Excellent photo of James McConnell in his N.11 with the Lafayette Escadrille. Likely serial # 11??. It was painted in 2-tone browns and 2-tone greens. This photo was taken sometime between May 7, 1916, when it was issued to him, and June 1, 1916, when it was wrecked on landing after being shot -up in combat. McConnell later flew another N.11 in similar camo colors, serial # 1292, marked with a white foot print as a dedication to the White Hot Foot Society of the Univ. of Virginia. McConnell was a founding member of the LE. He was KIA on March 19, 1917, while flying a Nieuport 17, serial #2055. -- AlNice pic of the little Nieuport:
-Moe
Knights of the Sky (1 Viewer)
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ivanmoe
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I've always liked the way that Jenkins simulates metal surfaces like those found on the engine and weapons above.
-Moe
Vicknor
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I've always liked the way that Jenkins simulates metal surfaces like those found on the engine and weapons above.
-Moe
The last picture has come out a bit purplish it would seem. I can attest it's not
A very nice looking D-3. -- Al
ivanmoe
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Hawkeye's question in the May/KotS thread brought to mind this message from JJD as forwarded by Julie. Having reread it, I'm unsure as to exactly what the replacement process is supposed to look like. What I am confident of is that it'll all work out, regardless of the logistics involved.
-Moe
Vicknor
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John is currently in China and doesn't have a lot of internet access. I'm sure it'll all be organised when he's back
I received my ACE-22P figure today. Finally have Georges Guynemer to go next to his Spad. This is an excellently done figure, given that it is a standing, non-action figure. The pose is taken from a photograph and features the fine lines of Guynemer in terms of his slight physique and that rather dead stare of his. The uniform is very detailed with his many decorations picked out in various hues but my favorite details are the 'Storks' badge on his left breast and the French aviators badge on his right breast. The face is also very finely done and features Guynemer's very small mustache. VERY pleased with the figure of my favorite ace. -- Al
Thrilled to death to see the release of the JJD DH-2, piloted by Lanoe Hawker. It is an aircraft I have wanted for years and I remember discussing it with John when I was lucky enough to me with him on his visit to DC several years ago. I have wanted this aircraft because of it's historical importance, the stature of the pilot, and because it is the plane that helped end the Fokker Scourge (along with the French Nieuport 11) in 1916. I really can't wait to get by hands on this one. It has taken a long time to get this one to market, I would guess because of the delicate nature of the boom construction and the complicated support and flying cable design. It is going to be a beauty and a centerpiece. -- Al
Thought I's post some interesting facts on the career of Manfred von Richthofen, facts that clarify certain aspects and maybe will put to rest some of the myths that have taken such deep root.
Richthofen is famous for his all-red triplane, yet he flew at least 18 different fighters of 7 different types during his fighter career. Of his 80 victories, only 19 total were scored in his triplanes and only his last 2 were scored in the famous all-red tripe in which he is known for and in which he died, aircraft #425/17.
His other types:
Flew in at least 2 Fokker E-III Eindeckers. 0 victories.
Flew in a Fokker D-I. 0 victories.
Flew in various Albatros D-I and D-II types, scoring his first 16 victories in them.
Flew at least 3 different Albatros D-III types, scoring 36 victories.
Flew a Halberstadt D-V. Scored 1 victory.
Flew at least 3 different Albatros D-V types, scoring 8 victories.
Flew at least 4 different Fokker Triplanes, scoring his final 19 victories.
Richthofen's scoring was spread over 3 years of war, scoring 15 victories in 1916; 48 victories in 1917; and 17 victories in 1918.
All 80 of Richthofen's victories were scored against the RFC. He scored against 36 different RFC squadrons, with 16 Squadron losing the most, 6 aircraft to his guns.
One of the more stubborn and inaccurate myths regards the type of aircraft Richthofen shot down. He has often been portrayed as a pilot who singled out the weak pilots in inferior aircraft and who scored mainly aigainst the perceived inferior 2-seater aircraft. Well, obviously, there would have been no way for Richthofen, or any other pilot, to be sure they were attacking an inferior pilot, and quality of aircraft was relative, changing from one encounter to another, so those claims can be discarded. Did he single out 2-seaters? Yes, but so did almost all other fighter pilots. It was their job. The 2-seater recon aircraft represented the larger danger in a strategic sense and, according to Richthofen, in the tactical sense as well. Richthofen considered the 2-seater much the more dangerous opponent in the air. All that said, of Richthofen's 80 victories, 45 were against 2-seaters, 35 against fighters, 2-seaters thus being 56% of his victory total, a not unduly high percentage when compared to other aces. Some other aces, with their total victories and percentage of 2-seaters within those scores:
Allied:
Ball - 44 total victories, 68% 2 -seaters.
Hawker - 7 total victries, 86% 2-seaters.
Lufbery - 16 total victories, 100% 2-seaters.
McCudden - 57 total victories, 75% 2-seaters.
McElroy - 46 total victories, 52% 2-seaters.
Germany:
Boelcke - 40 victories, 70% 2-seaters.
Immelmann - 15 victories, 80% 2-seaters.
Lothar von Richthofen - 40 victories, 60% 2-seaters.
Schaefer - 30 victories, 80% 2-seaters.
Voss - 48 victories, 52% 2-seaters.
Wolff - 33 victories, 58% 2-seaters.
It can easily be seen that 2-seaters were the main target of fighter pilots of all nations. I'm not saying that there aren't many flyers who shot down fighters as a majority of their kills, just that the main target was the 2-seater and the info they tried to carry back to base. Richthofen mixed it up and scored victories with many fighter types of the RFC, scoring over such types as Nieuports, Bristols F2b's, Spads, Pups, a Sopwith Dolphin, Sopwith Triplane, and even 9 of the famous and dangerous Sopwith Camels. Richthofen knew his job and was really good at it.
Much of this info can be found in the very excellent book "Ace Profiles #3, The Men and Their Aircraft: Manfred von Richthofen; The Aircraft, Myths, and Accomplishments of the Red Barom" by James Miller and published in 2009 by Airpower Editions. It is an oversize softcover format with excellent narrative, illustrations (many in color) and charts. I highly recommend this book as a brief but thorough introduction to the Red Baron. -- Al
Richthofen is famous for his all-red triplane, yet he flew at least 18 different fighters of 7 different types during his fighter career. Of his 80 victories, only 19 total were scored in his triplanes and only his last 2 were scored in the famous all-red tripe in which he is known for and in which he died, aircraft #425/17.
His other types:
Flew in at least 2 Fokker E-III Eindeckers. 0 victories.
Flew in a Fokker D-I. 0 victories.
Flew in various Albatros D-I and D-II types, scoring his first 16 victories in them.
Flew at least 3 different Albatros D-III types, scoring 36 victories.
Flew a Halberstadt D-V. Scored 1 victory.
Flew at least 3 different Albatros D-V types, scoring 8 victories.
Flew at least 4 different Fokker Triplanes, scoring his final 19 victories.
Richthofen's scoring was spread over 3 years of war, scoring 15 victories in 1916; 48 victories in 1917; and 17 victories in 1918.
All 80 of Richthofen's victories were scored against the RFC. He scored against 36 different RFC squadrons, with 16 Squadron losing the most, 6 aircraft to his guns.
One of the more stubborn and inaccurate myths regards the type of aircraft Richthofen shot down. He has often been portrayed as a pilot who singled out the weak pilots in inferior aircraft and who scored mainly aigainst the perceived inferior 2-seater aircraft. Well, obviously, there would have been no way for Richthofen, or any other pilot, to be sure they were attacking an inferior pilot, and quality of aircraft was relative, changing from one encounter to another, so those claims can be discarded. Did he single out 2-seaters? Yes, but so did almost all other fighter pilots. It was their job. The 2-seater recon aircraft represented the larger danger in a strategic sense and, according to Richthofen, in the tactical sense as well. Richthofen considered the 2-seater much the more dangerous opponent in the air. All that said, of Richthofen's 80 victories, 45 were against 2-seaters, 35 against fighters, 2-seaters thus being 56% of his victory total, a not unduly high percentage when compared to other aces. Some other aces, with their total victories and percentage of 2-seaters within those scores:
Allied:
Ball - 44 total victories, 68% 2 -seaters.
Hawker - 7 total victries, 86% 2-seaters.
Lufbery - 16 total victories, 100% 2-seaters.
McCudden - 57 total victories, 75% 2-seaters.
McElroy - 46 total victories, 52% 2-seaters.
Germany:
Boelcke - 40 victories, 70% 2-seaters.
Immelmann - 15 victories, 80% 2-seaters.
Lothar von Richthofen - 40 victories, 60% 2-seaters.
Schaefer - 30 victories, 80% 2-seaters.
Voss - 48 victories, 52% 2-seaters.
Wolff - 33 victories, 58% 2-seaters.
It can easily be seen that 2-seaters were the main target of fighter pilots of all nations. I'm not saying that there aren't many flyers who shot down fighters as a majority of their kills, just that the main target was the 2-seater and the info they tried to carry back to base. Richthofen mixed it up and scored victories with many fighter types of the RFC, scoring over such types as Nieuports, Bristols F2b's, Spads, Pups, a Sopwith Dolphin, Sopwith Triplane, and even 9 of the famous and dangerous Sopwith Camels. Richthofen knew his job and was really good at it.
Much of this info can be found in the very excellent book "Ace Profiles #3, The Men and Their Aircraft: Manfred von Richthofen; The Aircraft, Myths, and Accomplishments of the Red Barom" by James Miller and published in 2009 by Airpower Editions. It is an oversize softcover format with excellent narrative, illustrations (many in color) and charts. I highly recommend this book as a brief but thorough introduction to the Red Baron. -- Al
ivanmoe
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Hi Al,
A large portion of MvR's kill total during "Bloody April" consisted of B.E.2 two-seaters. In fact, there were so many downed, it has me curious as to what the actual role of "The Quirk" was at the time. Were they flying one or two to a mission with a fighter escort (as we might expect), or were larger formations of them employed in some other type of duty? I ask because it seems inconceivable that so many could have been destroyed had they been properly escorted on a reconnaissance flight. Insights, sir
-Moe
Moe, a large part of the problem with the 'Quirk' was that it was just totally unsuited to combat. It was a true example of good men, bad equipment. It was much too stable an aircraft for combat and was badly designed and armed, even for the time, mainly because of the absurd fact that the pilot sat in the rear seat and the observer/gunner sat in the front cockpit, severely limiting observation, but especially crippling fields of defensive fire. While not a horrible machine in pure terms of being a flying machine, it just wasn't suited to the role it played. By April, 1917, it was totally obsolete as a front line aircraft and was eaten alive by the German fighters. I'm can't really answer to it's tactics except to say BE's were used to escort BE's on many occasions. Richthofen counted 7 BE-2's amongst his 21 victories in April, !917, surely an indictment of an RFC totally outgunned by the Germans. April, 1917 was the swan song of the BE-2 at the front. In fact, Richthofen claimed no more BE-2's after April. Ironically, the very stability that made the BE-2 a bad front line aircraft, enabled it to become a successful Home Defense aircraft, helping to combat the Zeppelin over England at night. -- AlHi Al,
A large portion of MvR's kill total during "Bloody April" consisted of B.E.2 two-seaters. In fact, there were so many downed, it has me curious as to what the actual role of "The Quirk" was at the time. Were they flying one or two to a mission with a fighter escort (as we might expect), or were larger formations of them employed in some other type of duty? I ask because it seems inconceivable that so many could have been destroyed had they been properly escorted on a reconnaissance flight. Insights, sir
-Moe
ivanmoe
Command Sergeant Major
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Hi Al,
Thanks for responding. With your comments above, I think that you've drilled down into what I find sort of mystifying about the Allied approach to the air war on the Western Front. Long ago, I believe that I read that at least one variant of the B.E.2 didn't have a forward-firing MG like most other types did by 1917. So, the Brits were using them as escorts? That's shear madness, and I'm surprised that any survived. It also suggests that the decision makers didn't quite grasp the concept of "air superiority," or, more critically, how it might be achieved. In that context, all I can say is that the Allied High Command had some dreadfully slow learners on staff!
Thanks again for your comments,
-Moe
Moe, it is a great irony/tragedy that RFC strategy was to be aggressive at all times and take the fight to the enemy. Nothing wrong with that IF you have the means to execute that policy. As the results of 'Bloody April' so readily prove, the RFC simply didn't have the aircraft and weapons to achieve their goal of air superiority during 1916 and most of 1917. The situation was so bad in early 1917 that average life span of new to the front RFC pilots was measured in days. It is no lie that pilots were being sent to the front with as few as 7 hours of solo flight time to their credit, to fly aircraft like the BE2 against the veteran pilots of the German Air Force in their markedly superior Albatros fighters armed with 2 synchronized Mgs. It was a slaughter. -- AlHi Al,
Thanks for responding. With your comments above, I think that you've drilled down into what I find sort of mystifying about the Allied approach to the air war on the Western Front. Long ago, I believe that I read that at least one variant of the B.E.2 didn't have a forward-firing MG like most other types did by 1917. So, the Brits were using them as escorts? That's shear madness, and I'm surprised that any survived. It also suggests that the decision makers didn't quite grasp the concept of "air superiority," or, more critically, how it might be achieved. In that context, all I can say is that the Allied High Command had some dreadfully slow learners on staff!
Thanks again for your comments,
-Moe
Against all odds, some creative juggling of the books, and a starvation diet (NOT!), I have managed to scrape the money together for the JJD DH-2. It should be landing on the old aerodrome come Monday and I can hardly wait to see this marvel of model making from John. Come on, Monday.:wink2:^&grin -- Al
ivanmoe
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Vicknor
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While we're waiting for a certain DH.2 to arrive at Al's house,
This is a Treefrog Treasures exclusive event, BTW!:wink2:
-Moe
Enjoyed that
ivanmoe
Command Sergeant Major
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Enjoyed that
Thanks Vicknor, I took those pics before I was a member here. It seems like a long time ago, but we're only talking about 4.5 years or so. Glad that I found an easy way to post them to the forum, one that won't crash the TF server!
-Moe