Spad 7 SPA 81 (grayhound)

9 July 2001, 11:53 AM

Hi Guys, Anyone know where I can find a color picture of one of these planes or at least a color description? How about it Dan-San do you have anything you can share or sell? Also, were there any XIII's from this squadron? Cheers!

Dan_San_Abbott · 9 July 2001, 03:21 PM

John:
I have looked in the Albatros Datafile on the SPAD 7c, no.8 and on page 9 is a photo of the left side of SPA 81 line-up. The object Spad 7 is in the pale yellow finish with a dark (black?) greyhound with ablack? no 9. The Spad 7s ,aircraft, black? no.1 in the background has the white runnying greyhound painted on the fuselage side.
I have checked in "FRENCH AIRCRAFT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR and it does list SPAD XIIIc1 aircraft in SPA 81 as a component Escadrille of Groupe de Combat
15. Hope this is of help.
Blue skies,
Dan-San Abbott

9 July 2001, 03:57 PM

Ty C&C (US) Vol 21/1 Spring 1980. "L'Escadrille des Levriers:SPA 81" by my good friend Bill Bailey. Jon Guttman contributed a nice colors article to the same issue covering their S.VII's and a few of the later S.XIII's.

Hope this helps....
Mike

9 July 2001, 04:52 PM

Thanks so much Mike I appreciate your help.

9 July 2001, 04:56 PM

Dan-San, what can I say. This is great information as usual and I appreciate it. Now if I can get DJ to build the plane for me....... Thanks so much. Cheers!

9 July 2001, 06:29 PM

As my friend Mike says, the best source on this Squadron is Volume 21, No. 1 of Cross & Cockade (US) with great articles by Bill Bailey and Jon Guttman - plenty of good photos. There is a color profile of a Spad XIII of SPA 81, flown by Adjt. Marius Blanc, in the Squadron/Signal book "Spad Fighters in Action", by the late John F. Connors.There is also a photo of the same aircraft on page 44. This book is still available from most hobby shops, aviation booksellers or the publisher. The greyhound insignia was in very pale gray or white with black outline and details, and was applied with a stencil. I hope that is of interest.

Greg

Rick · 9 July 2001, 07:02 PM

Greg,

What about a very early C&C issue (around Vol. 5-8) that had all of the French Esq. insignias presented in color??? Rick

10 July 2001, 02:13 AM

Thanks Greg, I appreciate your help. Cheers!

10 July 2001, 02:16 AM

Thanks Rick, I appreciate your effort. Cheers!

10 July 2001, 04:28 AM

Dan-San, I have a picture of this Spad 7 black grayhound and #9. It looks like it has a white cowl and band around the fuselage which the grayhound is half on? Also looks like the wheel covers are white? Looks like the bottom is black also but this could just be shadow. Can you confirm? I also have a color profile of one in gray with a white grayhound. Thanks.