SPAD XIII - The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War I

Over the Front—The League of WWI Aviation Historians

Equipped with twin machine guns and a larger engine, the SPAD XIII was based upon the airframe of the smaller SPAD VII. Built in large numbers, it was fast and powerful but difficult to fly. The SPAD XIII was flown by many of the famous aces including Georges Guynemer and Eddie Rickenbacker. Guynemer's last victory was also the first victory scored by a SPAD XIII. With 18 victories, Irish ace William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick scored more victories with the SPAD VII and SPAD XIII than any other ace.

SPAD XIII Specifications

Country:	France
Manufacturer:	Société Anonyme Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
Type:	Fighter
First Introduced:	September 1917
Number Built:	8,472
Engine(s):	Hispano-Suiza 8 BEc 8 cylinder liquid cooled inline V, 235 hp
Wing Span:	26 ft 11 in
Length:	20 ft 8 in
Height:	7 ft 11 in
Empty Weight:
Gross Weight:	1,801 lb
Max Speed:	138 mph at 6,560 ft
Ceiling:	21,820 ft
Endurance:	2 hours
Crew:	1
Armament:	2 Vickers .303 machine guns

SPAD XIII Units

Belgian Air Service:	10me
French Air Service:	Spa3, Spa12, Spa15, Spa16, Spa23, Spa26, Spa31, Spa37, Spa38, Spa48, Spa49, Spa57, Spa62, Spa65, Spa67, Spa68, Spa69, Spa73, Spa75, Spa76, Spa77, Spa78, Spa79, Spa80, Spa81, Spa82, Spa83, Spa84, Spa85, Spa86, Spa87, Spa88, Spa89, Spa90, Spa91, Spa92, Spa93, Spa94, Spa95, Spa96, Spa97, Spa98, Spa99, Spa100, Spa102, Spa103, Spa112, Spa124, Spa150, Spa151, Spa152, Spa153, Spa154, Spa155, Spa156, Spa157, Spa158, Spa159, Spa160, Spa161, Spa162, Spa163, Spa164, Spa165, Spa166, Spa167, Spa168, Spa170, Spa171, Spa173, Spa175, Spa313, Spa314, Spa315, Spa412, Spa442, Spa461, Spa462, Spa463, Spa464, Spa466, Spa467, Spa469, Spa470, Spa471, Spa472, Spa506, Spa507, Spa523, Spa531, Spa561
Italian Air Service:	70^a, 71^a, 77^a, 91^a
Royal Flying Corps:	19, 23
United States Air Service:	13^th, 17^th, 22^nd, 27^th, 28^th, 49^th, 93^rd, 94^th, 95^th, 103^rd, 138^th, 139^th, 141^st, 147^th, 148^th, 185^th, 213^th

SPAD XIII Aces (7)

1	Rickenbacker, Edward Vernon	20
2	Argeyev (d'Argueff), Pavel Vladimirovich	10
3	Hunter, Frank O'Driscoll	8
4	FitzMorris, James	7
5	Holden, Lansing Colton	7
6	d'Olive, Charles Rudolph	5
7	Roques, Jacques Rapha�l	5

1

SPAD XIII Books

SPAD Fighters in Action (Aircraft in Action): John Connors / Paperback / Squadron/Signal Pub 1989
SPAD Scouts SVII-SXIII: Michael P. Roffe / Unknown Binding / Arco Pub Co
SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War 1: Jon Guttman / Paperback / Osprey Pub 2002
SPAD XIII and SPAD VII (Model Historic Aircraft Series): Peter A. Zorn Jr. / Paperback / Crown Pub 1982

Aces · Aircraft · Books · Forum · Guests · Help · Links · Medals · News · Search · Today