French Spowith Triplanes

[SkippedOnce]

Guys,

Going through 'The French Air Service War Chronology 1914-1918' by Bailey & Cony recently, I noticed a photograph on the last of the central pages of a French Naval Sopwith Triplane '... 17 (No F.8), seen in June 1917 with SM Vacher, who gained 3 victories during the war, standing by'. The B&W photograph is taken from the left rear and appears to show an irregular colour demarkation between the aircraft number and roundel on the side of the fuselage, which extends up over the turtledeck. Previous artist's images of French Triplanes I've seen (in Windsock et al) all show a solid red-brown livery.

Does anyone have any information on colours and patterns of camouflage for French Naval Sopwith Triplanes that could shed some light on this apparent anomoly?

Merry Xmas,

SkippedOnce

[flypaper]

Originally Posted by SkippedOnce

Guys,

Going through 'The French Air Service War Chronology 1914-1918' by Bailey & Cony recently, I noticed a photograph on the last of the central pages of a French Naval Sopwith Triplane '... 17 (No F.8), seen in June 1917 with SM Vacher, who gained 3 victories during the war, standing by'. The B&W photograph is taken from the left rear and appears to show an irregular colour demarkation between the aircraft number and roundel on the side of the fuselage, which extends up over the turtledeck. Previous artist's images of French Triplanes I've seen (in Windsock et al) all show a solid red-brown livery.

Does anyone have any information on colours and patterns of camouflage for French Naval Sopwith Triplanes that could shed some light on this apparent anomoly?

Merry Xmas,

SkippedOnce

Hello
SkippedOnce

After looking at a line up of French Tripes stationed at Dunkirk, and other pic's of French Tripes. the only thing that I see worth mentioning is they all seemed to carry the A/C individual number in white on the turtle deck directly behind the pilot. Of course the A/C you mentioned #17 was not id'ed in the line up but 4 of the 7 A/C pictured had.

[SkippedOnce]

flypaper,

Roger that. All the other photographs and artist's images of French Navy Tripes appear I've seen to be a single, solid colour (generally interpreted as a red-brown or PC12), but this one photo of '17' certainly appears to be (at least) 2-colour camouflage. By the lack of other replies, I guess it's a mystery to all.

Cheers,

SkippedOnce

[SkippedOnce]

Dog! I hate using a laptop with a touchpad that makes all your typing appear lysdexic!

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Bonjour SkippedOnce

I believe that the image referred to presents an optical illusion of sorts. As was common to the type different materials used in construction result in a difference of shade in photographs which is be seen between the cockpit and markings applied and that is visible in the photograph of Fernand Vacher standing before 17 (F8). The visual effect is compounded by the shadow of the pilot on the fuselage and is easier to determine in the reproduction of the photograph that appears in the article The Sopwith Triplane in French Naval Service by Mike Westrop that appears in Cross & Cockade International Journal, Vol. 36, No. 4.

The article reproduced another photograph of the aircraft after being crashed into and wrecked by a DH4 which indicates that there was no significant difference in markings from the other Sopwith Triplanes employed by the French.

Salut!
Kirk

[SkippedOnce]

Kirk,
Thank you for the explanation.
SkippedOnce