African campaigns in the air during WWI

[Ssasho0]

Hello,

a simple question:
What kind of aircrafts were used in the African sky during WWI?
If someone can point me to a website or just share some knowledge - doesn't have to be comprehensive!

Thank you in advance for hte answers!

best regards,
Sasho

[Old Man]

Very little on the German side, Sir. In German East Africa there was an Otto pusher, and I believe an early Roland biplane, with some steel tube in its structure. This would have had no similarity to the later, well-known Whalfisch C-type. in German west Africa, I believe a single Aviatik B-type was employed for a while.

In seeking the S.M.S. Konigsberg, the English navy sent out a float-plane detachment to Zanzibar. This initially included Sopwith two-seaters which proved useless in the climate. A locally purchased Curtiss float-plane was employed, along with a Caudron G.3 float-plane, in actually spotting and conducting the shoot which wrecked the German cruisers. Early Short floatplanes, 827, arrived later and operated for some while on the coast. I think there was a Farman about, as well, but am not positive.

A squadron of Voisin Type L pushers of the R.N.A.S. saw service there, but I do not remember off-hand whether in East or West. I think an RFC squadron with B.E. 2c was involved as well. Some Short 827 float-planes made  it to the EBelgians in the Congo, and were employed in operations against German East Africa.

I can look through my things and give you something a bit more precise in a couple of days; this is just off the top of my head.

[Jamo]

Here is a photo of the Otto in German East Africa



Captions on back of photo read: "Büchner's Otto in German East Africa 1914." Büchner with African soldiers from a detachment of Askaris saluting with their gun standing in front of the aircraft. African village people sitting in a circle. A Caucasian soldier standing in front of the tent.

Good dio possibility with the HaT Askaris in 1/72





Have a look here:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39675

[Ssasho0]

Thank you very much for the answers, they are much more than what I expected and I really appreaciate them!
Now I will have to think if pursuing and eventually recreating one of those in a scale is a goal that I can accomplish.

Best regards,
Sasho

[Old Man]

Some detail on the Allied side, Sir.

First, regarding operations against the Konigsberg:

A Curtiss Type F flying boat ( http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curtiss_flying_boat.jpg ) was purchased locally and its owner-pilot given a commission in the Royal Marines. In short order the machine suffered radiator failure and after this was repaired, a write-off crash by the end of November, 1914. A second Curtiss was acquired (type not known), and this crashed in mid-December.

Initially  a pair of Sopwith 807 float-planes( http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/images/sopwith_tabloid_807_500.jpg ) was dispatched from England, but performed very poorly.

In April 1915 three Short 135 float-planes ( http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23106475?search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject%5D%5B%5D=Seaplanes&search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject%5D%5B%5D=Short+Admiralty+Type+135%2C+No.+136+%28Airplane%29&search%5Bil%5D%5Bsubject%5D=Aircraft+carriers&search%5Bpath%5D=items ) arrived; these actually spotted the location of the German cruiser.

In June, four more aeroplanes arrived ---

Two Farman F27 'steel Farman' ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/90553739@N06/8236156294/ )

Two Caudron G.3 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudron_G.3#mediaviewer/File:Caudron_G-III_E-2.JPG )

These conducted the actual shoot which wrecked the Konigsberg on 6 July, 1915.

Short 827s arrived shortly after. Some went on to Basra, and some continued to operate off ships on the coast.

Windsock no. 94, Caudron G.3, has a great deal of detail on the Koniogsberg operation.

Land-based air operations in German East Africa were conducted by No. 26 (South Africa) Squadron, arriving in Mombasa at the end of January, 1916. It was equipped with eight B.E. 2c aeroplanes
( http://williamwhitson.com/graphics/planes/BE2c-II.jpg ). Operations were difficult owing to jungle conditions and heat. Some Maurice Farman M.F. 11 aeroplanes ( http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/albums/MF-11-Shorthorn/A04607.jpg ) arrived as reinforcement/replacement during the summer.

Land-based operations were conducted in German East Africa by 'No. 7 Squadron, R.N.A.S.' (this unit has no connection with the later European-based 7 Sqdn, RNAS which became 207 Sqdn RAF). equiped with Voisin Type L ( http://fandavion.free.fr/voisin5.jpg ) and B.E.2c aeroplanes. This unit arrived in May of 1916, and was disbanded in January, 1917.

I have seen only mention, without any details, so far, of English aerial operations in German Southwest Africa.

The Belgians on Lake Tanganyika operated four Short 827 floatplanes ( http://www.belgian-wings.be/images/Milprofiles/short_type_827_yd.jpg )passed to them by the Royal Navy from May, 1916. These took part in naval fighting for control of the lake in consort with small vessels of the Royal Navy.

[Jamo]

Thank you very much for the answers, they are much more than what I expected and I really appreaciate them!
Now I will have to think if pursuing and eventually recreating one of those in a scale is a goal that I can accomplish.

Best regards,
Sasho

Phoenix did a vac-form of the Otto biplane in 1/72 some years ago. One turned up on ebay recently



Best wishes

[Ssasho0]

Dear Sirs,

thank you again for the time you decided to spend on my questions and for the comprehensive answers!

@Jamo; I saw the Otto 1/72 on evilbay, but the auction was from april. I will be opening my eyes in one in the near future. I think the Hat figures will be easier to find. Maybe the Cauldron G-3 is a better idea as there is ready available Choroszi modelbud.
@Old Man:  this whole answer with all those links to the photo refferences and information.... hats off to you!

Best regards,
Sasho

[Jamo]

I was watching this auction but missed the close off 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Phoenix-Models-P13-1-72-WWI-OTTO-DOPPELDECKER-Vacuform-Model-Kit-/311125903237?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item48708c8785

[IanB]

Me too, I was beaten out in the last 5 seconds!   

Ian

[uncletony]

Me too, I was beaten out in the last 5 seconds!   

Ian

Next time set it to 3 seconds

http://www.esnipe.com