AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

France: Salmson 2A2


The Salmson 2A2 entered frontline service in October 1917, and by the end of WWI had built a reputation for ruggedness and accomplishment among those who flew them.

In an era when most aircraft used rotary or inline aircraft, the Salmson made use of a nine cylinder radial engine which gave it a top speed of 115 mph.

Besides France, other users of the Salmson include; the Americans, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Peru and Japan. The Japanese were to licence build around 300 of them between 1921 and 1927.

The earliest Salmson were finished in the the French 'Yellow" scheme. Research by Allan Toelle suggests that some of these may also have been finished in aluminum as per Nieuports. These 2A2s may also have had turned polished metal panels with a'turned' appearance to them. Starting with no.174, five-colour camouflage was worn. Unlike other aircraft types, the 2A2s appear to have had similar patterns from the various manufacturers and only the black 'footprint' may have differed between companies.

Two recent books devoted to the Salmson 2A2 are the Salmson book by FMP, and Datafile no.109. Together they make a great combination of material.



 


Five colour pattern

 


 

 


Salmson 2A2
-
Escadrille SAL.1
-
Source: via Peter Leonard


Salmson 2A2 430x

Escadrille SAL.14

Source: Datafile No.109


Salmson 2A2 251

Escadrille SAL.16

Source: Datafile No.109

 

 


Salmson 2A2
Lt Gustave Collet
Escadrille SAL.18
Summer 1918
Source: http://albindenis.free.fr

Salmson 2A2 945

Escadrille SAL.18

Source: Datafile No.109


Salmson 2A2 500
-
Escadrille SAL.28
-
Source: FMP Salmson book

 

 


Salmson 2A2 44x
-
Escadrille SAL.28
-
Source: FMP Salmson book

 


Salmson 2A2

Escadrille SAL.32

Source: FMP French book


Salmson 2A2 No.49
Delavenne
Escadrille SAL.33
-
Source: FMP French book

 

 


Salmson 2A2


Source: Datafile No.109



Salmson 2A2
-
June 1918
Source: OTF 8/1

 

 



Salmson 2A2


Source: FMP French Book

Salmson 2A2

Mid 1918
Source: Datafile No.109


Salmson 2A2


Source: Datafile No.109

 

 

 


American Salmsons

 


Polish Salmson

Japanese Salmson