The Phantom Ace?

[Mr_Flibble]

I feel kind of stupid for asking this, because I've not found anything about the 'Phantom-As' anywhere but in a "History in Comic form" book from 1974, printed by Dupuis. And after searching for any topics about it here I thought it was time to throw this in front of the collective knowledge gathered here.

All stories depicted in the book are about historical aerial engagements from the first World War. And all except for this one I've been able to trace back to real events.

This takes place in August 1917, in the area called "Chemin des Dames" which was as we all know a heavily contested area during that war (and other periods in history).
Every dusk and dawn a German pilot would strafe the French lines.
To aid the front line troops Luitenant Jacques D'Arnoux is ordered to deal with this "Phantom Ace".

Jacques D'Arnoux, joined the Army in 1914 at the age of 18. Wounded at Verdun and in 1916 he becomes an observer in the Airforce.

With his pilot, Adjutant Carré, he takes to the skies on the 5th of August. They cross path with the unidentified German, but are in turn jumped by two other enemy aircraft.
In the ensuing dogfight Carré is killed and the plane crashes close to the German lines.
D'Arnoux has broken both legs and remains stuck in no-man's land for 2 days before the poilus can rescue him under cover of heavy fog.

Can anyone shed some light on the Phantom Ace? Is he fictional or for real? D'Arnoux is said to have written a book about his experiences maybe that yields a clue.


Any info is greatly appreciated,

Rick

[Rick]

Your facts dovetail nicely with what is presented in "The French War Chronology", except that the date is given as 6Sep17. They were members of Esc. F.55, but were flying a Sopwith (1-1/2 ?) that day. No idea who might have downed them, so no Jasta, and ergo, no "phantom ace". Sopwiths were claimed by Jasta 5, 8 and a 'Doppeldecker' by Jasta 1. But, we have no location for their loss. Sorry.

[Mr_Flibble]

Ah yes, the date is given as the 5th of August to when D'Arnoux got the orders, but no date of the actual sortie.

The large '55' depicted on his tailplane should've been a clue in my search . D'Arnoux's aircraft in the book itself is shown as a Breguet 14. I guess the writer and artists did not dig too deep.

Thanks Rick!


If it's any help it should've been close to Fort La Malmaison.


Rick

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Mr_Flibble

To aid the front line troops Luitenant Jacques D'Arnoux is ordered to deal with this "Phantom Ace".

The French sent a two-seater to deal with a fighter?

[rammjaeger]

There was a very similar question some years (?) ago.

I remember (very weak because I did see it years ago) the translation of a French document in our local archive dealing with so-called "Fantomas" in 1917
but this did not mean a single airplane but rather a kind of very deep-flying German planes (possibly double seaters) in a new camouflage pattern (Lozenge???)
which were hard to see and to combat by French airplanes. The Frenchmen discussed what should be done against "Fantomas" and other enemies.

[rammjaeger]

Imagine "Fantomas" was a deep-flying German Schlachtflieger - in new camouflage - strafing the enemy trenches (his job).
An ambigious double seater crew would not hesitade to attack this HA but ...

its all pure speculation

[Craig]

Thanks, Hannes - that seems a more likely scenario.

[Mr_Flibble]

Yes thank you Rammjaeger.

Even if it's speculation it does sound reasonably plausible. If it had been a single man I would imagine that he would have some form of notoriety like so many of the Aces. But instead it is a scarcely known element from the history of WW1 with very little known facts.

According to the writer of the comic book, Guynemer supposedly shot down the(a) "fantomas" at some point. But he was later seen again. That would support the idea that it was more than one aircraft making these strafing runs.

That's opened some new ideas to follow up on.

Another farfetched question: Does anyone know if Jacques D'Arnoux book "Paroles d'un Revenant" was ever translated in English?


Cheers,

Rick

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Craig

The French sent a two-seater to deal with a fighter?

Another poster suggested that the aircraft was a 1 1/2 strutter, the fighter version of the strutter was the 2 seat version. An F 2B would be an appropriate choice, too.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Vin

An F 2B would be an appropriate choice, too.

Did the French use them?