Two Seaters

I just got the FMP French aircraft of WWI book. It raised a general question of French vs other Air Forces. Were two seater squadrons primarally dedicated in their mission (Observation, Reconnaissance, or Light Bombing) or were they multi-mission utility aircraft utilized for different tasks on diferent days. The Breguet Br14a2 and Br14b2 were designed for different squadrons/purposes but things got hazed when observation a/c started bombing and bombers started to cruise the front.

Also which Allied/Central Powers two seat aircraft were the most mass-produced for non-fighter uses (observation/recon/bombing)?

Sincerely,
SHAG

Well the Quirk was made for that and getting shot down from what i can tell.

[rammjaeger]

Most mass-produced double seater of the Central powers:

D.F.W. (Deutsche Flugzeugwerke; Leipzig) C.V!
Ordered were at least 4050 (source: Grosz) and produced 3000+ (precise number not known).
Strange enough this aircraft is not mentioned in a lot of German and other aviation history books!!!

Great plane that DFW CV ! Serving late 1916 to the end. It generated so many spin-offs like the LVG CV & CVI. Your numbers are appreciated Hannes as I was looking for them.

The BE2 "Quirk" was a good machine when it was first put out but was retained in front line units far too long. It's replacement the RE8 WAS a better plane in a evolutionary (too bad not a revolutionary) sense.


Less defensable was the Dorand AR1 observation planes which were to replace French Caudron's, Farman pushers, and liecense built Sopwith LCT (1 1/2 Strutters). Well the Dorand was so poor that the Sopwith outlasted it and wasn't supplanted untill the Breguet Br.14's and Salmson 2a2's came along.

I know of 6,000 Breguet Br.14's built. Does anybody have a breakdown of Br.14a2 (observation) vs Br.14b2 (bomber) numbers. Also does anyone have anything on Dorand AR1 numbers.

SHAG

[leo]

I would presume the two seater produced in Austria-Hungary woul have been the Brandenburg C1.
The best owuld have been either the Phonix or UFAG c1.

I am sorry that I do not have the figures you want. I have other information that may help.
Assuming that the total production figures for
Breguet Br.14(5,500 before the war ended, 8,000
by 1926) is based on engines or airframes, the
division of recon. and/or bomber is further
complicated because the basic Breguet Br.14 was
also given over to variants including night bomber, ambulance and seaplane.Also, the 14.A2s
with the Fiat engines went to Belgium (again, I
don't know how many).
In addition (with regard to loss rates),one source (Lamberton)states that after July 15, 1918, the bombers were escorted by Caudron R.11s