looking for original lafayette Americane markings

davecww1 · 20 June 2002, 06:38 PM

Hello,
I am interested in modeling the first 6 Nieuport 11's used by N.124 based at Luxeuil in April-May 1916. I read that 3 of the original aircraft were in clear doped linen finish, and 3 were camouflaged. Does anyone know which pilots flew which of the original planes, and what personal markings were applied to the fuselages? I am especially interested in the CDL finished machines. The Rhinebeck replica carries a black C for Victor Chapman, but I have never seen a photo of this aircraft. Are these markings correct? Also, which pilot used a white circle for their personal markings?
The original lineup was Chapman, Hall, Mcconnell, Rockwell, Thaw, Prince, Cowdin and French officers Thenault & DeLaage. So did the 9 pilots share these 6 aircraft?
Any information or photos would be appriciated.
Thanks,
Dave Calhoun

Cliff · 21 June 2002, 11:45 AM

Dave

On May 14/1916 a film was shot at Luxeuil of the roll-out of the squadron's first six Nieuport 11s and 16s. Your best bet would be to find a copy of it. I've seen parts of it in various documentaries and some stills in the various aviation mags.
From them I have come up with the following:
A/C 1 - no clear shot in the pics I have - looks
* * * *to be in dark camo in one shot.
A/C 2 - N.11 white R on fuselage flown by Rockwell
* * * *green/dk. brown camo, alum. cowl.
A/C 3 - N.16 white circle on fuselage and wheel
* * * *cover, green/dk. brown camo, alum. cowl.
A/C 4 - N.11 maybe # 1313. white MAC on fus.
* * * *flown by McConnell.
* * * *green/dk. brown camo, alum. cowl.
A/C 5 - N.11 no markings, green/dk.brown camo,
* * * *alum. cowl.
A/C 6 - N.11 no markings, cdl finish.

The N.11/16 designations are based on the presence of a headrest and are probably not correct as the squadron was equipped with three N.11 and three N.16, the later going to the more experienced pilots, Thaw, De Laage and Thenault.
The other three Rockwell, Chapman and McConnell had the N.11s. Note that on May 14 only these six pilots were with the sqn. More arrived about June 17.
The Americal/Gryphon sheet and info booklet provides markings and details of these aircraft.
They have NO aircraft with a 'C' marking.

Cliff

davecww1 · 21 June 2002, 12:37 PM

Hi Cliff,
Thanks for the info. I believe I saw a clip of this in "Four Years of Thunder". So Bert Hall, Cowdin & prince were not original members? They are listed in an article I read. I have the Americal sheet for early Nieuports, and will do MAC and R & the white circle. (anyone have a clue who flew this one? Maybe Thaw or Chapman?) So both of the CDL ones had no personal markings? And as usual, the Rhinebeck markings are not authentic!
Thanks,
Dave

Cliff · 21 June 2002, 07:34 PM

OOOPS
I rechecked my sources and the notes I had on those first six were a bit misleading.
The nine pilots you list WERE with the squadron, but only the six I listed were assigned aircraft, probably based on their piloting skills.
I also found a passage from a letter by Chapman;
he says " some of the airplanes were camouflaged with mottled light and dark brown, bearing landscape imitations in light and dark green "
"his own plane, an 80h.p. model (N.11) was a solid cream colour"
As to personal markings: later Chapman is noted as having no markings, de Laage had a large white 'X' on his N.11 and Thenault had a small butterfly below the cockpit. So the white circle marked machine may have belonged to Thaw.

Cliff