Pl. 53
Plate 53 of 87 · Class VII, Aircraft & airships
Nieuport 17
A French sesquiplane fighter introduced in March 1916, whose maneuverability and rate of climb gave it an advantage over fighters on both sides. Most carried a synchronized Vickers gun, but British units kept an over-wing Lewis. It served with every Allied power and was flown by Canadian ace Billy Bishop and American volunteers of the Escadrille Lafayette.