REAL Air to Air Combat Photo

PeterL · 9 September 1999, 08:02 AM

Persuing my Guynemer obsession in recent months I have seen several photographs od GG in a SPAD 7 apparently fitted with a gun camera. In a source new to me I now discover what he was up to. I think those who have not seen this before will agree it makes a fascinating comparrison with the the fakes discussed elsewhere.

Peter L

Barrett · 9 September 1999, 08:10 AM

Hooo-EEEEE! Terrific job, Peter. Can you transcribe the full caption? I can make out something about "combat against a mono(place) Alb (?)" mumble-mumble, "aerial combat" mumble-mumble.
Just Curious Dept: any idea what a Guynemer signature brings these days?

9 September 1999, 08:45 AM

Looks like an ALBIII but could be a Dva I suppose.

Facinating, Guy must have been getting sick of driving to balloon installations to confirm victories.

9 September 1999, 11:26 AM

Peter,
Nothing like photographic evidence to confirm your claim. ; ) That's why WW2 had some undisputed Aces...due to gun cameras! That photo just lends credence that there were plenty of good fliers on both sides of the lines.
VBR,
Jim

9 September 1999, 05:18 PM

Definitely an Albatross - Can't see any sign of rad on the top wing so probably not a DI or DII and the placement of the wing struts look like V type so that would confirm DIII or DV type. The only distinguishable marking is the White or light coloured band near the back of the fuselage and it seems that the colour is lighter behind the white band including the tail feathers. Can anyone match that? I am sure Peter knows and is just playing with us. D. Excell

PeterL · 9 September 1999, 06:55 PM

All, the picture is one of four published in <a href="http://www.revue-icare.com"> "Icare" in 1981 and is definitely the most dramatic of the group. It looks like a DIII to my eye and I think this is the most likely given the probable date.

Barratt, my translation skills are heavily dependant on Alta Vista, but I'm working on it.

Peter L

PeterL · 9 September 1999, 06:56 PM

All, the picture is one of four published in "Icare" in 1981 and is definitely the most dramatic of the group. It looks like a DIII to my eye and I think this is the most likely given the probable date.

Barratt, my translation skills are heavily dependant on Alta Vista, but I'm working on it.

Peter L

Kirby · 10 September 1999, 09:39 AM

The writing definitely identifies the plane as an Albatross.

Kirby

Kirby · 10 September 1999, 09:46 AM

I can't see the entire picture and the writing is faded but, maybe: " Combat against mon (single seater?) Albatross. Photo taken during.....aerial combat. North of....?"

Someone with younger eyes can possibly do better.

VBR
Kirby

PeterL · 10 September 1999, 11:16 AM

Kirby has most of it, all I can add is range 15 metres. I'm afraid I cropped it a little in my scanner, for which I appologise. The really frustrating part though is the lack of a date. Wouldn't it be great to tag it to a specific victory, and bugger the German records

Peter L