Box Contents.
87 plastic parts
Photo-etched details
4 camouflage variants
Color instruction sheet
Sergent Fernand Chavannes, Escadrille SPA.112, August, 1918. Fernand Henri Chavannes was born on April 16th, 1897. He served with N.112, and later with SPA.112, when the unit transitioned from Nieuports to SPADs and was accordingly redesignated. Between February 8th, 1918, and August 22, 1918, he accumulated seven aerial victories. He finished the war as Sous Lieutenant with SPA.176. He lived to be 88, and died on October 5th, 1985 in Paris.
Lieutenant Charles Nungesser, Escadrille SPA.65 ( GC.13 ), September, 1918. Charles Nungesser was born on March 15, 1892. He entered the war as a hussar, and didn’t join Escadrille VB.106 until the beginning of 1915, and shortly thereafter, transferred to N.65. After having to shoot down a British fighter that mistook him for a German aircraft (apparently due to the emblem painted on his plane) he had his wings adorned with wide, three-color markings. After transitioning to SPADs, his unit was redesignated as SPA.65. He was wounded on many occasions, and the end of the war some him drained of his strength. Reportedly, he needed to be at times carried into his aircraft by mechanics. He is credited with 43 confirmed and 11 probable kills. He disappeared on May 8th, 1927, in a transatlantic attempt.
Adjutant Marius Blanc, Escadrille SPA.81 ( GC.15 ), Summer, 1918. Marius Leon Blanc joined Escadrille SPA.81 as a reserve pilot in January, 1918 with the rank of Adjutant. This unit was formed on December 26th, 1916 at Villacoublay, as N.81. After transitioning to SPADs, the unit became SPA.81 on April, 17, 1917, and was placed under Groupe de Chasse GC.15. The unit was commanded by Lieutenant Adrien Louis Jacques Leps. Due to the adornment of elegant markings that all of the unit’s aircraft carried, the squadron came to be known as ‘Escadrille des Levriers’ – the ‘Greyhound Squadron’ SPA.81 claimed 88 aerial victories over its career.
Captaine René Fonck, Escadrille SPA.103 ( GC.15 ), Fall, 1918. René Paul Fonck was born on March 27th, 1894. At the start of the war, he volunteered for the air force, but was attached to the corps of army engineers. He didn't start to fly until February, 1915, with Escadrille C.47. On April 27th, 1917 he was transferred to GC.15, and attached to SPA.103. He developed his own combat tactic: he didn't risk much, and on average, he needed nine rounds for a kill. He was never wounded, and on only one occasion he landed with a damaged aircraft. He gained a total of 126 kills, 75 of which were confirmed, and thus became the leading Allied ace. He never gained the adoration that, for example, Guynemer did. During the Second World War, he was a minister in the Vichy government, and his reputation was tainted by inuendo . He died on June 18th, 1953.
During manufacture, SPAD S. XIIIs received a five-color camouflage scheme made up of beige, dark brown, light green, dark green and black. Although this scheme was officially prescribed, there were variations depending on manufacturer.
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