AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

France: SPAD SA.1/2/4


 

The A series SPADs were an example of the unusual arising to solve a pressing need. The need was to provide firepower forward of the line of flight, the problem was how to do this without hitting the propellor. The SPAD solution in the pre-interruptor days was to place the gun in front of the motor. To this end, a nacelle was bolted to the undercarriage and attached to the crankshaft of the engine with addtional attachments to the upper wing. An observor would then sit in front of the engine and have an uniterrupted view ahead of him. However he was in dire peril in the event of a crash landing and the type was quickly phased out of French service. The Imperial Russian Air Service wasn't so lucky, and as they had a need for 'modern' aircraft they reluctantly accepted them into service. Previously it had been thought that the majority of SAs built were in the SA2 range, however recent research shows that there were the following totals built SA1 (11), SA2 (35), SA3 (2), SA4 (59) for a total of 107.

SPAD A.1/2/4 were finished in the usual 'yellow' scheme of the period with the metalwork painted to match the fabric.National markings in many cases were just cocardes on the wings, with the the serial on the rudder. Later various stripes were added to the fuselage and tail before rudder striping was settled on. The example below belongs to the IRAS and they have added their roundel to the taiplane as well.

The French Magazine AVIONS has a great five-part series on the SPAD SA.1/2/4. In addition Jack Herris has written a book on SPAD Two-seaters (which I illustrated), which was published by FMP in 1997 and has a section on the pulpit SPADs.


 


Typical 'yellow' pattern
on IRAS A.2

 


SPAD SA.1 S.9
Capt. Felix Brocard / MdL Richard
Late 1915
Source: Avions


SPAD SA.1  S.10
Cap. Schlumacher / Cap. Montezuma
November 1915
Source: Avions

SPAD A.2  S.12
-
-
Source: SPAD SA.2/4 Mini Datafile


SPAD A.2 – Possibly S.15
-
-
Source: Windsock 5/1 & Avions



SPAD A.2 – Possibly S.15
-
-
Source: Avions

SPAD A.2  S.17
-
-
Source: Windsock 5/1


SPAD A.2  S.19
-
-
Source: OTF 12/2

 


SPAD A.2
-
-
Source: Windsock 5/1

Imperial Russian SAs
 
Soviet SA