ID Help

[Jos]

Hello,

Can anyone help me by identifying this crashed plane?


Thanks,


Jos

[Aquilius]

Hey Jos,

I really like the photograph!

(Would have been a good candidate for "Breguet's Crash File")

But to answer your question: It appears to be a Salmson-Moineau S.M. 1,
a french reconnaissance and bombing aircraft.

It was the first aircraft of the "Société des Moteurs Salmson" engine factory and appeared in 1917, if I am right. It´s engine was placed inside the fuselage and drove two props mountet between the wings through shafts coming out at these big round constructions visible at fuselage-side.
According to my data it is not known how many of them were built, but serials were used up to 124. 50 were offered to the british, who refused to take them.
But it is proven that some of them have been in service.
It probably was not one of the most succesful designes...

It looked like this from the front:

(the picture is not the best, but you can get an idea)

Cheers

Aquilius

[Jos]

Hello Aquilius,

Thanks for your help. I bought this picture last Tuesday in Verdun. It is a postcard; on the backside was just written: Brought down plane/ Avion abattu/Flugzeug niedergeschossen.
After you helped me to identify the plane I looked for an example in Salmson Aircraft of World War 1 by Colin Owers, Jon Guttman and James Davilla.

The three-seater was tested in 1916. It appears that at least 155 were built. It's performance was clearly inferior to the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter. The pilot was warned never to allow the plane to roll on the nose landing gear as this was only to be used to prevent the aircraft from tripping over.
The S.M.1's caused great difficulties in front-line service and were found to be of limited use in operational service. Many accidents were frequently caused by the landing gear lay-out. The complex engine transmission resulted in numerous breakdowns and the aircraft was probably a mechanic's nightmare.

At least one machine is recorded as lost in combat. This was on 14 May 1917. The victory was credited to Hermann Pfeiffer of Jasta 9.

Here is a front view of a S.M.1.




Thanks again,

Jos