My Relative, A WWI Aviator

[Marc Chevalier]

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Truth be told, he was a relative by marriage.


My French great-grandmother's second husband was Frederick Scheidt, heir to Belgium's (then) largest shipping company, "Armament Deppe". Young Frederick -- whose unfortunate nickname was "Spitz" -- had a lot of disposable cash, and he liked to spend it on cars and airplanes.


During the First World War, Spitz joined a squadron of the Belgian Air Force (http://www.wwiaviation.com/ww1_belgium1916-17.html and http://www.wwiaviation.com/ww1_belgium1918.html). He brought along his own plane, which was named "Lolotte" (my great grandmother's nickname). Below you can see some photos of him in the squadron, and with several different airplanes. (Alas, I have no idea what kind they were.)


The nifty leather jackets are long gone, but I do have Spitz's Belgian Air Force uniform tunic (which isn't in these photos).

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Another airplane. I don't think Spitz owned this one:

Spitz after World War I, in Paris with my great-grandmother. I inherited the homburg hat that he's wearing in the photo.

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[Maj.Nick Danger]

Lolotte was a strange bird.

I mean the airplane.
A rear facing propeller and the engine was mounted above and behind the pilot. An unusual early design, maybe used as an observation plane, as it appears to be unarmed.
Some cool history there! And you've got his tunic and Homburg to boot. Priceless.
Did Spitz shoot down any enemy aircraft?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I wish I knew. As the son of a powerful man whose ships were being used to supply France, Spitz was probably coddled and kept out of harm's way. Wish I could say otherwise.


I'll post some photos of his uniform tomorrow. I'm thinking about selling it: I don't have any genetic or sentimental connection to Spitz, and any Belgian Air Force uniform must be quite rare.


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[Marc Chevalier]

I'd be very grateful if y'all would tell me more about these planes. I know nothing about them and am enthusiastic to learn

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[Absinthe_1900]

The 1st biplane under the flying boat is a BE-2C

2nd. Nieuport 11

3rd. Maurice Farman "Shorthorn" (The one he is leaning on lower wing)

4th. Looks like an early Henri Farman (The one that was like a Bristol Boxkite)

The flying boat is likely an export version of a Curtiss HS-2 type.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Thank you so much, Absinthe_1900! I knew I could count on you to identify these.


Incidentally, I've posted photos of Frederick Scheidt's uniform here: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=190836&postcount=1

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[Twitch]

Ah yes, the days when it all hung out in the slip stream

 

[Absinthe_1900]

A little live action breeze.

http://met.open.ac.uk/group/jwl/movies/boxkite.html

One of the Junod's (Junod Absinthe) flying a early Henri .Farman.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

One of Junod's (Junod Absinthe) flying a early Henri .Farman.

While under the influence? lol

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[Absinthe_1900]

He does look a little "influenced" in that inset.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Marc, that's a great collection of photos. That's amazing to have so many photos of him at that period, though since he was well-heeled I suppose he could afford it! Thanks for posting those.

Absinthe, that was some great work! Very impressive, indeed! I know who to send my mystery aircraft photos to now!