Captured Nieuport 11 in Imperial German service

[Olson]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

Hi,

I really, really doubt that any of Student's victories were attained in the Nieuport 11. He reportedly achieved his first three victories (July/August 1916) in his Fokker E.IV - that's what he inscribed on a photo caption anyway. His last three victories were attained on 16 March, 22 August and 1 November 1917, and he was almost certainly flying Albatros fighters for those.

Greg

Tak su mycket GregVan. It's great to have such expertise available for those of us still on the shallow slope of the learning curve.

[Cigogne]

Greg,

Thanks for that extra bit of info about the aircraft going with Bernert later to Jasta B.

[Olson]

This may belong in the flying models forum, but since I raised the issue here I thought it would be best to post this shot of my Balsa USA kit-bash of a Nieuport 11 modified to appear as the airplane referred to in this (camo/marking) forum. The maiden flight was uneventful, and the performance was very scale. This is an electric motor powered 1/4 scale model which I plan to fly in an upcoming contest in Sarasota. It is equipped with a Benedini sound system to produce the growl of an engine to compensate for the "silent flight" characteristic of electric motive power.Student Model 3.pdf

[Gregvan]

Beautiful model! Congratulations.

Greg

[Cigogne]

Gustav Leffers, a Pour le Merite ace who was serving in Jasta 1 right before his death, was flying a Nieuport 16 when he was killed in combat according to some sources quoted in Neal O'Connor's volume VI. The oft seen photo of Leffers posing with a Nieuport is often reported to be a Nieuport 11, however, the 110 h.p. LeRhone engine and headrest are Nieuport 16 hallmarks. There is some possibility that Leffers may have downed French or British aircraft while flying this aircraft. Anyone have the details of his combat reports?

[Gregvan]

Hi Cigogne,

Obviously you've not read my book "Early German Aces of WWI" . While we don't have any of Leffers' combat reports which describe his combats in the Nie. 16 (that I'm aware of), on 3 September 1916, as a member of Jasta 1, Leffers shot down FE 2b 6934 of 2Lt F D H Sams and Cpl W Summers of No. 23 Sqn near Bapaume. The RFC crew survived as POWs, and after the war Sams reported that he had been shot down by a German flying a captured Nieuport.

Of course, you are aware that on 27 December 1916, Leffers was shot down and killed when he attacked FE 2b's from No. 11 Sqn. His probable victors were in FE 2b 7666, flown by Capt J B Quested and 2Lt H J H Dicksee. The RFC crew reported that the enemy was flying a captured Nieuport Scout in German markings.


Greg