3d nieuport 28 biplane fighter - Nieuport 28 by pbratt

The Nieuport 28 was rejected by the French Air Service which preferred the sturdier SPAD. However it was rushed into production even without customers and was supplied to the American Expeditionary Air Force early in 1918 being the first to carry to carry the U.S. colors into combat- even if it was only for the last two months of WWI.

Two hundred and ninety-seven were purchased by the American Expeditionary Force, the first delivery being in March 1918.

On April 14th. 1918. Lieutenants D. Campbell and A. Winslow of the 94th 'Hat-in-the-Ring' Squadron shot down a German single-seater apiece, the first to fall to an all American unit. Captain E. Rickenbacker- arguably, greatest of the United States aces, scored several of his twenty-six victories in a Nieuport 28.

Nevertheless the little biplane was not popular with American pilots. Though very maneuverable and with a good rate of climb, when dived too steeply it had a tendency to shed the fabric from the leading-edges of its wings. Steps were taken to strengthen the wing-fabric of the 28, and a satisfactory solution to the problem had been evolved by July 1918. This was too late unfortunately, for by then the Nieuports in the American fighter squadrons had been replaced by sturdier Spad 13s.