AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST
WORLD WAR ERA
France: Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
France was interested in the Sopwith LCT right from the start and placed
an order for French built Strutters in May 1916, and soon 12 manufacturers
were engaged in producing the type. However due to concerns over the strength
of the aircraft it was not until Spring 1917 before deliveries of French-built
Strutters got going - right about the time it was being withdrawn from
British frontline use. Many ex-RNAS Strutters were transferred to France
- almost all of No.3 Wing's aircraft doing so in April 1917. The French
eventually built more Strutters than the British - roughly 4200. In French
service the two-seat observation aircraft was the 1A2, while the single
seat bomber was the 1B1, and the two-seat bomber was the 1B2
Those Strutters transferred from RNAS stocks were finished in the usual
scheme of PC10 on the uppersurfaces with CDL lower surfaces. Initially
French built Strutters were thought to be in CDL finish, however recent
research points to the use of aluminum finishes whether it is in addition
or instead of the CDL depicted below. Later Strutters were in the five-colour
scheme - the exact patterns of which have yet to be determined. I was
using the rule of thumb that if it was a solid light colour overall than
it is in aluminum, and if it had a dark cockpit decking, than it is was
CDL with varnished wood, however I am now not so sure and am using both
finishes depending on the degree of shine and adjoining surfaces in the
various reference photos.

Sopwith 1A2
Escadrille Sop.17
Late 1917
Source: http://albindenis.free.fr/
|

Sopwith 1A2
Slt Jean-Marie Baumont
Escadrille N.23
Late 1916
Source: http://albindenis.free.fr/ |

Sopwith 1A2
-
Escadrille Sop.24
March 1918
Source: Windsock 10/4 |

Sopwith 1B2
-
Escadrille Sop.29
-
Source: Windsock 10/4
|

Sopwith 1A2
-
Escadrill Sop.36
September 1917
Source: http://albindenis.free.fr
|

Sopwith 1A2
-
Escadrille Sop.43
Late 1917
Source: http://albindenis.free.fr/ |

Sopwith 1B1
Escadrille Sop.66
1917
Source: Sop. 1 1/2 Strutter Datafile pt.2
|

Sopwith 1B1 No.145
Lt Mezergues
Escadrille N.79
June 1917
Source: OTF 18/1
|

Sopwith 1B1 No.185
Escadrille Sop.107
1917
Source: Sop. 1 1/2 Strutter Datafile pt.2
|

Sopwith 1B2
-
Escadrille Sop.111
Summer 1917
Source: OTF 4/3
|

Sopwith 1A2
-
Escadrille R.210
April 1917
Source: http://albindenis.free.fr/ |

Sopwith 1A2
-
Escadrille Sop.216
1917
Source: FMP French Aircraft of WWI |
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American 1A2 |
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