Nungesser's Nieuport N1895

[pseudotheist]

So, I've come across a bunch of replica images of Charles Nungesser's silver Nieuport, all claiming to be N1895. But some have the tricolor on the aft fuselage, some do not. Some have a top-mounted gun; some do not. And some claim to be a 17c, while others claim to be a 17bis, and I think a couple even claimed it to be a 24.

I assume the N1895 is a serial number, and as such, wouldn't be re-used on multiple aircraft. Is that a false assumption?

I'm specifically curious if he ever flew a configuration of 17c with top-mounted gun and fuselage stripes. If so, was it N1895; if not what similar variants were known or thought to have existed?

Thanks for any info.

[Cigogne]

Nungesser flew the 17, 23, 24bis, and prototype type 25. Many of these had the serial number N1895 stenciled/decaled/painted on the rudder... it was a Nungesser "lucky charm" type of thing. Many of the photos I have seen show a synchronized single Vickers mounted in front of the cockpit, but no overwing Lewis gun.

[Gregvan]

Hi,

As my friend Cigogne said, Nungesser flew a whole slew of different Nieuports which bore the number N1895 - to the eternal frustration of historians.

Here is the most famous photo of Nieuport 17 No. 1895, which was probably his first aircraft to bear that number. You can see there is a fitting for a Lewis on the top wing, but none was fitted at the time of the photo. There are tricolor stripes on the upper wing, but I cannot see any on top of the fuselage.


Next is a rather poor but interesting shot. My notes on this say this was his OTHER silver Nieuport 17, serialed N1574. You can see it had a 'cone de penetration' fitted, and the tricolor stripes on the underside of the bottom wing. If I'm not mistaken, there was indeed a Lewis mounted on the upper wing, in addition to the Vickers. The black heart & skull insignia is noticeably different from that seen on the other photo.

I'm not sure of the source of my info about the serial right now. Hopefully some of our well-informed French members will join in here.

[Matt_Bittner]

According to the Datafile Special #2, he also flew a Nie.17bis, probably the only Frenchman to have. Is this still thought of as correct?

[pseudotheist]

Originally Posted by Matt_Bittner

According to the Datafile Special #2, he also flew a Nie.17bis, probably the only Frenchman to have. Is this still thought of as correct?

If my growing understanding is correct, this one is a bis, as evidenced by the the rear fuselage being multi-faced for a rounded effect, rather than a single panel.

It's a shame, because it's the most interesting paint scheme, but doesn't at all match the model I have.

[UrsusVonForsteck]

His personal simbol is nice. Not so beautifull as the "stork", but very nice.

[Rittmeister]

Originally Posted by pseudotheist

If my growing understanding is correct, this one is a bis, as evidenced by the the rear fuselage being multi-faced for a rounded effect, rather than a single panel.

It's a shame, because it's the most interesting paint scheme, but doesn't at all match the model I have.

The photo you posted is one of a series of well known photos of Nungessers Nieuport. THis particular one is a NIeuport 24bis. Photo taken March 1917 at Bray Dunes. You can tell is uses a the 24 type wing which features more rounded aileron tips as well as not seen a better plywood skin detail on the leading edges. I does use the N 17bis fuselage which feature the rounded formers and stringers to round out the profile between the longerons. It appears to use a stock 17 eppenage layout. Al features one of the most artisitc and detailed of all Nugesser's heart logos. This plane may also have used the 130 Clerget, but not sure.
Follow this link ( its in French but you can use the translate function), for more on the V strut series of Nieuport sesquiplanes.

http://www.hydroretro.net/etudegh/le..._la_guerre.pdf