status of any sort'.  By the end of August 1915, with six 'kills' to his credit, he was flying his Morane-Saulnier when he encountered his former flight pupil, Unteroffizier Otto Kandulski in the clouds.  Pégoud never returned home.  Kandulski was likewise killed in combat just two weeks later.
(from the Auckland Weekly News, 9 September 1915):

[PJ Fisher]

Priceless Protection
DaVinci's Mona Lisa, which was stolen in 1911 and had only been returned to the Louvre seven months prior France's declaration of war, is going under wraps along with countless other treasures in anticipation of the air raids to come.  The first air raid on Paris came just ten days earlier when a single German plane dropped three bombs - "one on the Rue des Récollets, one on the Quai de Valmy and the third on the Rue des Vinaigriers; the last bomb killed an elderly woman and wounded three persons. City authorities did not allow the casualties to be mentioned in the press. Another plane appeared on August 31 to drop a message with the claim that the Germans had defeated the French army at Saint-Quentin, and a third plane appeared on September 1, this time to drop more bombs that killed one person and injured sixteen. These casualties were also concealed from the public" (via wikipedia).
(from the Atlanta Georgian, 10 September 1914):


(image via gallica.bnd.fr)

[PJ Fisher]

Over-Accessorized?
I'd love to see an image of this apparently bedazzled airplane that was brought down near France's northern coast relatively early in the war when the belligerent nations were standardizing their aircraft insignia.  Anyone know what type of machine this might have been?
(from the Cambria Daily Leader, 11 September 1915):

[Mattrix25]

Pfalz A.II ?

[Mattrix25]

 … with a Garuda propellor.

[PJ Fisher]

Pfalz A.II ?

Hey, could be!  This one has a few extras.

[PJ Fisher]

"Everybody's Doin' It"
Like the title of Irving Berlin's hit ragtime song, the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company jumped on the triplane craze of 1917 with a number of concepts, including their Model FL. Evidently only this one example was built.  "...a good example of Curtiss innovation - the mixing of major components of two existing models to form a new one. A set of stock Model L wings on the hull and powerplant of the Model F flying-boat resulted in the entirely logical designation of FL for the single experimental model produced in 1917. It was owned by the American Trans-Oceanic Corp and was advertized for sale in September 1919 at $6,000." (P.Bowers, Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947, Putnam)
(from the Sydney Mail, 12 September 1917):

[PJ Fisher]

Fatal R.E. & Fee
Tough times this Tuesday on the British home front for pilots of two Royal Aircraft Factory Machines. 

First in the news is the demise of Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7 No. 2199, which crashed due to an in-flight wing failure over Aldershot. Test pilot Geoffrey Launcett Railton and RAF draughtsman Frederick Williams were killed.  "Something was seen to go wrong with the right wing, the machine spiralled and then corkscrewed to the ground. Evidence was given that the machine had flown for 36 hours previously and was then all right.  It was thought that the accident was due to the failure of a steel fitting, supporting the outer end of the top right hand wing. There was a flaw, which could not be detected from the outside. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned". (via asn.flightsafety.org)

The second story pertains to the loss of the newly introduced F.E.8 No.6395, of 41 Squadron, RFC, Gosport; piloted by Oliver Hugh Ormrod, who had only transferred to the Royal Flying Corps four months prior, had recently 'earned his wings', and was set to depart to France.  "In an inquest on September 13th relative to the fatal accident, on the previous day, to Captain Oliver H. Ormrod, R.F.C., it was stated that the machine rose with one wing down, presumably through insufficient flying speed, and at a height of 40 feet, the machine side-slipped and made a nosedive to the ground, Captain Ormrod's skull being fractured. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned". (via asn.flightsafety.org)
(from the Cambria Daily Leader, 13 September 1916):



Check out forum member IanB's brilliant 1/72nd-scale vacform F.E.2b by Scaleplanes: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=11763.msg219414#msg219414

[PJ Fisher]

'Teuton' Improvements
Here's a fairly in-depth article on the structure and technological status of the German Luftstreitkräfte around the arrival of American Forces to the Western Front.
(from the Ocala Evening Star, 14 September 1917):

[PJ Fisher]

Champion at Rest
"This is ever so annoying", wrote the British Empire's top ace to his wife after he received orders to leave the western front.  The government had grown increasingly concerned about the effect his death might have on public morale, so William Avery Bishop was to be sent home by noon on 19 June 1918.  That morning, whether out of 'annoyance' or for one last hurrah, Billy Bishop took to the air and shot down five enemy planes in just fifteen minutes - earning him 'ace in a day' status on what would prove to be his final combat mission.  What might have happened had Bishop remained in France?  Perhaps he might have surpassed Richtofen's record; perhaps he would have fallen in action?  Bishop continued to serve into the Second World War and was ultimately promoted to air vice-marshal in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
(from the Daily Ardmoreite, 15 September 1918):



Fun fact: only fifteen Great-War pilots achieved 'ace in a day' status.   Two accomplished this feat twice!

Check out forum member Carpo's take on the Billy Bishop figure by Model Cellar: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=1792.msg29226#msg29226

[PJ Fisher]

Königsberg Surveillant
This photo spotlight attributes a Short Type 81 'Folder' (serial #122) to have flown reconnaissance during the Battle of Rufiji Delta from October 1914–July 1915.  The story rather enthusiastically implies that this airplane was perhaps more impactful than it likely actually was.  "The British made several attempts to sink Königsberg including one to slip a shallow-draught torpedo boat (with escorts) within range, an operation easily repulsed by the force in the delta. A blockship, the Newbridge, was sunk by the British across one of the delta mouths to prevent her escape; however, it was soon realized that Königsberg could still escape through one of the delta's other channels. Dummy mines were laid in some of these alternatives, but they were considered a doubtful deterrent. A civilian pilot named Cutler was hired to bring his Curtiss seaplane for reconnaissance; his plane was shot down, although the presence of the elusive cruiser was verified. A pair of Royal Naval Air Service Sopwith seaplanes were brought up with the intention of scouting and even bombing the ship, but they soon fell apart in the tropical conditions. A trio of Short seaplanes fared a little better, managing to take photographs of the ship before they were grounded by the glue-melting tropical heat and German fire." (via wikipedia)
(from the Auckland Weekly News, 16 September 1915):



The aforementioned Cutler and his crippled Curtiss headlined here last January:  https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg262200#msg262200

[PJ Fisher]

Mining the Air
Here's an evocative interpretation of how to defend one's airspace published when the war was just still weeks old.  Barrage balloon aprons were indeed experimented with by the British even after the war.
(from the Auckland Weekly News, 17 September 1914):

[PJ Fisher]

Shattered Foes
Two takes make today's news on a dogfight between a Belgian Nieuport and German two-seat Rumpler.
(respectively from the Hawaiian Gazette and the Tulsa Daily World, 18 September 1917):



Check out forum member drdave's amazing diorama of a crumpled Rumpler: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=8016.msg149021#msg149021

[PJ Fisher]

Seaplanes vs. Seaplanes
Plenty action all along the Adriatic coast this month.
(from the Hawaiian Gazette, 19 September 1916):



Here's an example of an Italian seaplane by forum member Alexis:  https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=3660.msg63339#msg63339

[PJ Fisher]

Seaplane vs. Shrimper?
It's a double-header of seaplane action this week... with today's battle occurring off England's East Coast.  This time a low-flying aircraft of unknown type loses in a direct mashup with the mast of an anonymous shrimp boat.
(from the Cambria Daily Leader, 20 September 1918)