Nieuport pilot in the Chateau de Jumilhac

[andonio64]

Hallo,
I am just back from a fantastic holiday in the French region of Périgord.
Among all the beautiful things I have seen, I have visited the beautiful castle of Jumilhac-le-Grand

In the castle there were a couple of old pictures of a pilot in a Ni17 (but I'm not sure, it could be an 11) with the propeller boss covered like this

the fuselage was dark, and had a white J on it, probably the fuselage was dark red...

The guide taking us through the palace did not know the name of the pilot but she was sure he was a relative of Mathilde de Dreux-Brézé, one of the "modern" owners of the castle, whose portrait was shown in the same room.

The husband of this woman was Raymond Odet Chapelle, an Egyptologist.

Anybody has any idea about the identity of the pilot?

They did not allow me to take pictures in the castle...
:-(

Antonio

[oldalbie]

That's Nungesser's marking on the plane, so I guess it's him in the plane.

[Borsos]

That's Nungesser's marking on the plane, so I guess it's him in the plane.

I totally agree, and it is a Ni 17.
Borsos

[IanB]

I think the pic is shown as an example of the prop spinner. It's not the plane that is being referred to, which was dark with a white J on it. I hope I've understood correctly.

Ian

[lcarroll]

   I read it the same way Guys. The Nungesser shot is to illustrate the type of "Cone" on the prop boss, the subject is as Ian describes.......  It would be neat to find the pilot's identity etc.
Cheers,
Lance

[coyotemagic]

   I read it the same way Guys. The Nungesser shot is to illustrate the type of "Cone" on the prop boss, the subject is as Ian describes.......  It would be neat to find the pilot's identity etc.
Cheers,
Lance

I think the pic is shown as an example of the prop spinner. It's not the plane that is being referred to, which was dark with a white J on it. I hope I've understood correctly.

Ian

Exactly!  I've looked through my Nieuport refs and can't find a thing.  Anyone else?
Cheers,
Bud

[Borsos]

I think the pic is shown as an example of the prop spinner. It's not the plane that is being referred to, which was dark with a white J on it. I hope I've understood correctly.

Ian

Waaah, you are right, I should have read more carefully...

[andonio64]

Hi guys, yes, the above photo is just to show the prop spinner, I know those are Nungesser markings, the plane in the photos was dark in apparently a unique dark  shade and has a big (white?) J on the side.

I searched my sources and as Bud says have found nothing so far.

AnDonio

[IanB]

The Chateau has a website, would it be worth sending them an email requesting more information?

They can only say no....

Ian

[lcarroll]

   My Nieuport Refs are limited to the very common ones and I haven't found anything to shed further light on this puzzle; I like Ian's idea, they can only say no as he says.......
Cheers,
Lance

[andonio64]

The Chateau has a website, would it be worth sending them an email requesting more information?

They can only say no....

Ian

I just sent them a message, that was a good idea Ian!!!

:-)

Antonio

[oldalbie]

My apologies Andonio.  I misread your original post, pretty bad for a former teacher, eh?  It will be interesting if you get an answer back from the Chateau.