Breguet 14, part four. European Users, part one.

 

The Breguet 14 was a French biplane bomber of the First World War which was also employed as a reconnaissance plane. 

With more than 8.000 machines manufactured between March 1917 and 1926, it was exported all around the globe and saw usage with various countries and factions, among them, the following ones:

• Belgium: Belgium acquired 31 or 35  (sources vary about the exact number) Breguet 14 A.2 before the end of World War I, and 12 or 15 after the war.
  The type entered service with the Belgian Aviation Militaire (Army Aviation) in 1918 serving both with Nos 2 and 3 squadrons based at Les Moëres (De Moeren) airfield, in West Flanders province. The Breguets replaced the Sopwith 1 ½ Strutters the squadrons were equipped with. Nos. 4 5 6 and 7 Squadrons also employed the type, in some cases, operating together with the SPAD S.XI. No.5 Squadron was based at Houtem airfield, in West Fladers too. 
  Every Breguet 14 delivered during the war was powered by either the Italian Fiat A-12 or A-12bis engine, but some of those delivered after the war, were powered by the Renault 12F engine (distinguishable by its unique exhaust pipe).
  After the war, the A.2 also equipped some squadrons of the Flying School Group and, by 1923, the A.2 was already withdrawn from operational squadrons, with the exception of some few machines which were employed as communications aircraft until 1928. 
  
  
• Czechoslovakia: The newly created Czechoslovak Army Air Force acquired 10 Breguet 14A.2 in 1919. They were assigned to the Letecká setnina 4 (4th Air Company), based at Cheb, western Bohermia,  and then, after reorganization, they were inherited by the Letecká rota 8 (8th Air Company), based at Nitra, Bratislava. In 1923 they were assigned to Prozorovaci rota 3 based at Olomouc, Moravia and the Hlavni Letecke Dilny, 81 Bombardobaci Letka, based at Prague-Kbely airport.
  
  
• Denmark: Denmark obtained four unarmed Br.14A.2s for civilian usage with the Ministeriet for Offentlige Arbejder (Ministry of Public Works) between 1921 and 1922. They were used for training commercial pilots until April 1927 when they were sold for scrap.

Sources:

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

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

3rd https://www.armedconflicts.com/4th-Air-Company-t73424

4th https://www.valka.cz/topic/view/43381/Letecka-rota-8-1920-1924

5th http://www.milfly.dk/pdf/islander.pdf (translated)

Avro 504N - European Users

Th Avro 504N was an improved version of the Avro 504K, with a new engine and some other aerodynamical changes which consisted on a new undercarriage, new wings, a new engine and the removal of the skid. Some internal improvements were also made like the inclusion a direct gravity feed for gas.

It was used by many European countries as it became their standard trainer airplane and it was license built in Belgium by SABCA during the late 1920s until mid-1930s, and in Greece by the Kratiko Ergostasio Aeroplanon (State Aircraft Factory) from 1934 until 1935.

It was powered by either a 150hp or 180hp Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV engine.

• Belgium: It was the backbone of their trainer squadrons during the 1930s decade. Some of them were still in service when Germany invaded Belgium in May 1940.
• Denmark: The 504N was also the main trainer of the Royal Danish Air Corps during the late 1920s until the mid 1930s. It's worth to mention that these airplanes were equipped with a cowling in the back seat in order for the student to learn how to "blind pilotage".
• Greece: The Greeks ordered some 504N in 1925. 
• Sweden: In December 1925 the Swedish Army Aviation Company ordered five 504N which were delivered in April 1926. They served under the denomination of Sk-3 and Sk-3A in the Flying School at Ljungbyhed. Surprinsingly, they served only until 1928 as they couldn't cope wheel with the harsh cold Swedish weather.
• United Kingdom: The 504N replaced the 504K as the main RAF trainer during the 1920s.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_504

2. http://www.natureandtech.com/?cat=109

3. http://forum.valka.cz/topic/view/108754

4. http://greek-war-equipment.blogspot.com.es/2010/10/1920-1936-avro-504.html

5. http://www.avrosys.nu/aircraft/Skol/403sk3/403Sk3.htm

6. http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft33477.htm (translated)

Avro 504K - European Users, Part One

As the Avro 504K was one of the most produced World War I airplanes, it was widely used by many European countries, we're covering them with this post.

• Belgium: First presented to the Belgian authorities in 1920 at the airfield of Evere, it convinced the Belgian observers who ordered six of them which were delivered from April 1921 onwards. The third and final delivery was made in late 1921 making fifty machines delivered from British sources. In 1924 the Belgian company SABCA built some some additional licensed machines. They were used in the flying schools of Asch and Wevelgem as well as in the liaison role serving with different squadrons and groups. They were replaced in 1929 by the Avro 504N which was a much refined version of the 504K.
• Denmark: Danske Luftfartselskab company, the Danish Airline Company bought some Avro 504K in the United Kingdom on 1919 but, as they never used them, they were sold to the Royal Danish Army who adquired two additional airplanes which were used until 1931 when they were replaced by the Avro 504N. The Royal Danish Navy, bought six of them in 1920 which were also replaced by the 504N in 1931.
• Finland: The Finnish government bought one 504K for evaluation (which is nowadays preserved at the Tikkakoski air base's museum) in as late as 1926. It was extenisvely used until November 1930 when it was written off.
• Estonia: The Estonian government bought seven airplanes in order to equip their training squadrons in 1921. They weren't manufactured by Avro itself but by one of their delegated companies, Grahame-White. They were replaced by the Avro 504R on 1928.
• Germany: The Germans managed to capture some Avro 504K during the World War I. Not very much is known about the fate of these airplanes beyond some pics of the era.
• Greece: Greece got some small number of Avro 504K airplanes after the World War I which were used to train pilots at their school of Dekeleia during the Turkish independence war. It's known that some of them were also destined to the Turkish city of Izmir. They were replaced in 1925 by the Avro 504N.

Sources:

1. http://www.belgian-wings.be/webpages/navigator/Photos/MilltaryPics/interbellum/Avro%20504K/Avro%20504K%20Frontpage.html

2. http://www.natureandtech.com/?cat=121

3. http://www.avro504.org/ActualAircraft.html

4. http://greek-war-equipment.blogspot.com.es/2010/10/1920-1936-avro-504.html

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_504

Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 - Foreign Users Part one

Today, we take some rest from the French SPADs and we start another project that, hopefully, won't take too long.

The Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 was a German monoplane floatplane fighter that served in the closing months of the Great War.
Designed originally to replace the W.12 it proved to be a successful design with less drag and much more speed than the W.12. It was designed by Ernst Heinkel, the founder of Heinkel aviation company.

It was much more used after the war as it was developed in Norway, in the Kjeller factory and was manufactured under license in many parts of the world.

• Austro-Hungarian Empire: Ordered 25 W.29 to be built at UFAG factory in Budapest. Only one was completed. As we couldn't find graphical info, the best we could do with the colours was to speculate about them.
• Denmark: Bought one from Germany, and manufactured under license another 15 more, used by the Royal Danish Navy. It featured a locally produced engine and it's local designation was HM.1. They remained in active service until 1930.
• Finland: Apparently the Finnish air service had one in commission during 1920. As we couldn't find graphic info about this one, we are speculating about it's colours.
• Hungarian Soviet Republic: When the Hungarian Soviet Republic was declared the W.29 that was completed to serve with the K.U.K. was pushed into service with their new owners. It was based at Cspel, near Budapest.