High quality French WW1 aviation footage

[Holtzauge]

This whole video from 35 mm film captured sometime 1917-18 is well worth watching and especially the quality of the SPAD footage about 2:58 in is just fabulous (full screen mode recommended): Looks like it was filmed yesterday in HD.....

 

And then the scene shortly after: All those guys lining up in front of the hangar goofing around and having a good time. All gone now. Memento mori......

 

https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/compilation-d-images-d-aviation-decollages-vols-hydravions-terrains-d-aviation.html

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2024 by Holtzauge

[Elem]

Great stuff, thanks!

[Heliopause]

Nice find.  03:00 Rene Fonck (?)

[Holtzauge]

56 minutes ago, Heliopause said:

Nice find.  03:00 Rene Fonck (?)

 

Well, the find should actually be credited to WW1 aviation author Greg van Wyngarden who originally posted it over at the The Aerodrome forum. But I was blown away with the quality so I thought I should post it here as well.

 

About the SPAD pilot I think you are right! The "VI" on the rear fuselage certainly suggest this. I did not catch that! Good find! 

[ZachariasX]

Amazing footage!

[ST_Catchov]

I love it!

[Holtzauge]

10 hours ago, ZachariasX said:

Amazing footage!

 

7 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

I love it!

 

The white night cap under the flying helmet 6:38 into the vid, I wonder if that was standard kit for Nieuport jocks? 

[ST_Catchov]

1 hour ago, Holtzauge said:

The white night cap under the flying helmet 6:38 into the vid, I wonder if that was standard kit for Nieuport jocks? 

 

Lol those crazy French guys. Always up for a laugh. Well, except Fonck. He seemed like rather a serious chap.

 

If you find any more gems like this, sling 'em this way. High quality footage of WW1 crates and aviators is always welcomed as an insight into that amazing time.

[Holtzauge]

Some fabulous footage of René Fonck (from about 0:40 into the video). I have only seen more formal stills of the man before and had no idea this kind of high quality footage existed before (full screen mode recommended!) But here it's just like he stepped right out of the history books and you even get a feel for his personality.

 

Google translate of accompanying text: "On the Hétomesnil airfield (Oise, 05/10/1918) René Fonck and Joseph Battle, "Ace" of the "Cigognes" squadron pose with their comrades Sévin and Dupuis. The men smile at the camera and look at the sky. Installed in the cockpit of his SPAD S-VII, René Fonck poses for the camera. He checks his machine guns and poses in front of the propeller of his plane. He then answers questions from foreign war correspondents."

 

@US103_Rummell: At 2:20 into the vid, is that what I think it is poking out of the SPAD prop? 

[No.23_Starling]

2 hours ago, Holtzauge said:

Some fabulous footage of René Fonck (from about 0:40 into the video). I have only seen more formal stills of the man before and had no idea this kind of high quality footage existed before (full screen mode recommended!) But here it's just like he stepped right out of the history books and you even get a feel for his personality.

 

Google translate of accompanying text: "On the Hétomesnil airfield (Oise, 05/10/1918) René Fonck and Joseph Battle, "Ace" of the "Cigognes" squadron pose with their comrades Sévin and Dupuis. The men smile at the camera and look at the sky. Installed in the cockpit of his SPAD S-VII, René Fonck poses for the camera. He checks his machine guns and poses in front of the propeller of his plane. He then answers questions from foreign war correspondents."

 

@US103_Rummell: At 2:20 into the vid, is that what I think it is poking out of the SPAD prop? 

Hey, thank you for sharing! I’d not seen these before. There’s actually two shots of Fonck’s SPAD XII-Canon (either S.445 or S.452). The first is around 1’10”. The two big clues are the top wing forward stagger and the lack of the two fairing bulges either side of the front panel seen on the SPAD VII later in the footage. The fact the film is shot from beneath the wings of a VII shows the difference is stagger well:

 

 

 

They also show the canon barrel at 2’20” as you say. Fonck had several personal planes from which to choose from, and scored 16 kills in his canon types as well as a number of probables.

 

If only he painted it red and called himself Von Fonck.

 

I’d add that Sevin also had a personal XII-Canon and scored at least two confirmed kills using it, but this footage is definitely Fonck’s airframe.

Edited April 11, 2024 by US103_Rummell

[ZachariasX]

7 hours ago, Holtzauge said:

The white night cap under the flying helmet 6:38 into the vid, I wonder if that was standard kit for Nieuport jocks? 

It sure tells us something about the fitting qualities of the helmet. Also, today if you heated your average house such that a night cap was a great idea to wear at night, the tenants would see you in court.

[Holtzauge]

47 minutes ago, ZachariasX said:

It sure tells us something about the fitting qualities of the helmet. Also, today if you heated your average house such that a night cap was a great idea to wear at night, the tenants would see you in court.

 

I'll remember that next time I go kayaking and I'm forced to don a beanie in the tent: Sue the landowner!

[ST_Catchov]

7 hours ago, Holtzauge said:

don a beanie

 

Forget the beanie. Bring back the 'tache! Another great find of immense historical significance. I want more!

[Holtzauge]

11 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

 

Forget the beanie. Bring back the 'tache! Another great find of immense historical significance. I want more!

 

Absolutely Catchov! And in this link you can find some more gems:

 

Charles Nungesser in person, and some nice views of him getting ready to take off in his skull & crossbones adorned SPAD (from about 18:08)

 

But like the other videos, a lot of other interesting stuff in there: Breguet 14 crews from about 8:40 in ending with some nice footage of the aircraft taking off. And then there are some more cheerful lads in a good mood lining up for the camera at about 10:35.

 

However, this video is especially unique because it also features a clip with the German ace Adolf Hitler in front of the captured "beute"-SPAD he flew during the closing stages of the war (about 15:35 in). Wikipedia, being the notoriously unreliable fake news outlet that it is, still insists that he was only a lowly lance corporal in the trenches running about as an orderly. Disgraceful really…..

 

[ZachariasX]

3 hours ago, Holtzauge said:

However, this video is especially unique because it also features a clip with the German ace Adolf Hitler in front of the captured "beute"-SPAD he flew during the closing stages of the war (about 15:35 in). Wikipedia, being the notoriously unreliable fake news outlet that it is, still insists that he was only a lowly lance corporal in the trenches running about as an orderly. Disgraceful really…..

No only that, the Föhrer has a SPAD XI. Regardless of the fact that these were the kind of SPAD who couldn't even outrun an Etappenschwein such as him, I feel the strong need of a SPAD XI for this game:

 

And a SPAD XVI:

 

I think we need to summon @US103_Rummell for help.

[ZachariasX]

15 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

Bring back the 'tache!

Nah, Nungesser demonstrates manilest manliness without one in impressive manner. He doesn't even put out his fag while his serfs, after starting up his plane, are wrapping his head in a scarf. Seemingly the sheer weight of his balls make for a difficult takeoff as the SPAD drags along. It's like he's surrounded by children, regardless of their 'tache or tinsel.

[No.23_Starling]

2 hours ago, ZachariasX said:

Nah, Nungesser demonstrates manilest manliness without one in impressive manner. He doesn't even put out his fag while his serfs, after starting up his plane, are wrapping his head in a scarf. Seemingly the sheer weight of his balls make for a difficult takeoff as the SPAD drags along. It's like he's surrounded by children, regardless of their 'tache or tinsel.

He was famous for his numerous bullet wounds and champagne-fuelled womanising on leave. The Spad was never his favourite and he continued to use his Nieuports long into the war, apparently rarely using his personal Spad Canon (it got his personal skull and crossbones insignia). He also disappeared after the war trying to fly the Atlantic. Absolute gigachad.

3 hours ago, ZachariasX said:

No only that, the Föhrer has a SPAD XI. Regardless of the fact that these were the kind of SPAD who couldn't even outrun an Etappenschwein such as him, I feel the strong need of a SPAD XI for this game:

 

And a SPAD XVI:

 

I think we need to summon @US103_Rummell for help.

I’ll need to dig through the French archives to get the numbers built and at the front. At present I think the Voisin and Salmson would be the priority for early and late war 2 seaters.

 

Davilla gives 1000 Spad XIs built, with only 85 at the front by the end of the war. That’s compared to 3200 Salmson 2s.

Edited April 12, 2024 by US103_Rummell

[Holtzauge]

And for those wanting to brush up on their history, the very best and accurate historical accounts of the film star and "Le gaillard" Charles Nungesser is recounted by the  famous historian David Mechin in this video. 

 

On a more serious note: Mechin is a funny guy but underneath all the banter there are a lot of interesting facts in that video, not the least about Nungesser as a "bebe" and his childhood, family and life outside the cockpit.

 

[ST_Catchov]

7 hours ago, ZachariasX said:

Nah, Nungesser demonstrates manilest manliness without one in impressive manner. He doesn't even put out his fag while his serfs, after starting up his plane, are wrapping his head in a scarf. Seemingly the sheer weight of his balls make for a difficult takeoff as the SPAD drags along. It's like he's surrounded by children, regardless of their 'tache or tinsel.

 

Not quite correct but close. He preferred the Nieuport because his heavy, low hanging fruit perfectly counteracted the torque and gyroscopic tendencies of its rotary engine. He flew sans underwear to allow a pendulum like action thus heightening the effect.

 

It just wasn't the same in the Spad.

 

He is my idol, and the blueprint for any dashing WW1 "ace" in all books and films since the end of the Great War. Alas, it's hard for mere mortals to live up to a man of such proportions. I think only Errol (Flynn) came close.

[ST_Catchov]

6 hours ago, Holtzauge said:

And for those wanting to brush up on their history, the very best and accurate historical accounts of the film star and "Le gaillard" Charles Nungesser is recounted by the  famous historian David Mechin in this video. 

 

How to view this in English? Merci.

[ZachariasX]

6 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

I think only Errol (Flynn) came close.

Maybe Robert Mitchum. One of the few like Sean Connery, that could enter a hangar full of people any everyone would be instantly aware that balls have entered the room.

[Holtzauge]

On 4/13/2024 at 4:48 AM, ST_Catchov said:

 

How to view this in English? Merci.

 

There are a number of videos with good tips how to get this. Here is one example but you can google and find others. I'm sure you will find the Dutch subtitles to English in the example I posted very useful. 

 

On a more serious note: The result you get is not perfect and can be a bit quirky, but usually it's pretty decent.

 

Result for me below:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 14, 2024 by Holtzauge

[Holtzauge]

And here is another clip posted by Greg VanWyngarden over at The Aerodrome forum that @=IRFC=Hellbender is sure to like: A Hanriot toasting a Fokker D.VII!

[ST_Catchov]

On 4/14/2024 at 6:41 PM, Holtzauge said:

 

There are a number of videos with good tips how to get this. Here is one example but you can google and find others. I'm sure you will find the Dutch subtitles to English in the example I posted very useful. 

 

On a more serious note: The result you get is not perfect and can be a bit quirky, but usually it's pretty decent.

 

 

 

Thanks Holtzy. Just tested it out and it works quite well, although as you say, with a few quirks.