I'm looking for images of Madon's SPAD XIIIs, especially the early one with the rounded wing tips.

Ultimately I would like markings and color information again, especially for the early XIII.

TIA!

Greetings Matt;

I am thinking of a late issue Cross & Cockade USA . It was of course something by Jon Guttman. A S.XIII with a red fuselage. I'll check later tonight. Someone else in his unit ( the adjutant ?) Had one with a blue painted fuselage. I'll put a memory hook in it.

Thanks, Stephen! That will definitely help.

I saw your post on the Tom's "ply pockets". I guess I'll have to pick up a 1/72nd set to complete my SPAD XIII collection.

Greetings Matt still looking but I did a bit of surfing while updating my website.

Greg VanWyngarden has noted;
"...In the book "Notes of a Lost Pilot" by Jean Beraud Villars (originally published as "Notes d'un pilote disparu", anonymously, in 1918) there is a solid bit of evidence. This book was sort of a French "Diary of an Unknown Aviator" - the author was a real French pilot describing his own experiences, but he was so critical of some actions of his French superiors that he felt compelled to present it as the notes of a lost comrade, and use pseudonyms for many of the characters. However, in the translated edition many of those involved are identified and you can figure out some of the rest. On page 184 he writes, "...each pilot has his own personal monogram which more or less discreetly decorates his plane...Navarre had a tri-color Nieuport, P... a black Spad, M...a blood-red plane..." "P" was Pinsard who did indeed fly a black Spad and M was Madon, who flew several red Spads..."

The fine fellow himself Peter Leonard had a copy of "le Miroir" dated 24 Février 1918 ... It depicts Georges Felix Madon in front of what he sees to be an early SPAD XIII and there is a croix de guerre attached to the rigging.

More later.

Awesome. Again, thanks, Stephen!

Stephen, any luck tracking down the references?

TIA!

Greeting Matt;

It was at about 1045AM this date that I found what I was looking for. Cross & Cockade USA Vol. 23 /#2/ Pp. 186 & 187.

From Jon Guttman's "Plumage of the Warbirds" He has two profiles for George Madon's red Spad XIII. He commanded Spa. 38.

One is an early model that he says can also be seen in C&C USA 17/ #1/ p.12. This machine is red from fuselage nose to includes cabane struts and the vertical fin. Jon believes this did not include the wings. Landing gear legs and spreader axle are red. BUT the wheels covers were white.

The late version is the same except the covers are now red and the cowling ring is white.

For those of you curious for more on the story of the great pilots Captaine George Felix Madon's career is covered nicely in the book Over the Front p.188.

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I've found I don't have those issues.

Anyway I can get a scan of both articles/photos, please? TIA!

I have done what I can without breaking any of the book's spines. Check your internet modeler e-mail. Good luck.

Thanks, Stephen!

Now to get a couple of other models out of the way so I can start the Eduard kit.

And purchase the Tom's "pockets" and find photos of French birds that flew with the "pockets" installed...

Again, thanks!

I've been looking at the image of Madon's early XIII, as well as Guttman's "tonal" drawings of it.

From the drawings it appears the removable panel towards the lower part of the fuselage nose side was actually in place, and not taken off nor replaced by mesh screen.

Am I on the right track you think?

It looks like it. Remember the access covers you mention were probably replaced in the summer months with the screens to let the heat vent quicker.

Ah, excellent point. I guess my model would have flown during the winter months, then. I don't want to detail the area behind the engine bearers. :-)

The early production Spad XIII types seemed to last from Sept. 1917 through at least May 1918. At least this is what photo images imply. I also had the chance to pick up the Osprey book:

"Spad XII / XIII Aces of WWI" by Jon Guttman. Excellent book and he briefly discusses Madon's machines. Its #47 in the Aircraft of the Aces series. In my first run through it I only found one faux paux (on page 51.)

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/large_image.php?title=S3160

"This book details the exploits of the pilots who flew the hugely successful SPAD XIII and the trickier SPAD XII. Built in response to the combat inadequacies of the SPAD VII, the XIII first entered service with the French Aviation Militaire in late 1917. Despite suffering engine unreliability, the XIII enjoyed great success on the Western Front, where it was flown by numerous French, American, Italian and Belgian aces, including Eddie Rickenbacker, leading US ace of World War I. The SPAD XII, meanwhile, was the product of numerous improvements to the SPAD VII model. Entering service in July 1917, the aircraft boasted a single-shot 37 mm Puteaux cannon, which had to be hand-reloaded in flight! Tricky to fly, the XII was only issued to experienced pilots, and was flown briefly by a number of aces."