German Aviation: Fighters 1914

Gotha Taube

Developed in 1910 by Igor Etrich, the German Taube (dove) was built in large numbers by various manufacturers. It derived its name from the unique structure and shape of its wings. A slow, unarmed, two-seater monoplane, it entered service in the first year of the war and was used for observation and reconnaissance until 1916.

Pfalz A.I

The Pfalz A.I and A.II unarmed scouts were copies of the Morane-Saulnier L produced under licence in Germany by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke early in the First World War.

The A.1 was a was a fragile parasol wing airplane. The armed E.III varient became one of the first successful fighter aircraft when it was fitted with a single machine gun that fired through the arc of the propeller which was protected by armored deflector wedges. Its immediate effectiveness in this role launched an arms race of fighter development and the A.I and A.II were quickly rendered obsolete. The A.I used wing warping for lateral control.

Three Pfalz AII's were utilized by the Ottoman Empire in an attempt to combat the growing threat of the Arab Revolt.

Morane-Saulnier H

The Pfalz E.I was a sport aircraft produced under licence in Germany by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke, who built several variants including: the E.I, E.II, E.IV, E.V, and E.VI. The aircraft was armed with a single, synchronised LMG 08/15 machine gun. A single-seat derivative of the successful Morane-Saulnier G with a slightly reduced wingspan. Like the Type G, it was a successful sporting type in its day.