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it was not until Spring 1917 before deliveries of French-built Strutters got going - right about the time it was being withdrawn from British frontline use.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

American 1A2