Which aircraft were used during the First Battle of the Somme? (1916)

[Michael Thomson]

Hello everyone. 

 

Thank you in advance for the assistance. 

 

I've been trying to find out which aircraft where used by both sides during the 1916 Somme offensive please? 

 

I believe the Fokker Eindecker monoplane was in use in July 1916 with the Germans and a Morane Parasol (from reading the Cecil Lewis book 'Saggitarius Rising'), but what else was commonly in use? 

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Kind regards,

Michael

[topgun1918]

Between 1 July and 20 September 1916, the RFC used the B.E.2c, B.E.2d, Bristol Scout D, D.H.2, F.E2b, F.E.2d, Martinsyde G.100, Morane BB, Morane LA, Morane N, Nieuport 10, Nieuport 11, Nieuport 16, Nieuport 17 and Sopwith 1½ Strutter.

 

Graeme

 

[Annette Carson]

Hello Michael

 

A quick word of advice. I'm sure you will get replies to this from many knowledgeable members, but I suggest narrowing your search. For example you would do well to distinguish between the various roles performed by different aircraft types, e.g. reconnaissance, artillery spotting, fighter escort, etc. Merely getting a list of types won't assist you with their deployment or prevalence in terms of RFC, RNAS or French Air Services, etc.

 

Cheers, Annette

[MikeMeech]

2 hours ago, Michael Thomson said:

Hello everyone. 

 

Thank you in advance for the assistance. 

 

I've been trying to find out which aircraft where used by both sides during the 1916 Somme offensive please? 

 

I believe the Fokker Eindecker monoplane was in use in July 1916 with the Germans and a Morane Parasol (from reading the Cecil Lewis book 'Saggitarius Rising'), but what else was commonly in use? 

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Kind regards,

Michael

Hi

In Volume 2 of 'The War in the Air' (This should still be available as a free download on-line if you do a search) there is Appendix IV, which has a full ORBAT of the RFC on 1st July 1916, it includes the types of aircraft used by the squadrons.  Appendix V has the units and equipment that arrived during the Battle of the Somme.  Appendix VII has a translation from German documents, 'Some Notes on the German Air Service at the Somme (1916)', although this does not include types of aircraft, but does give you a picture of what the GAS was doing during the battle.

 

Mike

[Michael Thomson]

Thank you so much everybody for your very helpful replies. 

 

I really appreciate it. I will narrow my search and will also look for Vol 2 of 'The War in the Air'. 

 

Thank you obce again.

[topgun1918]

From 'The War In The Air', Volume 2, Appendix IV - RFC Order of Battle, 1 July 1916

 

No 1 Sqn – Morane Parasol, Morane Biplane, Nieuport Scout, Nieuport two-seater

No 2 Sqn – B.E.2c and B.E.2d

No 3 Sqn – Morane Parasol and Morane Biplane

No 4 Sqn - B.E.2c and B.E.2d

No 5 Sqn – B.E.2c and B.E.2d

No 6 Sqn - B.E.2c and B.E.2d

No 7 Sqn - B.E.2c and B.E.2d

No 8 Sqn - B.E.2c and B.E.2d

No 9 Sqn – B.E.2c

No 10 Sqn – B.E.2c, B.E.2d and B.E.12

No 11 Sqn – F.E.2b, Vickers Fighter, Bristol Scout and Nieuport Scout

No 12 Sqn – B.E.2c

No 13 Sqn – B.E.2c

No 15 Sqn – B.E.2c

No 16 Sqn - B.E.2c and B.E.2d

No 18 Sqn – F.E.2b

No 20 Sqn – F.E.2d

No 21 Sqn – R.E.7, B.E.2c, B.E.2e

No 22 Sqn – F.E.2b

No 23 Sqn – F.E.2b and Martinsyde Scout

No 24 Sqn – D.H.2, Bristol Scout and Morane Scout

No 25 Sqn – F.E.2b and F.E.2c

No 27 Sqn – 17 Martinsyde Scout (G.100)

No 29 Sqn – D.H.2 and F.E.8

No 32 Sqn – D.H.2

No 60 Sqn – Morane Bullet and Morane Scout

No 70 Sqn – Sopwith two-seaters (1½ Strutter)

 

A summary of types and their roles - 

 

B.E.2 – artillery observation, reconnaissance and light bomber

B.E.12 – single-seat fighter, bomber, general purpose

Bristol Scout D – single-seat biplane scout

D.H.2 – single-seat pusher biplane scout

F.E.2 – two-seat fighter reconnaissance

F.E.8 – single-seat pusher biplane scout

Martinsyde G.100 - single-seat fighter-scout, bomber and reconnaissance

Morane BB – two-seat biplane observation aircraft

Morane LA – two-seat parasol monoplane scout

Morane N – single-seat monoplane scout (“Bullet”)

Nieuport 10 – single-seat biplane scout

Nieuport 11 – single-seat biplane scout

Nieuport 16 – single-seat biplane scout

Nieuport 17 – single-seat biplane scout

R.E.7 – two-seat biplane light bomber and reconnaissance biplane

Sopwith 1½ Strutter – two-seat biplane scout and light bomber

 

Graeme

 

[Biggles]

The Fokker Eindecker gave the German's air superiority during 1915, but by April 1916 it was outclassed.  It may still have been in service with certain squadrons, though.

German aircraft that entered service in early 1916:

AEG C.IV (Two-seat fighter/reconnaissance)

Albatros C.III (Two-seat reconnaissance)

Albatros D.I (Fighter - entered service Aug 1916)

Halberstadt D.II/D.III (Fighter)

LFG Roland C.II (Two-seat reconnaissance)

Rumpler C.I/C.III (Reconnaissance)

Just to name a few.

 

Best of luck,

Caleb

 

 

[MikeMeech]

20 hours ago, Michael Thomson said:

Hello everyone. 

 

Thank you in advance for the assistance. 

 

I've been trying to find out which aircraft where used by both sides during the 1916 Somme offensive please? 

 

I believe the Fokker Eindecker monoplane was in use in July 1916 with the Germans and a Morane Parasol (from reading the Cecil Lewis book 'Saggitarius Rising'), but what else was commonly in use? 

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Kind regards,

Michael

Hi

Using the figures contained in 'Development of German Warplanes in WW1' by Jack Herris, the inventory (aircraft are not all on the Western Front) for the GAS during the 1916 Somme battles include the following for  30th Jun/31 Aug/31 Oct:

Fokker E I - 3/1/0

Fokker E II - 4/5/2

Fokker E 111 - 101/64/28

Fokker E IV - 29/25/16

Pfalz E 1 - 13/11/3

Pfalz E II - 30/17/3

Pfalz E III - 8/0/0

Pfalz E V - 3/0/0

Albatros D I - 0/1/50

Albatros D II - 0/1/28

Fokker D I - 0/10/74

Fokker D II - 0/10/49

Fokker D III - 0/7/6

Halberstadt D I - 0/0/6

Halberstadt D II - 0/10/49

Halberstadt D III - 0/7/6

AEG C IV - 0/0/9

AGO C I - 23/16/9

Albatros C I - 165/143/125

Albatros C III - 300/354/320

Albatros C V - 0/65/57

Albatros C VI - 0/8/71

Albatros C VII - 0/0/94

Aviatik C I - 219/183/177

Aviatik C III - 0/26/47

DFW C I - 2/2/9

DFW C V - 0/0/21

LVG C I - 4/5/1

LVG C II - 255/220/195

LVG C IV - 1/27/60

Roland C I - 35/0/0

Roland C II - 35/37/45

Roland C IIa - 0/13/11

Rumpler C I - 144/202/231

 

Not all on the Western Front as I said but the types above are the main ones available to the GAS to equip their units during the Somme.

 

Mike

 

 

[Biggles]

31 minutes ago, MikeMeech said:

Hi

Using the figures contained in 'Development of German Warplanes in WW1' by Jack Herris, the inventory (aircraft are not all on the Western Front) for the GAS during the 1916 Somme battles include the following for  30th Jun/31 Aug/31 Oct:

Fokker E I - 3/1/0

Fokker E II - 4/5/2

Fokker E 111 - 101/64/28

Fokker E IV - 29/25/16

Pfalz E 1 - 13/11/3

Pfalz E II - 30/17/3

Pfalz E III - 8/0/0

Pfalz E V - 3/0/0

Albatros D I - 0/1/50

Albatros D II - 0/1/28

Fokker D I - 0/10/74

Fokker D II - 0/10/49

Fokker D III - 0/7/6

Halberstadt D I - 0/0/6

Halberstadt D II - 0/10/49

Halberstadt D III - 0/7/6

AEG C IV - 0/0/9

AGO C I - 23/16/9

Albatros C I - 165/143/125

Albatros C III - 300/354/320

Albatros C V - 0/65/57

Albatros C VI - 0/8/71

Albatros C VII - 0/0/94

Aviatik C I - 219/183/177

Aviatik C III - 0/26/47

DFW C I - 2/2/9

DFW C V - 0/0/21

LVG C I - 4/5/1

LVG C II - 255/220/195

LVG C IV - 1/27/60

Roland C I - 35/0/0

Roland C II - 35/37/45

Roland C IIa - 0/13/11

Rumpler C I - 144/202/231

 

Not all on the Western Front as I said but the types above are the main ones available to the GAS to equip their units during the Somme.

 

Mike

 

 

Well that just rendered my assistance redundant   Very comprehensive list, Mike.

 

Caleb

[MikeMeech]

23 hours ago, Michael Thomson said:

Thank you so much everybody for your very helpful replies. 

 

I really appreciate it. I will narrow my search and will also look for Vol 2 of 'The War in the Air'. 

 

Thank you obce again.

Hi

 

You can find Vol. 2 (and the other volumes) on archive.org for free downloading.  I think the translation of 'The German Air Force in the Great War' by Major G P Neumann (1920) is also on the site, that publication could also be of some use to you.

 

Mike

[Michael Thomson]

A huge "Thank you" to everybody for the very helpful information that you have so kindly posted! 

[James A Pratt III]

War in the Air is online at archive.org