Poland - 1919 Fokker D.VII Part 1

Three Polish Fokker D.VII

Another day, another Polish aircraft update. I will try to post them in an orderly and thematic manner to avoid any confusion (Being a geezer with memory issues this is more for me than my readers). Recently I have been working on Polish profiles of the Fokker D.VII. I decided to post them by squadron instead of piecemeal.

I have been thinking about offering CD profile collections for sale. I am still considering the format and structure. Whether it would be better as naked images accessed through a HTML menu or as a PDF. I am not sure if there is a demand for another collection by another illustrator. I welcome any feedback on this. If there is a need and market for this I will be offering them on my blog and my main site.

Fokker D.VII, 15.Eskadra Myśliwska, Pilot Unknown s/n 502/18

This example is fairly typical of schemes used for he Fokker D.VII in Poland. Of note is the bomb rack carried by many of the Fokker D.VII in Polish service. All the polish national markings are the simple version.

Fokker D.VII, 15.Eskadra Myśliwska, Sgt. A. Bartkowiak, s/n 503/18, August-1919

The fuselage and wheel covers of this example are painted in a dark finish. The sources I have seen show it as black. The wings and tail plane are covered in a standard lozenge fabric.

Fokker D.VII, 15.Eskadra Mśsliwska, s/n 504/18, Ostrow Wielkopolski Airfield,1921

Here we have another plane covered in five color lozenge cloth. The crippled hand is a personal insignia. I am still searching for the identity of the pilot of this plane.

A Short Incomplete History of the 15.Eskadra Myśliwska

The unit was formed May 25, 1919 in Poznan as 4 Greater Combat Squadron (ie hunting, in contrast to the squadron,field). The commander was Ltn. George Dziembowski. The first squadron had six pilots which flew German aircraft. The unit initially flew three Albatros D.III 2 Fokker D.VII and a Fokker D.VIII (EV). Beginning in July of 1919 the squadron used the French SPAD VII to train pilots. Later on they switched to the Fokker D. VII. On September 20, 1919 the squadron was stationed at the airport Poznań-Ławica, awaiting orders from the Supreme Command.

In February 1920 the Greater Combat Squadron was named Fighter Squadron 15 . The unit was redeployed to the airport in Bydgoszcz as the reserve unit for the Supreme Command. In April 1920 the squadron consisted of seven fighter pilots and 9 Fokker D.VII , 2 SPAD VII and a two-seat multi-role aircraft Albatros B.II (unassembled).

In May 1920 was sent to the front of the Polish-Soviet war and incorporated into the Third Division . On May 16, 1920 the squadron arrived at the airport Wapniarka to Podolia. The squadron specialized in reconnaissance and ground support missions. During combat operations against the Bolsheviks, the 15th squadron used light bombs strafing runs with great effect. On May 24 of 1920, 5 planes destroyed the Soviet artillery battery in Zielonka.During a two day mission (May 27-28) involving the 15th, 5th and 21st Squadrons attacked the Malewannaja railway station, targeting armored trains and rolling stock.

Overall, from May to October 1920, 15 Squadron made 277 sorties, losing four aircraft to ground fire (three aircraft were damaged) one pilot was killed and one wounded. After the war, under the command of 18 January 1921 Fighter Squadron 15 years stationed in Ostrow Wielkopolski .bIn August 1921 the year 15th Fighter Squadron was part of Fighter Squadron V 3 Air Regiment in Poznan-Shoal.

References

1. Tarkovsky, Krzysztof: Polish Air Force in the war with Soviet Russia 1919-1920. Warsaw: 1991. ISBN 83-206-0985-2 ,
2. Goworek, Thomas: The first Polish fighter aviation, Warsaw 1991, ISBN 83-85001-46-8

Poland - 1920 Ground Attack Aircraft

German Ground Attack Airplanes in the Polish Air Force

Once again my obsessive side is showing. I'm up to 45 Polish aircraft and looking at my reference material I see that I can easily break the hundred mark. It has been an opportunity to revisit existing subjects and an excuse to get more lost master files completed. Another benefit is I am learning more about an era and theater I knew little about.

Before Poland gained independence the country was threatened by both Russia to the east and Germany and Austria to the west. Many Poles were faced with the choice of living in hardship or being conscripted into both the western empires. Needless to say many a Pole found their way into the cockpit of German and Austrian aircraft. When the Great War ended the Polish pilots and their aircraft returned to Poland where they were put to use in found the Polish Air Service.

Albatros J.I, 1.Eskadra Wielkopolska “Smok” s/n 6 (Alb.J1.217/18) 1921

This Albatros J.I was named “Smok” which means Dragon in Polish. The name was painted in white on the forward fuselage, just behind of the bare metal engine compartment. When in German service it was assigned the serial number 628/17 or 628/18. The profile shows the plane when it was attached to the Poznan Flying School in 1921. The national markings on the fuselage and rudder are the more complex version which also appear on both the upper top and lower bottom wing surfaces. The overall color scheme is dark green with pale blue lower surfaces. As with many other Polish aircraft the serial numbers are painted in black over a white stripe. The wheels had covers, however the conic spinner is removed.

Halberstadt CL.II 14.Eskadry Wywiadowczej, s/n 201/18 W. Bartkowiak J. Klicze, 1920

The paint scheme is not much different than the original German scheme. The cowling is bare metal and the fuselage is varnished wood. The wings are lozenge pattern camouflage. The Polish markings are the simple version. The wing markings are in the typical locations. The wire wheels were not covered and the conical spinner is removed. The exhaust is atypical, most Halberstadt mounted it horizontally on the right side of the engine. As in the previous profile the serial numbers are painted on a white stripe.

Poland 1918-1921 Breguet Br.14 A2

Breguet Br.14 A2 of the Polish-Soviet War

Slowly but surely I have been busy fleshing out the my collection of profiles for Poland, Belgium, Greece and Turkey. Some of the work has been slowed by the need for new master files. I hope to remedy this in the near future. I have been preparing the raw line drawings for the process of breaking them down into parts which get refined, shaded and stacked up for reassembly. Once the master files are done I can have fun.

As I promised before here is the first installment on Polish Air Force. There is much more to come. I will be posting them by aircraft type to attempt a coherent narrative.

The Birth of Polish Air Power

Military aviation in Poland started shortly after the country regained its independence in November 1918. Initially, the Polish Air Force consisted of mostly German and Austrian aircraft. The aircraft used included captured German Albatros D.III and D.VI, Fokker D.VII and D.VIII, and the Austrian Lloyd C.V and Oeffag D.III, as well as other aircraft types. These planes were first used by the Polish Air Force in the Polish-Ukrainian War in late 1918, during combat operations centered around the city of Lwów (now Lviv).

When the Polish-Soviet War broke out in February 1920, the Polish Air Force used a variety of aircraft from Britain, France and Italy. The most common aircraft in service at this time were the British made Bristol F2B and Italian Ansaldo Balilla fighters. German aircraft were still in use during the Polish-Soviet War The 21. Eskadra Niszczycielska (21st Destroyer Squadron) included a Gotha G.IV on April 30, 1920.

Breguet Br.14 A2, 39 Eskadra Breguetow sn 7460, Krakow Aerodrome mid 1919

This is one of the original Breguet Br.14 A2s assigned to BR39 Escadrille which was sent to Poland after WWI. It is finished in the French standard five-color camouflage scheme. The top wing bore both French and Polish markings, French on the left upper wing, Polish on the right. The rudder has the Polish insignia painted over the original three color French markings.

Breguet Br.14 A2, 16 Eskadra Wywiadowcza, sn 7244, May 1920

This is another French Breguet Br.14 A2 from Escadrille BR39 which became 16 Eskadras when turned over to the Polish Air Force. The basic paint scheme is the same as above, except the rudder has been over-painted and bears the Polish insignia. The marking mid-ship is a young woman scattering flowers. This unit eventually became the fictional Lithuanian squadron sent to fight in the 'Zeligowski's revolt'.

Breguet Br.14 A2 in Polish Service Overview

During the closing days of the Great War France redeployed three French escadrilles to Poland to aid in their struggle for independence and to bolster their defenses against what was seen as a growing threat of Soviet expansion. Escadrille BR39, BR59 and BR66 were redesignated as Polish squadrons. Eventually the French government handed over the surviving aircraft of these escadrilles to the Polish Air Force. Escadrille BR39 became 16EW, Escadrille BR59 became 12EW and Escadrille BR66 became 4EW. The original three Polish squadrons were disbanded by late 1920. Poland ordered an additional 70 Breguet Br.14s and between 1920-21 assigned them to the newly formed 1, 3, 8, 10, 12 and 16 Eskadras. By 1924 the Br14 was showing its age and was replaced by newer designs entering service.

The Br14s assigned to Poland were finished in the standard five-color camouflage scheme and French markings. The French roundels were gradually over-painted with the Polish red and white checkerboard insignias During the transition the aircraft bore a mix of French and Polish markings. Late issue Br14s were painted in a dark green on all of the upper surfaces

Poland sent the 16 Eskadras to aid Lithuania in the 'Zeligowski's revolt' which was fought between 1920 to 1921. 16 EW was sent as a fictional Lithuanian squadron. To help with the masquerade their markings were changed of a red square with white border on left wing and white square with red border on right. The rudder of these aircraft were painted in red and white stripes.

References

1. Aircraft Colours and Markings of the First World War Era: Breguet Br14 http://www.cbrnp.com/RNP/CDv2/Poland/HTML/Aircraft-Breguet_14.htm

Breguet Br.14A2 1919-1922

Breguet Br.14A2 of the Second Greco-Turkish War

It is good to get back to work on my projects after thee last month. As I said earlier I have been working on some of the later examples of World War One aircraft. Today offering is a few of the aircraft which fought in the Second Greco-Turkish War. There will be more of these aircraft to come.

When the Treaty of Versailles was signed on November 11 of 1918, it was called the war to end all wars. With hindsight we can see just how out of touch they were. All the treaty did was set the stage for even more warfare, both in the long and short term future. The combination of shifting fortunes of nations a rise in nationalism in the Baltic, and availability of weapons left over from WWI was a recipe for a new string of smaller but no less fierce wars.

When Turkey was reeling from their ill-fated participation in WWI, Greece saw an opportunity for expansion. Even though Turkey had been on the losing side of the Great War, their army still had more troops and armament than the Greeks. The Turks crushed the Greek forces and the Treaty of Laussane formalized the cessation of hostilities in 1923. In the end this military misadventure proved to be a mistake which would topple the Greek monarchy and bring about military rule. The Second Greco-Turkish War would bring about the current state of affairs in the Middle east.

Turkey

Breguet Br.14A2 Turkish Air Force - 1921

This Turkish Bre.14.A2 has a fairly standard French camouflage pattern. The aircraft bears the new red square and star and crescent rudder markings.

Greece

Breguet Br.14A2 - 1921

The basic fuselage scheme is similar to the Turkish example shown above. Notable is the black wavy line over-painted on the Greek insignia on the fuselage. The rudder is painted in the standard Greek identification pattern.

Breguet Br.14A2 - 1921

The paint scheme is more muted on this example and the serial numbers on the rudder have been over-painted. Like the previous aircraft the forward section is bare metal.