Flying Captured Aircraft in Combat

[Willi von Luft]

I am doing some research for a article and would like to know if any Allied or Central Powers flew captured aircraft in combat. I know that Voss flew with a captured engine but were there others?

Willi von Luft

[Cigogne]

The captured engine was probably put in the FI.103/17 triplane at the Fokker factory and not by Voss. The photo of Voss and mechanics with a damaged engine shows a Gnome or Clerget, not the LeRhone that was fitted. The photo that is often cited is out of context.

Jasta 1: Gustav Leffers flew a captured Nieuport 16 in combat.
Jasta 9: Kurt Student, Hartmut Baldamus, Pfeiffer, and others flew at least two Nieuport 11, and 1 Nieuport 17 fighters in this unit. Pfeiffer was killed while test-flying the Type 17.
Jasta 21: Eduard Scheich (not yet Ritter!) flew a captured Spad VII.
Jasta 32: Rudolf Windisch flew a captured Spad VII in combat.

A captured Breguet 14 was flown by a German spy team that would visit British airfields posing as a French crew to gather intel.

[Gregvan]

Hi,

See this thread, and many others. Do a forum archives search:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/ai...-combat-2.html

[RAF56_Ball]

well done Cignone and Gregvan!
Willi, let us konw when you publish (oh, and where ). Would like to see the article.

[Willi von Luft]

Thank you all for your information. I will certainly examine that thread. I am really curious to see if the Allies flew captured aircraft in combat.

Actually RAF_56 Ball, I am researching two articles. This one on flying caputred equipment and a second on music. I have several song books from my USAF days with Allied songs in them but no Central. BTW you never did call. Did you get my reply?

Willi

[lonestarson]

The only stories I have read have been of Central Powers pilots flying captured equipment. I have seen pictures of a British plane (I believe it was a BE2c) being flown by the Bulgarians. The British were interested in technical details, so wouldn't have wanted to risk losing a rare capture. The French, who had a much greater antipathy toward the Germans, may have found the idea of going into combat in a "Boche" machine too distateful to contemplate. I figure the final say on use of captured planes came from higher headquarters.

[Cigogne]

In addition, the Bulgarians flew a captured Armstrong-Whitworth FK3, as well as three captured Nieuport fighters. The Turks flew captured Farman, Caudron C.IV, and a Bristol Scout D. Also, two D.H.4s from two different manufacturers were used, one a Westland-built example w/ a BHP engine, and the other with a Rolls-Royce Eagle engine.

[totalspoon]

Another issue would have been the risk of being captured in an enemy machine. A soldier caught wearing the enemys uniform was shot out of hand so being caught flying an enemy's aircraft (which gave you a lot of the same advantages) was a very gray area which could easily result with you standing in front of a brick wall with a blindfold, cigarette and a nonchalant smile.

For the Germans, you could stay on your own side of the lines, helped by the prevailing winds which would generally blow you into German territory during a fight. For the British, this wasn't an option.

Spoon

[Thomas Trauner]

Spoon, I fear this is a too complicate idea….
All English machines I saw until yet where clearly marked as a German plane. I think the problem was more to be shot down by German planes/flak if not doing so. The most impressive one is perhaps this F2B with German Latin Crosses, the wings marked with:
“Nicht schießen” and “Gute Leute” (Don´t shoot, good people)

If the fact to use a „foreign“ equipment in battle would lead to the famous brick wall instantly, every German Mark IV tankist was prone to be shot, which was not the case.

The problem would be, if a foreign equipment was uses still in the foreign national signs. But I never heard of a case like this.....

Thomas

[totalspoon]

The following is only my opinion for what its worth.

There’s a big difference between using a captured tank than from flying a captured aircraft. While you can have strategic surprise in WWI tank battles (i.e. the enemy wasn't expecting tanks like at Cambrai), you don't have tactical surprise. It doesn’t really matter what the tanks look like; If they’re lumbering towards you from the enemy lines firing at you, they’re enemy (even if you can’t see the markings).

Airfighting was different. Most aircraft are shot down in the first sudden strike. Dogfights, while they grab our imagination, accounted for comparatively little. It’s in this first sudden strike, that flying an enemy machine gives you a huge and unfair advantage.

To use a perfect example,

Its 10:55hrs 16th May 1918. You’re patrolling inside German lines but have become separated from the rest of your flight. As you search for them in the air over occupied France, you spot a fighter closing in on you. The flat top wing and double dihedral bottom wing tells you instantly that it’s a Sopwith Camel, its pilot undoubtable separated from his flight and looking to join you for mutual protection, a not uncommon occurrence. You ease off the throttle a bit to allow the Camel to join up with you. Your last moments on earth are ones of confusion and terror as the Camel suddenly opens fire at you from point blank range. You never had a chance to see the German makings on the side of Otto Kissenberth's Captured Camel. You’ve just become his 20th Victory.

Spoon