The Type G was also developed in two variants, one of them served as a testbed for the Garros-Hue version of the Morane-Saulnier bullet deflector device. The second one was a pure fighter variant with a fully faired fuselage, fixed vertical fin, reinforced landing gear struts, removal of the observer's position an 8-mm Hotchkiss machine gun placed on the nose, bullet deflectors and the same engine that powered the Type H: an 80-hp Le Rhône 9C. It was built in summer 1915. At least one Type G aircraft was fitted with the Type H wings. However, these were not adopted because both Morane-Saulnier Type L and Type N (which were more effective in the fighter role) were entering service. Various trainer sub-variants with de-rated Anzani engines were also made.
The Type G saw service with various countries:
- Argentina: The Argentinean aviation pioneer Jorge Newbery had a Morane-Saulnier G as his personal aircraft. Apparently, in 1912, he donated at least two Type Gs to the Argentine Army.
- Cuba: The Morane-Saulnier G constituted the second airplane in the Cuban Army Air Corps which was founded in 1913. Jaime Gonzalez, a Cuban pilot who had a Type G as his personal aircraft, was promoted by the Cuban House of Representatives as Captain in order to have him as an instructor.
- Denmark: The Haerens Flyvertropper (Danish Army Air Service) bought two Type G (though some sources state they were Type H) in 1915. These were Swedish license-built Thulin B. In Danish service they were assigned the names of M.S.1 "Hugin" and M.S.2 "Munin". Initially they were both powered by 50-hp Gnomes. Munin was written off service in 1917 and Hugin served until 1919 with his engine being replaced by am 80-hp Gnome in 1917.
- United Kingdom: One Type G was pushed into British Military Service just at the outbreak of the Great War. It received the serial number 482 and was assigned to No.1 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Later it was re-assigned to the No.60Squadron. Twelve additional aircraft were ordered, a combination of Type G and Type Hs in 1915.
Apparently the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) had also two Type Gs in strength. These were labelled with the serials 941 and 1242. The 941 was an impressed aircraft and served in Eastchurch airfield and was later assigned to No.2 Squadron. The second was license-built by Graham-White Aviation Co. and was delivered to Eastchurch in December 1914 and later sent to Hendon airfield.
We couldn't find graphic information about the Type G serving with both the RFC and the RNAS, so the drawings should be considered as speculative. - France: According to some French documents of the time both MS 23 and MS 26 were almost entirely composed of Type L, however, some few Type Gs may served alongside the recon plane. In any case, the placement of the cockpit and the inadequate downwards field of view of the Type G got the types quickly replaced by the better Type L.
Most of the Type Gs were assigned to trainer units which were powered by the de-rated Anzani engines and had the denomination of Morane-Saulnier 16E1 with the letter "E" meaning standing for "École" ("School" in French). - Mexico: Back in 1912 the Mexican Government sent five army officers to the Moissant International Aviation School at Long Island, in New Jersey. These men returned to Mexico bringing with them two Morane-Saulnier monoplanes, most probably of the G Type. Those five officers, together with foreign mercenaries, formed the "Escuadrilla de Ébano" (Ebony Squadron) in 1915 which was assigned to the Nort-Eastern Army and saw action during the Mexican Revolution in Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Yucatan.
Sources:
1. Flying Machines Press - French Aircraft of the First World War
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_G
3. http://www.urrib2000.narod.ru/Mil1-1-e.html
4.https://www.facebook.com/ArchivoGeneraldelaNacionArgentina/photos/-monoplano-morane-saulnier-del-ingeniero-jorge-newbery-1914ar-agn-agas01-rg-13-3/3340549655970227/
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