TheVoisin III was a FrenchWorld War I two-seatpusherbiplane multi-purpose aircraft developed byVoisin in 1914 as a more powerful version of the 1912Voisin L. It is notable for being the aircraft used for the first successful shooting down of an enemy aircraft on October 5, 1914, and to have been used to equip the first dedicatedbomber units, in September 1914.

Voisin III
General information
Type	Bomber
Manufacturer	Voisin
Designer	Gabriel Voisin
Primary users	Aéronautique Militaire Imperial Russian Air Service Corpo Aeronautico Militare
Number built	1,350+
History
Manufactured	1914–1916
Introduction date	1914
First flight	1914
Retired	before 1922
Developed from	Voisin L
Variants	Voisin IV andVoisin V

The first Voisin III was initially powered by a single 97 kW (130 hp)Salmson M9 engine water-cooled 9 cylinderradial engine, while later examples used the similar 110 kW (150 hp) Salmson P9 or R9. It had a range of 200 km (120 mi), a top speed of 105–113 km/h (65–70 mph) and a ceiling of 3,350–6,000 m (10,990–19,690 ft) depending on engine and manufacturer. The pilot was ahead of the passenger, who could fire weapons, release bombs or take photos, depending on the mission. It incorporated a light steel frame structure which made it more durable when operating out of makeshift wartimemilitary aviation airfields.

Many aircraft were armed with aHotchkiss M1914 machine gun mounted on the fuselage operated by a standing observer. Some variants could carry up to 150 kg (330 lb) of bombs.

• Voisin LA: Company designation for initial production variant.
• Voisin LAS: Company designation for improved III and V versions, with raised (soulevé) engine.
• Voisin LB & LBS: Company designations for 37 mm (1.457 in) cannon armed variants, with staggered wings to offset extra nose weight.
• Voisin III: Government (STAé) designation for LA and LAS versions.
• Voisin IV: Government (STAé) designation for 37 mm (1.457 in) cannon armed variants, with staggered wings.
• Voisin V: Government (STAé) designation for development of III with full chord lower wing, also designated LAS by Voisin.

As one of the main types that the FrenchAviation Militaire chose to standardize on in 1914, the Voisin III quickly became one of the most commonAllied bombers early in the war. Significant numbers were purchased by the French and theImperial Russian Air Force. Russia ordered more than 800 from France and built a further 400 under license atAnatra,Breshnev-Moller,Dux,Lebedev andSchetinin.^[1] Over 100 were built in Italy bySociete Italiana Transaera (S.I.T.),^[1] and 50 in the United Kingdom,^[1] while small numbers were purchased by Belgium and Romania. One French aircraft was forced to land in Switzerland in 1915 after running low on fuel in combat with a German aircraft and was put into service with the SwissFliegerabteilung.^[2]

Like many aircraft of its era, Voisin III was a multi-purpose aircraft. Its missions included day- andnight bombing,reconnaissance,artillery spotting andtraining.

While flying a Voisin III, Sergeant Joseph Frantz and Corporal Louis Quénault ofEscadrille V.24 shot down a GermanAviatik B.I flown by Oberleutnant Fritz von Zangen and Sergeant Wilhelm Schlichting ofFFA 18 overJonchery, nearReims on October 5, 1914.^[3] This was the first time an aircraft had been brought down with small arms fire from another aircraft.^[3]

Quénault fired two 48-round magazines from an 8 mm (0.31 in)Hotchkiss M1909 machine gun at the Germans who returned fire with rifles. When it jammed, he continued firing with a rifle until he succeeded in bringing them down.^[4][5]

Previously,Pyotr Nesterov had successfully brought down an enemy aircraft, however that was by ramming.

The Voisin III is notable in being among the earliest dedicated bombers. The steel frame construction of the aircraft enabled a bomb load of approximately 150 kg (330 lb) to be carried.

France was the first country to organize dedicated bomber units, using the Voisin III. ThreeEscadrilles (squadrons) of the aircraft comprised the first bomber group, GB1 (groupe de bombardement 1), formed in September 1914 under the leadership of Commandant de Goÿs.^[6] de Goys’ contribution both as a tactical leader and theoretician is significant in developing the theory and practice of long range bombing sorties. An almost unopposed bombing campaign was conducted by GB1 during the early months of 1915, culminating in a retaliatory attack against theBadische Anilin Gesellschaft atLudwigshafen, Germany, on 26 May 1915,^[6] shortly after theGerman Army introducedpoison gas in battle. Of the 18 aircraft which took part, only Goÿs himself failed to return when his Voisin suffered a mechanical failure.^[6]

Following the success of GB1, other bomber groups were formed and successful daytime attacks on targets within Germany ensued throughout the summer and autumn of 1915. As many as 62 aircraft were involved. By 1916 the Voisin III was clearly obsolete and had become dangerously vulnerable to Germanfighter aircraft. With mounting losses, the Voisin III was withdrawn from daylight operations and restricted to night bombing. Among other types, it was replaced by the similarVoisin V.

  Belgium

• Aviation Militaire Belge
  • Escadrille 3^[1]
  • Escadrille 6^[1]

  France

• Aéronautique Militaire
  • Army Co-operation units
    • Escadrille V.14^[7]
    • Escadrille V.21^[7]
    • Escadrille V.24^[7]
  • Bomber units
    • Groupe de Bombardment GB 1^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.1 - later redesignated VB.101^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.2 - later redesignated VB.102^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.3 - later redesignated VB.103^[8]
    • Groupe de Bombardment GB 2^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.4 - later redesignated VB.104^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.5 - later redesignated VB.105^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.6 - later redesignated VB.106^[8]
    • Groupe de Bombardment GB 3^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.107^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.108^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.109^[8]
    • Groupe de Bombardment GB 4^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.110^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.111^[8]
      • Escadrille VB.112^[8]
• French Navy

  Italy

• Servizio Aeronautico
  • 1st Gruppo Squadriglia Aviatori (3rd Armata)
    • 5^a/25^a Squadriglia^[1]
    • 7^a/27^a Squadriglia - transferred to2nd Armata^[1]
  • 2nd Gruppo Aeroplani Undine (2nd Armata)^[1]
    • 35^a Squadriglia^[1]
  • 303^a Squadriglia^[1]
  • 305^a Squadriglia^[1]

  Romania

• Corpul Aerian Român operated eight aircraft^[1]
  • Grupul 1^[1]
  • Grupul 2^[1]
  • Grupul 3^[1]

  Russian Empire

• Imperial Russian Air Service
  • 2nd Army^[9]
    • 2nd Aviation Artillery Unit^[9]
• Imperial Russian Naval Air Service^[10]

  Serbia

• Serbian Aeroplane Escadre

  Soviet Union

• Soviet Air Forces operated ex-IRAS aircraft until 1925.^[10]

  Switzerland

• Fliegerabteilung operated one aircraft only^[2]

  Ukrainian People's Republic

• Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet operated six aircraft^[10]

  United Kingdom

• Royal Flying Corps received 50 aircraft built in the UK^[10]
  • 4 Squadron RFC^[10]
  • 5 Squadron RFC^[10]
  • 7 Squadron RFC^[10]
  • 12 Squadron RFC^[10]
  • 16 Squadron RFC^[10]
  • No. 1 Reserve Airplane Squadron^[10]
  • No. 8 Reserve Airplane Squadron^[10]
  • No. 4 Wing^[10]
• Royal Naval Air Service operated 36 Voisin IIIs.^[10]
  • 1 Wing^[10]
  • 3 Wing^[10]
  • No. 8 Squadron^[10]

An original 1915 Voisin III B.2/LAS, number 955, is on display at theMusée de l’air et de l’espace^[11][12] atLe Bourget nearParis.

A full-size Voisin replica is on display at thePearson Air Museum inVancouver, Washington however it only loosely represents the Voisin L/LA/LAS family and not a specific version.^[13]

Data from The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing)^[14]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 14.74 m (48 ft 4 in)
• Height: 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 49.7 m² (535 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 950 kg (2,094 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 ×Salmson M.9 9-cylinder water-cooled radial piston engine, 97 kW (130 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch pusher propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph, 57 kn)
• Range: 200 km (120 mi, 110 nmi)
• Endurance: 4½ hours
• Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,500 ft)
• Time to altitude:
  
  • 12 minutes to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
  • 30 minutes to 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 1 ×.303 inLewis gun
• Bombs: up to 91 kg (200 lb) of bombs

Related development

• Voisin I
• Voisin V

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Farman MF.11
• Farman HF.27
• Otto C.I

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of France
• List of World War I Entente aircraft
• List of aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps
• List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service
• List of bomber aircraft

• "Schweizer Luftwaffe Militärische Kennungen/Registrationen" [Swiss Air Force Military Identifications/Registrations](PDF) (in German). Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft; Eidgenössisches Departement für Verteidigung, Bevölkerungsschutz und Sport (Swiss Confederation; Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport). 4 July 2016. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved21 August 2016.
• Bruce, J.M. (1992).The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps Military Wing. Bridgend, Great Britain: Putnam Aeronautical Books.ISBN 0851778542.
• Davilla, Dr. James J.; Soltan, Arthur (1997).French Aircraft of the First World War. Mountain View, CA: Flying Machines Press.ISBN 978-1891268090.
• Gómez, Francisco Javier Guisández (30 June 1998)."The Law of Air Warfare".International Review of the Red Cross. Vol. 323. Archived fromthe original on 9 November 2006.
• Grosz, Peter M. (2003).Aviatik B-types. Berkhamsted: Albatros Productions. Windsock Datafile No.102.ISBN 0-948414-95-2. p. 4
• Guttman, Jon (2009).Pusher Aces of World War 1. Oxford, UK: Osprey.ISBN 978-1846034176.
• Lacaze, Henri (2018).Les Aéroplanes Voisin (in French). Lela Presse.ISBN 978-2374680187.
• Sherman, Stephen (16 April 2012)."French Voisin III pusher biplane bomber of World War One".acepilots.com. Retrieved9 October 2019.
• Taylor, John W. R., and Jean Alexander. "Combat Aircraft of the World" New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 68-25459 (Pg.131-132)
• Topinka, Lyn (December 2017)."Exhibits ... Pearson Air Museum, Vancouver, Washington". Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved16 September 2019.

• IWW Planes: Voisin III
• Voisin III
• Voisin III archived from www.csd.uwo.ca
• On Voisin aircraft archived from www.nasm.si.edu
• (in French)Voisin series of aircraft aviafrance.com
• (in Polish)Voisin III (LA) vel Wuala