Who, What, & Where?

[FOKKERJ]

Every since last summer, I have wanted to post this thread asking our Historians familiar with the Aero Squadrons of the A.E.F. if they could give any information on a batch of fotografs I had acquired. I won 44 out of approximately 48 images from an album or shoe box. Since I won 90% of the offerings I asked the seller about pages with captions, he was of no service on this matter. He was quite possibly an "Unhappy Camper" since most of my winning bids had not been challenged, it was a "Sweet Deal"! Many of the images are not crisp or sharp, that may be why they were not much sought after except by me. I did get one name (surname?) with no rank or other information.

This morning while reading "Up & At'Em" by Harold E. Hartney, I had an exciting and interesting discovery happen to me. After I read the second of the following two excerpts, I backtracked to the first as it tied in well with the latter:

""There are six 23-metre jobs, twenty 18-metre, and ten of these heavy 'bee place'. There's a portable engine test block, too! You watch the boys burn up those spare rotaries, but it will be worth it. They'll soon learn how to and how not to play 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' on those throttles.""

"It was at Epiez that Lieutenant Plyler achieved one of the most remarkable feats of the war. He swam across the Meuse river and captured two geese that remained with us as mascots until shortly before we returned to the United States."

Foto #I


""There are six 23-metre jobs, twenty 18-metre, and ten of these heavy 'bee place'. There's a portable engine test block, too! You watch the boys burn up those spare rotaries, but it will be worth it. They'll soon learn how to and how not to play 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' on those throttles.""


Foto #II


"It was at Epiez that Lieutenant Plyler achieved one of the most remarkable feats of the war. He swam across the Meuse river and captured two geese that remained with us as mascots until shortly before we returned to the United States."

I think this is more than a coincidence.

I like the first foto in that you can see the besseneu and top of the engine stand through the spinning cylinders, also the swell group standing by in attendance.

In the second fotograf note that some of the smaller poultry in this one
are nekkid and sunbathing on a portable butcher block! Maybe it's all part of some behavior modification program to the benefit of the two geese.
Or may be this is near the "until shortly before we returned to the United States." part!
The geese do look "Alive 'n' kickin'"!

As always I look forward to all your input.
I only hope that you enjoy these as much as I am.

Thanks for your time, Jay


P.S. I do want to finish this story before I post the
"Known/Unknown Name".

[Cliff]

Googled Plyler and found mention of a possible candidate being captured.

View the full article at:
General Pershing Reports 62 Casualties; 5 Commissioned Officers on the... - Article Preview - The New York Times

Also, see entry for June 13, 1918 for the 27thAERO:
1st Pursuit Group Records - 1918 - May thru July

Not sure if this is the same guy, but maybe a place to start looking.

Cliff

[FOKKERJ]

Originally Posted by Cliff

Googled Plyler and found mention of a possible candidate being captured.

View the full article at:
General Pershing Reports 62 Casualties; 5 Commissioned Officers on the... - Article Preview - The New York Times

Also, see entry for June 13, 1918 for the 27thAERO:
1st Pursuit Group Records - 1918 - May thru July

Not sure if this is the same guy, but maybe a place to start looking.

Cliff

Thanks Cliff for the great sites.

Here's another one, the Nieuport 28 in the foreground has "THEDA BERA" ( an actress or entertainer popular at the time) on the foreward fuselage, below the cockpit.

Foto #III


Next in line looks like a Nieuport 24 or 27 bis (see rudder and fin), followed by what appears to be an American De Havilland D.H. 4 with American paint scheme.

Looks like flight school meets Front line service?
Where would we find a mix like this?
After the Armistice?

Any thoughts and or information are welcome.

Thanks, Jay

[FOKKERJ]

Hi Kilian'

I know that you like D.H. 4's:



This one is also wearing American markings.

Very Best Regards, Jay

[FOKKERJ]

FOTO Nr.V



I think that our friend Kilian is lost in Cliff's "FIRST PURSUIT" Site!
Well worth the visit!

[FOKKERJ]

#F1374, Circa 1918:


Foto #VI


Did someone replace the rudder?

FOTO Nr.VII



Looks like a rather large S/N or a "G.574 aft of the fuselage cross. That's a serious looking tail skid!

foto #VIII



Another Nieuport. This one with a large 403 on the fuselage.

Foto #IX



More Nieuports.

Thanks for all of your comments, Jay

[FOKKERJ]

Lots of "VEE" Strutters with oval shaped rudders!

Foto #10

The caption on this one says:

"BIPLANES AT MILITARY AIRBASE, CIRCA 1918"

Foto #11

"BIPLANES AT AIRSTRIP, CIRCA 1918"


This one is typical of the quality of some of the images, wish that the negatives were available.

Foto #12

"WORKING ON A BIPLANE, CIRCA 1918"


I wonder if they are working on some of the condemned aircraft mentioned in post #1. Check out the aileron shape!

Foto #13

"AVIATOR IN A CAUDRON G.III, CIRCA 1918"


I look forward to any comments,

Thanks, Jay

[Kilian]

Interesting Stuff Mr.Feuchtwanger! Thanks for thinking of me with the D.H.4 display

greetings
Kilian

[FOKKERJ]

Originally Posted by Kilian

Interesting Stuff Mr.Feuchtwanger! Thanks for thinking of me with the D.H.4 display

greetings
Kilian

WOW! You can't pull anything over on Herr Kilian!
I even signed off as Jay, and he still figured out who I was!

best Wishes, FOKKERJ

[Taz]

Jay- Nice find. That sort of thing is what most of us collectors hope to find, but hardly ever do.

The first reference to the engine test stand refers to the untraining you had to do on pilots who had been trained on LeRhônes, Clergets or early monosoupape Gnômes, where extensive use of the blip or coupe switch was possible without damaging the engine, even though the first two could be throttled. The 160 hp Gnôme 9N in the N.28, however, could be damaged badly by using the coupe switch at full power. With its selector switch, the 9N pilot had the ability to change the firing order (still firing every cylinder, just in a different order) to give firing at full, half, quarter and eighth normal firing order intervals. This was required since the 9N had no carburetor, only an injector, so could not be throttled, only its rpm varied. Using this switch, experienced pilots could fly the N.28 without having to resort to use of the coupe switch. Same went for the Gnôme 9N powered Camels.

Taz
Terry Phillips