So I’ve downloaded a couple of different timeline documents from the file section but I can’t find what months those two airplanes came into frontline service. Does anyone know?
Thanks in advance.
So I’ve downloaded a couple of different timeline documents from the file section but I can’t find what months those two airplanes came into frontline service. Does anyone know?
Thanks in advance.
Short story: October 1917 for the Phönix D.I and April 1918 for the Nieuport 28.
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Long story:
According to the Zrínyi Publishing House monograph Flying Aces: 1914-1918, the first series of Phönix D.I aircraft (batch 128, consisting of 31 aircraft) began arriving at the front in September 1917, but this is contradicted by Grosz, Haddow, and Schiemer’s Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One who have the first 17 Phönix D.I arriving in October 1917. It’s only a month difference, but I’d probably trust the the Grosz title, as it’s considered to be the definitive work (though it’s a 1993 publication date, and could have been superseded by recent scholarship).
According to Hamady’s excellent The Nieuport 28: America’s First Fighter, the first 15 N.28 C1 scouts were delivered (not without mishap) to the 94th Aero Squadron at Villeneuve on 6 Mar 1918. Though these were delivered without Maxim or Lewis guns (they were in short supply), the Americans flew a number of unarmed patrols of the lines on the 15th and 19th of March (escorted by an armed SPAD S.VII of the French 81st Escadrille).
It would not be until 14 April 1918 (and after a move to Gengoult Aerodrome, just north of Toul) that the 94th Aero saw its first day of combat with their new aircraft, though Maxim shortages would require that each aircraft would fly with only a single gun and most – if not all – of the kites were still bearing French livery… with the notable addition of the unit’s distinctive “Hat in the Ring” insignia.
This first combat was to be auspicious, by the way: Lieutenants Douglas Campbell and Alan Winslow shot down two German scouts (a Pfalz D.III and an Albatros D.Va) from Jasta 64 directly over the Americans’ aerodrome!
Wow, awesome! Thanks!
Has anyone made/updated an excel list of all official minis and their operational dates?
I'm not sure. I was looking through Steve's list from 2016 earlier today... I'd have to double-check, but it appeared to be up to date (including the newest Ares releases).
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