Breguet 14, part six. European Users, part three.

 

The Breguet 14 was a French multirole biplane that could serve as a bomber, reconnaissance aircraft or even as a transport. It was built in very large numbers during and even after World War I and it was used in many countries all around the world, among them, the following ones:

• Republic of Central Lithuania: Two Breguet 14 A.2s were supplied by the Polish to the air force of this short-lived puppet state in 1920. They were assigned to the Aerial Squadron of the Army of Central Lithuania.
  
  
• Portugal: The Portuguese Arma da Aeronáutica Militar  (Military Air Arm) acquired sixteen Br.14A.2s in 1919. They were assigned to the Esquadrilha Miste de Deposito (Mixed Depot Flight), at Tancos and later to the Grupo de Esquadrilhas da Aviaçao Republica (GEAR; Republican Group of Aviation Squadrons) based at Amadora. In 1921 the GEAR was sent to Angola and subsequently renamed to Grupo de Esquadrilhas de Aviaçao de Angola (GEAA; Group of Air Squadrons of Angola) where it remained with base at Campo do Huambo (central Angola) until disbanded in 1923 (though according to some other local sources it was in 1924). 
  Twelve more Br.14A.2 were sold by the French in 1921. These, plus those of the GEAA, formed the Grupo Independente de Aviaçao de Bombardeamento (GIAB; Independent Bomber Aviation Group) which was formed in 1923 at Alverca, mainland Portugal. 
  In 1925 there were still eleven Br.14 in active. One serving with the Escola Militar de Aviaçao (Military Aviation School), nine serving with the GEAR and another with Esquadrilha de Treino e Deposito (Training and Depot Squadron).
  Those Br.14 still active by 1928 were reassigned to GIAB again where they served until 1931 when they were replaced by license-built Potez 15.
  One Breguet 14 T transport was also used by the GEAR.
  One Br.14A.2 became famous in October 1920 for a failed Lisbon to Madeira flight. In spite of the rudimentary navigation gear, they managed to reach Madeira, where they had to make a forced landing due to dense fog. After having repaired the aircraft, on the way back, after 8 flight hours, they run out of fuel and had to ditch the plane on the Atlantic Ocean. Fortunately they were rescued at around 500 km (311 miles) west of Lisbon.
  
  
• Romania: Twenty Br.14B.2 were bought by the Romanian Corpul de Aviatie (Aviation Corps) in 1919. They were assigned to Grupul 5 (Group No. 5) with base at Bucharest. They saw limited action at the Hungarian-Romanian War of 1918-1919 and were replaced in the mid-1920s by newer types, among them the Breguet 19. 
  
  
• Serbia: Three French Escadrilles (Squadrons) equipped with Breguet 14B.2 were received by the Serbian Aviation. These were BR 522, BR 524 and BR 525, were operated by French airmen and ground crew (albeit being nominally under Serbian Aviation's Command and even wore painted Serbian flags at the sides) and were employed to attack Bulgarian camps near Lake Prespa, together with the Greek Mira 532 (of which we already wrote at this post here). French and Greek squadrons co-operated together to attack railroad stations during March-April 1918 and enemy airfields at Drama and Hudobva during May-June, when they were also employed in strafing attacks against enemy soldiers. 
  During the months of July and August, they were employed to raid the main enemy airfields of Hudova and Canatlarsi and in September they were used to bomb enemy lines to support Franco-Serbian troops in their offensive, which concluded with the Bulgarian capitulation.

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bréguet_14

2nd Flying Machines Press - French Aircraft of the First World War

3rd Windsock Datafile Special - Breguet 14

4th https://ubibliorum.ubi.pt/handle/10400.6/11568