Guynemer's Morane Parasol

Old Man · 13 May 2006, 06:15 PM

Does anyone know the serial number of the machine he flew in achieving is first victory, and whether or not it had a vertical fin?

Here is a link to one picture of it on the Rosebud site:

http://members.shaw.ca/flyingaces/im...ynemer_MSL.jpg

It appears to be a fairly early production example, judging by the cowling.

Cigogne · 13 May 2006, 08:16 PM

Dear Old Man,

The serial number on this machine was MS 376

It was powered by an 80 h.p. LeRhône rotary engine.

Machinbird · 13 May 2006, 09:48 PM

I wonder how often they shot through their own flying wires while shooting at the enemy.

Loss of a few you could get away with. A lot rested on the competence of the gunner.

Tsuru · 14 May 2006, 04:40 AM

Hi Old Man,

The legends in English for the following two scanned photos are (Ref. Attachment):

- Left photo:
On July 19, 1915, after his first downed enemy aeroplane, Guynemer and his mechanic / gunner Guerder in front of Morane MS 376.
- Right photo:
On July 19, 1915, flying back to Breuil, Guynemer, sat on the fuselage, has photographed the aft fuselage of Morane MS 376 driven by Védrines.

Cheers,
Tsuru

Attachment Source(s):
Book title: Guynemer - Les Avions d’un As -
Authors: Bernard Klaeylé, Philippe Osché, with the participation of Christophe Cony
Publisher: Lela Presse, France
ISBN: 2-9509485-6-1

gilles · 15 May 2006, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Man

whether or not it had a vertical fin?

Probably not.
There is picture taken on august 4th for Guynemer's decoration (medaille militaire for this victory). MS3 parasols are lined up and none of them has a vertical fin.

Gilles

Old Man · 15 May 2006, 08:40 AM

All this is a great help, and enough to be begining the project on.

I am left with only one question, regarding markings. I do not know as much about French practices as I should like, and it is not clear to me whether a machine at this time would have cockades on the upper surfaces of the wings. I know that as late as April of 1915, machines were being delivered from the factory in at least some instances with cockades only on the lower surfaces, and have seen photographs of machines in service in the spring of 1915 without upper surface cockades.

gilles · 16 May 2006, 07:26 AM

There is a picture of Guerder posing in the Morane with the machine gun.
It clearly shows a cockade on the upper surfaces.

Gilles

Tsuru · 19 May 2006, 06:33 PM

Hi Old Man,

Guynemer’s MS 376 had cockades on the upper surfaces of the wings in August or September 1915… This doesn’t seem to have been the case for Eugène Gilbert’s MS 388 from what I've seen on a photo taken in June 1915.

The legend in English for the following scanned photo is (Ref. Attachment):

Guynemer’s old Morane leaves for St.-Cyr aerodrome some time in August or September 1915, as his new Nieuport arrives to Breuil. […]

(Today St.-Cyr is a private airfield with a few personal aircraft. I live pretty close to St.-Cyr airfield actually)

Cheers,
Tsuru

Attachment Source(s):
Book title: Guynemer - Les Avions d’un As - (Page 23)
Authors: Bernard Klaeylé, Philippe Osché, with the participation of Christophe Cony
Publisher: Lela Presse, France
ISBN: 2-9509485-6-1