What was China's air force like?

[Willi Von Klugerman]

I presume China had an air force during WW1 because they established one in 1912.If so,what aircraft were used and what was the air forces part in the conflict?

[Old Man]

I presume China had an air force during WW1 because they established one in 1912.If so,what aircraft were used and what was the air forces part in the conflict?

The Republic of China, Sir, puchased a number of Caudron G3 types delivered before WWI. Several were used in suppressing various uprisings.

I can say more when with my references.

[De Petrowski Alexander]

It seems no Chinese aircraft operated at any of the battlefields or campaigns of WW I.

The very small number available during the duration of the war
never left China.

The only campaign they could have participated in was against Tsingtao.
That campaign was however almost entirely Japanese with a little assistance
from Britain.

[Old Man]

Though it is not strictly a Great War topic, Chinese participation in that being effectively nil. Chinese history is a subject that I have a great interest in.

China's first order for military aircraft was for two Etrich Taubes from Austro-Hungary, placed in 1911 by the Imperial Ch'ing government. The dynasty collapsed shortly thereafter in the October Revolution, and these were not delivered till 1913.

China's second order for military aircraft was placed by Gen. Yuan Shih-K'ai's Republican government in March 1913, for eight Caudron G 3 two-seaters (one fitted for floats) and four G 2 single-seaters, which came with a delegation of French instructors. Six had been assembled by July at an aerodrome established at a former Imperial hunting park south of Peking, the rest by the end of the year. Some further examples seem to have been built locally under license over the following months. Training accidents were frequent, and servicing and repair very poor, so that generally the great preponderance of the machines could not be flown. They did see some military use, however, though it is hard to say exactly how much, as reports are conflicting and statements aeroplanes were assigned to such and such a campaign cannot be safely assumed to indicate the machines were actually available or flown. The object of their operations, when actually employed, were mostly internal opponents of Gen. Yuan Shih-K'ai.

The first employment was in the late summer of 1913, against Pan-Mongol secessionists in Inner Mongolia. Several Caudrons were dispatched to operate from Kalgan, just south of Charhar in Hopei, reportedly with bombs among their equipments.

The most significant employment, and one in which it is reasonably certain the aeroplanes were actually used to some effect, was during the spring and summer of 1914, against the 'White Wolf' rebellion, arising round the person of one Bai Lang (which pronounces as 'White Wolf'). This began as a typical peasant rising in Honan province in central China in the days of the October Revolution of 1911, and with the traditionalism typical of such outbreaks, originally opposed the October Revolution and called for 'Righting the wrong done the Ch'ing', though of course its attacks on 'bad gentry' and distribution of plunder to the peasantry in the classic 'social bandit' model was inherently revolutionary: it was the modernizing tendencies of the urban and youthful revolutionists the country-folk opposed. Bai Lang seems to have been very good at the work, and soon controlled most of Honan, and struck into southern Hopei and western Anwhei. By 1913, attempts at destroying his power by the government of Gen. Yuan Shih-K'ai had not only failed, but moved him to strike an alliance with the Koumintang revolutionists of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, betrayed and suppressed by Gen. Yuan Shih-K'ai in the first year of the Chinese Republic. This led Bai Lang to strike west into Shensi and Kansu provinces. On April 6, 1914, three Caudron G 3s and one Caudron G 2, commanded by a Col. Tsing, with three other pilots and two French mechanics, were dispatched to assist government troops in the northwestern provinces. During the seven week campaign, these flew in aggregate over one thousand kilometers, keeping the government columns on the ground well apprised of White Wolf's movements in the open country, materially assisting in his final defeat. Bai Lang fled back to his original haunts in Honan, and died in early August, though whether of wounds sustained in flight or execution is unclear.

Chinese participation in World War One, declared on 10 March, 1917, was mostly notional, largely the product of internal politics in the opening stages of the War Lord period, after Gen. Yuan Shih K'ai had precipitated civil war among his generals by proclaiming himself Emperor, and then dying shortly thereafter. Basically, a weak general put into the Presidency at Peking as an agreeable figurehead saw a chance to gain strength of his own by preparing a 'War Participation Army' loyal to him through loans from Japan, which he intended not to ship off to foreign war but rather use against his domestic rivals. It was also hoped that joining the Allies would provide some leverage against Imperial Japan (also an Allied power) in the matter of Tsingtao, which Japan had seized from Germany in 1914: under pretext of 'maintaining order', the Japanese had moved troops into the hinterland well beyond the actual boundaries of the German concession, and were clearly intent on a permanent occupation China was powerless against. A number of Chinese laborers were sent to France in 1917 and 1918 under government auspices, which had the unexpected but eventually crucial consequence of acquainting some with Marxism and the revolutionary doctrines of Communism.

[FOKKERJ]

I presume China had an air force during WW1 because they established one in 1912.If so,what aircraft were used and what was the air forces part in the conflict?

Willi, you just never know what gems you'll gleen if you don't ask!

Quite a story Old Man and De Petrowski Alexander, Thanks for that.

[Rbailey]

There was at least one indigenous aeroplane design produced during the 1914-18 period - referred to as Gun Vehicle (or bus) No. 1 - a pusher biplane.

[Old Man]

*º*¶ (http://storm.prohosting.com/cwlam/index.htm)

(on edit: yes, that odd little thing just above this is a working link....)

It is in Chinese, but rife with pictures. Among them are some, that are from a recent update I had not seen before, of the 'gun bus' Mr. Bailey mentions.

The text to the right of the profile displays are links into the site, and the names of aircraft pictures can be found of after that are in English.

Mr. Lam also maintains a site dedicated to Chinese markings, and one to a model gallery of Chinese aircraft: mostly modern, but there are a few early ones.

[Wufnu]

Thanks, Old Man!

http://storm.prohosting.com/cwlam/cafx02.files/image006.jpg

这个飞机是好看 :D Looks really nice. Bet it would make a fun scratch built foam RC model.

[Willi Von Klugerman]

Very interesting info,thanks!And thank you Herr Old Man for providing that link!

[rivnut]

Here's a little more background to this topic. When Cec Lewis was sent out (to Peking) by Vickers after the war, they found those Caudrons. You probably know this Willi seeing the quote from Lewis on your post.
They were parked at a parade ground outside Peking. The French crews were long gone. There was no one there at that time to either fly or service them. They were prewar models with 3 cylinder Anzanis. Lewis reports that the fabric was hanging off them, the tires were gone and had been replaced with rope, the wires and turnbuckles were rusted badly. General Ting, in charge of Chinese aviation, knew nothing about aviation and there was no staff or complement enlisted at that time.
Vickers sent out 60 Avro 504's and forty Commercial Vimys with spares and engines, along with riggers, mechanics and two pilots, Lewis being one.
The plan was to train pilots and set up an air service between Peking and Shanghai. By the time Lewis left, a couple of years later, nothing had materialized and his one promising pilot died in an onboard fire during a summer war in 1922. Several firms other than Vickers were engaged by the Chinese in similar missions.

kev

[Willi Von Klugerman]

Yes,I have read Cecil's book,awesome read!I can imagine the state the those Coudrons were in:DLewis tried so hard to teach the Chinese flyers students but the language barrier was a problem.The result was that the Chinese flyers couldn't fly worth lick.But at least Cecil had a nice trip in China:cool: