Germany, concerned over the full brunt of America’s
entry into the War, decided in 1918 to launch one last all-out
offensive. Germany’s air forces were to play an important role in
this offensive, but production of new aircraft had lagged behind
expectations. With insufficient numbers of aircraft, German military
leaders had to hope for technically superior machines to offset
their disadvantages in numbers. In early 1918 top aces were brought
back from the front to test competing designs. The overall favorite
was a Fokker design which would ultimately reach the front as the
D.VII. The aircraft was ordered into production immediately. The
Germans organized a couple more fighter groups which could be
rapidly deployed in those area where they could do the most good.
The German offensive, which is generally referred to as “the
Kaiser’s Battle,” began in the Spring and was focused on the area
north of the Somme. British forces were initially overwhelmed by the
German offensive. German airpower dominated in the early phases of
the offensive. For the first major counter offensive of the War in
which American forces would play a major role, Col. Billy Mitchell,
Chief of the Air Service, assembled a huge air armada, the objective
of which was to wrest toal air superiority from the German forces.
Mitchell assembled 28 American squadrons. More than 600 US-piloted
aircraft were available to Mitchell in this sector including more
than 100 new American-built DH-4s with Liberty engines. In addition
Mitchell rested control of several hundred additional aircraft in
British, French, and Italian squadrons. Mitchell’s total force
amounted to nearly 1,500 aircraft – the largest air armada ever
assembled. In the early days of the counter offensive Mitchell’s
strategy worked brilliantly, as the sheer number of Allied aircraft
overwhelmed the Germans. Later, as the fighting continued, the
Germans would have some success; especially with their Fokker D.
VIIs. In Stan Stokes’ painting DH-4 bombers of the US 11th Aero
Squadron come under attack by Fokker D.VIIs while on their way to
another target during the St. Mihiel offensive. The 11th Aero
Squadron would be decimated before the end of the offensive, losing
all but one its aircraft. Five of the six DH-4s sent to bomb
Mars-la-Tour were downed by a flight lead by Hermann Becker, a
significant German ace. The American built DH-4 was capable of
carrying a 450-pound bomb load. Powered with a 416-HP Liberty 12
engine, these aircraft were capable of 125 MPH, and were adequately
armed with 4 machine guns. The Fokker D. VIIs were powered with a
175-HP Mercedes engine and were capable of 119 MPH. The Fokkers were
typically armed with twin Spandau machine guns.
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Collector Sized Lithograph:
$40
16" x 11 1/2"
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Giclee on Canvas:
$445
18'' x 27''
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