The SPAD S.VII…winner of the March Wings of War poll to decide the best French fighter of World War One
Aces and Their Aircraft…Image #3: Pierre Clostermann (19 claimed solo kills) in the cockpit of his Hawker Tempest Mk.V
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #9: The SPAD S.XIII
Building on the success of the S.VII, the SPAD S.XIII was by the end of World War One the dominant French fighter/scout. Like it’s predecessor it was a strong and stable aircraft that fast with a good climb rate. Unfortunately problems with its powerplant did have a negative impact on both its production run (not seeing full operational duty till the last 6 months of the war) and with its use by the Americans. It was the mount of numerous aces as had flown the S.VII, and was most famous in America for its use by Eddie Rickenbacker. Over 8000 were produced and the SPAD S.XIII was used by the French until 1923 as their prime fighter.
To vote for the SPAD S.XIII visit this link.
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #8: The SPAD S.VII
Just as the British developed the S.E.5/a as a stable and sturdy gun platform scout/fighter to balance the more nimble Sopwith Camel, so did the SPAD S.VII parallel the Nieuport 11/17/23/24 series of French fighters. Flown by several great Allied aces of World War One, including Charles Guynemer and Rene Fonck (French), Francesco Barraca (pictured, Italian) and Jerry Pentland (Australian), the S.VII was also used by all Allied air forces during the First World War. With over 6,000 built and a service history lasting from 1916 till well after the war in non-European service, the SPAD S.VII would be a worthy winner of this month’s poll.
To vote for the SPAD S.VII visit this link.
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #7: The Nieuport 28
The final development in the Nieuport series of fighters during World War One, the 28 was not able to see service in major quantities with the French as they had already deployed significant quantities of the SPAD S.VII and S.XIII. Thus its most significant contribution was as the first major fighter type for the nascent American aviation elements of the AEF during 1918. Several American aces including Eddie Rickenbacker flew the Nieuport 28 and whilst it was perceived as a well performed aircraft it had structural problems.
To vote for the Nieuport 28 visit this link.
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #6: The Nieuport 17/23/24
Arguably one of the best fighters of the Allied air forces in 1916-17, the Nieuport 17 (and its developments the 23 and 24) served with the French, British and Russian air forces during WWI in large numbers, and was flown by several aces (including Charles Nungesser and Albert Ball). It also had a prominent role in the Lafayette Escadrille, one of the volunteer units in the Aéronautique Militaire comprising of many American pilots. The Nieuport 17 and its developments were also used as trainers once they had lost their ascendancy in combat.
To vote in this poll for the Nieuport 17/23/24 visit this link.
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #5: The Nieuport 11 Bébé
The Bébé was the first major French fighter to not just be produced in significant numbers, but also flown operationally with great success. Part of the Allied response to the ‘Fokker Scourge’ of 1915-16, the Nieuport 11, it served not just with the French but also Belgian, British, Italian and Russian air forces (the photo shows one such example flown by the Imperial Russian Air Force). The Bébé also served as a solid development base for later types such as the Nieuport 16, 17 and 24.
To vote for the Nieuport 11 visit this link.
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #4: The Morane-Saulnier Type N
The Type N monoplane was built in small numbers, reflecting the generally poor service and production numbers of monoplane fighters during World War One. Seeing service with the French as well as the British RFC and Russian Imperial Air Force it flew without an interrupter gear for its forward firing machine gun, relying on deflector blades as pioneered on the Type L.
To vote for the Morane-Saulnier Type N visit this link.
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #3: The Morane-Saulnier Type L
With around 600 produced the Type L parasol fighter was the first important French fighter/scout type of WWI. Renowned as the mount of Roland Garros who shot down 3 German aircraft in 1915 with a rudimentary forward-firing machine gun set up (using deflector blades instead of an interruptor gear), the Type L was also flown by the RFC and other Allied countries. A British Type L was responsible for the first successful interception of a Zeppelin. It also had the unique history of being licence built by the German manufacturer Pfalz, and served with the Luftstreitkräfte.
To vote for thr Morane-Saulnier Type L visit this link.
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #2: The Hanriot HD.3
The HD.3 was a late introduction into French service in 1918, with the vast majority of the two seat fighter type’s order quantity cancelled. It failed to see combat duty over the Western Front during WWI, but its performance was still of a high enough quality for about 90 in all to serve with the French Aéronautique Militaire and Aéronautique Maritime.
To vote for the Hanriot HD.3 visit this link.
The Wings Of War Poll for April: What Was The Best French Fighter of World War One?
Nominee #1: The Hanriot HD.1
Having the poll for the best British fighter of WWI conclude now it’s the chance for you to vote for the best French fighter of the same period.
The first option on offer is the Hanriot HD.1. A scout developed as a potential replacement for the Nieuport 17 the HD.1 saw most of its extensive service as part of the Belgian and Italian air forces during WWI. Almost 3/4s of all HD.1s built came from Italian factories, where it actually supplanted SPADs in service. The HD.1 also saw minor service with the US Navy post-war.
Potez Military Aviaton…Image #3: The Potez 75 prototype. A post-war pusher ground attack aircraft, the Potez 75 failed to reach production even though it had been ordered as a ground attack counter-insurgency aircraft by the French.
Potez Military Aviation…Image #2: A Potez 63 series multi-role warplane in service with the Armee de l’Air World War II. The Potez 63 series were capable aircraft that like so many French types had issues with production quality up to the fall of France. The 63 series also had the misfortune to share in some of its variants a similarity to the Me-110.
