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
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SPAD SA.1 S.9
Capt. Felix Brocard / MdL Richard
Late 1915
Source: Avions
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SPAD SA.1 S.10
Cap. Schlumacher / Cap. Montezuma
November 1915
Source: Avions
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SPAD A.2 S.12
-
-
Source: SPAD SA.2/4 Mini Datafile
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SPAD A.2 Possibly S.15
-
-
Source: Windsock 5/1 & Avions
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SPAD A.2 Possibly S.15
-
-
Source: Avions
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SPAD A.2 S.17
-
-
Source: Windsock 5/1
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SPAD A.2 S.19
-
-
Source: OTF 12/2
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SPAD A.2
-
-
Source: Windsock 5/1
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Imperial Russian SAs |
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Soviet SA |
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