Voisin III

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Voisin III
Knatchbull M (capt the Hon) Collection Q44287 (cropped).jpg
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Voisin
Designer Gabriel Voisin
First flight1914
Introduction1914
Retiredbefore 1922
Primary users Aéronautique Militaire
Imperial Russian Air Service
Corpo Aeronautico Militare
Produced1914–1916
Number built1,350+
Developed from Voisin L
Variants Voisin IV and Voisin V

The Voisin III was a French World War I two-seat pusher biplane multi-purpose aircraft developed by Voisin in 1914 as a more powerful version of the 1912 Voisin L. It is notable for being the aircraft used for the first successful shooting down of an enemy aircraft on October 5, 1914, and to have been used to equip the first dedicated bomber units, in September 1914.

Contents

Design

The Voisin III's water cooled Salmson radial engine. Amiens. Biplan Voisin. Moteur et helice. Sauzay et Roussillon - Fonds Berthele - 49Fi165 (cropped).jpg
The Voisin III's water cooled Salmson radial engine.

The first Voisin III was initially powered by a single 97 kW (130 hp) Salmson M9 engine water-cooled 9 cylinder radial engine, while later examples used the similar 110 kW (150 hp) Salmson P9 or R9. It had a range of 200 km (120 mi), a top speed of 105–113 km/h (65–70 mph) and a ceiling of 3,350–6,000 m (10,990–19,690 ft) depending on engine and manufacturer. The pilot was ahead of the passenger, who could fire weapons, release bombs or take photos, depending on the mission. It incorporated a light steel frame structure which made it more durable when operating out of makeshift wartime military aviation airfields.

Many aircraft were armed with a Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun mounted on the fuselage operated by a standing observer. Some variants could carry up to 150 kg (330 lb) of bombs.

Variants

Operational history

The observer's weapon is mounted above the pilot. Amiens. Biplan Voisin. Sauzay et Roussillon - Fonds Berthele - 49Fi163 (cropped).jpg
The observer's weapon is mounted above the pilot.

As one of the main types that the French Aviation Militaire chose to standardize on in 1914, the Voisin III quickly became one of the most common Allied bombers early in the war. Significant numbers were purchased by the French and the Imperial Russian Air Force. Russia ordered more than 800 from France and built a further 400 under license at Anatra, Breshnev-Moller, Dux, Lebedev and Schetinin. [1] Over 100 were built in Italy by Societe Italiana Transaera (S.I.T.), [1] and 50 in the United Kingdom, [1] while small numbers were purchased by Belgium and Romania. One French aircraft was forced to land in Switzerland in 1915 after running low on fuel in combat with a German aircraft and was put into service with the Swiss Fliegerabteilung . [2]

Like many aircraft of its era, Voisin III was a multi-purpose aircraft. Its missions included day- and night bombing, reconnaissance, artillery spotting and training.

Fighter role

Aircraft cockpit detail Aircraft cockpit - Fleury. Escadrille V114. Carlingue et instruments a bord - Fonds Berthele - 49Fi947 (cropped).jpg
Aircraft cockpit detail

While flying a Voisin III, Sergeant Joseph Frantz and Corporal Louis Quénault of Escadrille V.24 shot down a German Aviatik B.I flown by Oberleutnant Fritz von Zangen and Sergeant Wilhelm Schlichting of FFA 18 over Jonchery, near Reims on October 5, 1914. [3] This was the first time an aircraft had been brought down with small arms fire from another aircraft. [3]

Quénault fired two 48-round magazines from an 8 mm (0.31 in) Hotchkiss M1909 machine gun at the Germans who returned fire with rifles. When it jammed, he continued firing with a rifle until he succeeded in bringing them down. [4] [5]

Previously, Pyotr Nesterov had successfully brought down an enemy aircraft, however that was by ramming.

Bomber role

The Voisin III is notable in being among the earliest dedicated bombers. The steel frame construction of the aircraft enabled a bomb load of approximately 150 kg (330 lb) to be carried.

Captain Marcel Courmes, French officer and pilot of the 2nd Bombardment Group GB 2, August 1915. CapitaineMarcelCourmes1915.png
Captain Marcel Courmes, French officer and pilot of the 2nd Bombardment Group GB 2, August 1915.

France was the first country to organize dedicated bomber units, using the Voisin III. Three Escadrilles (squadrons) of the aircraft comprised the first bomber group, GB1 (groupe de bombardement 1), formed in September 1914 under the leadership of Commandant de Goÿs. [6] de Goys’ contribution both as a tactical leader and theoretician is significant in developing the theory and practice of long range bombing sorties. An almost unopposed bombing campaign was conducted by GB1 during the early months of 1915, culminating in a retaliatory attack against the Badische Anilin Gesellschaft at Ludwigshafen, Germany, on 26 May 1915, [6] shortly after the German Army introduced poison gas in battle. Of the 18 aircraft which took part, only Goÿs himself failed to return when his Voisin suffered a mechanical failure. [6]

Following the success of GB1, other bomber groups were formed and successful daytime attacks on targets within Germany ensued throughout the summer and autumn of 1915. As many as 62 aircraft were involved. By 1916 the Voisin III was clearly obsolete and had become dangerously vulnerable to German fighter aircraft. With mounting losses, the Voisin III was withdrawn from daylight operations and restricted to night bombing. Among other types, it was replaced by the similar Voisin V.

Operators

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania

Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire

State Flag of Serbia (1882-1918).svg  Serbia
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland

Flag of the Ukrainian State.svg  Ukrainian People's Republic

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Survivors and replicas

Voisin III at the Musee de l'air et de l'espace Voisin L.A.S., Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, France. (Edited) (12538194464).jpg
Voisin III at the Musée de l’air et de l’espace

An original 1915 Voisin III B.2/LAS, number 955, is on display at the Musée de l’air et de l’espace [11] [12] at Le Bourget near Paris.

A full-size Voisin replica is on display at the Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, Washington however it only loosely represents the Voisin L/LA/LAS family and not a specific version. [13]

Specifications (British-built Voisin LA)

Enemy aircraft recognition drawing of Voisin Kriegsalbum 40, Bild 11025 (BildID 15499693) (cropped).jpg
Enemy aircraft recognition drawing of Voisin

Data from The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing) [14]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Davilla, 1997, p.547
  2. 1 2 Militärische Kennungen 2016, p.5
  3. 1 2 Grosz, 2003, p.4
  4. Gómez, 1998
  5. Guttman et al. 2009, p. 9.
  6. 1 2 3 Sherman, 2012
  7. 1 2 3 Davilla, 1997, p.544
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Davilla, 1997, p.545
  9. 1 2 Davilla, 1997, p.547-548
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Davilla, 1997, p.550
  11. http://www.museeairespace.fr/aller-plus-haut/collections/voisin-l-a-s/ accessdate=9 October 2019 url-status=live
  12. http://www.pyperpote.tonsite.biz/listinmae/index.php/les-appareils-en-reserve/les-reserves-du-musee-de-l-air/32-voisin-las-b-2-n-955 accessdate=9 December 2019 url-status=live
  13. Topinka, 2017
  14. Bruce 1982, p. 610.

Further reading