TAVAS Collection
Nieuport 24
The Nieuport 24 was introduced into service in the spring of 1917 and followed in a long line of fighters designed by Gustave Delage. The 24 traced this lineage back to the Nieuport 11 of early 1916 and the improved Nieuport 17 that followed it.
It was a small, lightly built and moderately powered design that marked the end of a fighter philosophy that dated back to the early days of the air war. Newer fighters, like the SPAD S.VII, SE5a and Albatros D.III would be much heavier and more powerful.
However hundreds of Nieuport 24s were built and they served with a large number of Aeronautique Militaire squadrons, as well as with the British and Russians. The US bought over 200 as advanced trainers.
In French service the fighter was armed with a forward firing Vickers gun and sometimes a Lewis gun on the upper wing centre section. Five Royal Flying Corps squadrons also operated the type, armed with just the Lewis gun.
The TAVAS reproduction was built in the USA from Redfern plans and is powered by a Lycoming O-320 engine. It is finished in the colours of the second ranking French Ace Capt. Georges Guynemer while flying with the famous Escadrille N.3 Les Cigognes.
Georges Guynemer was a top fighter ace for France with 53 victories during World War I, and a French national hero at the time of his death. He experienced an often sickly childhood, which affected his physical growth. He was originally rejected 5 times for military service due to frailty, but was accepted for training as a mechanic in late 1914.
With determination, enormous drive and self-confidence, Guynemer gained acceptance to pilot training, joining his first Squadron on 8th June 1915. On 5th December 1915, Guynemer joined Escadrille N.3 – the Stork Squadron. There he quickly established himself as one of France's premier fighter pilots.
He became an ace, with his fifth victory coming in February 1916 and was promoted to Lieutenant in March. Less than a year later, Guynemer was promoted to Captain and commander of the Storks squadron.
He was the first French Ace to achieve more than 50 victories.
