Kingdom of Serbia (1918)
Reconissanance and light bomber – Number operated: Around 40
After the defeat of the Kingdom of Serbia in 1916, what was left of its army managed to escape to Albania, where they suffered from disease, starvation, and harsh winter conditions. However, with the help of their allies, particularly France, Britain, and Italy, the Serbian army was able to recover and become a formidable force once again. In addition to rebuilding the ground forces, the Serbian Air Force was also reconstituted. During this time, the French provided several aircraft, including the Dorand AR 1 and 2.
A Brief History of Serbian Early Aviation Development
The first airplane flight undertaken by the Wright brothers in 1903 inspired many aviation enthusiasts to try to develop and build their own powered aircraft. For the small Kingdom of Serbia, this was achieved by Ivan Sarić (Иван Сарић), who managed to build his own aircraft named ‘Sarić No.1’ in 1909. Due to problems with the engine, the first test flight was made the following year in July. This was the first-ever flight made by an operational aircraft in Serbia. In the following years, the interest in aviation further grew with the arrival of several well-known foreign pilots with their planes.
The Serbian Army was also impressed with this new technology and saw potential military use. For this reason, the Vazdušna Komanda (Eng. Air Force Command) was formed in the city of Niš at the end of 1912. The first 30 aircraft were brought from France in the same year. Some of these saw service during the First Balkan War, where they were mainly involved in reconnaissance operations.
When the First World War broke out after the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand, in June 1914, Serbia was accused of aiding the assassins and Austro-Hungary soon declared war on its neighbor. The Serbian situation was precarious, given the exhausted army having depleted its resources after the two Balkan Wars. Despite the numerical and technical disadvantages, the Serbian Army managed to defeat the enemy invaders at battles such as Cer and Kolubara in 1914, which was the first Allied victory of the war. The Serbian Army was inferior in numbers but was superior in experience, possessing battle-hardening soldiers, and an excellent command structure.
Despite its battlefield victories, by 1916, disease and mounting losses took their toll, and when the next enemy assault came under the leadership of Germany’s own forces, Serbian resistance finally collapsed. The few aircraft available saw extensive use in reconnaissance missions. What was left of the Army managed to reach Albania, where the surviving soldiers were transported by the Allies to Greece where a new front was formed.
Solonica Front
Over 100.000 Serbian soldiers managed to cross the Albanian mountains and join the Entente forces in Greece, where a new front was formed. The surviving soldiers after recuperation were supplied with new weapons, including aircraft. These were supplied by the French who helped train Serbian pilots. In April 1916, an agreement was signed between Serbia and its Allies to form the Avijatika Srpske Vojske (Eng. Aviation of the Serbian Army). It consisted of five mixed squadrons, of which three were allocated under Serbian command. In inventory, these units had 24 Farman F.40, 6 Nieuport 12s, and 21 Nieuport 21s.
Thanks to this delivered equipment, the Serbian Air Force was once again able to take the fight to the enemy. During 1916, they performed mostly reconnaissance, bombing, and artillery correction missions. In rarer cases, enemy fighters were engaged. In late 1916, the Serbian pilots second lieutenant Miletić and Captain Vukosaljević managed to shoot down a Bulgarian aircraft over Kožuf mountain in southern Macedonia. This marked the first Serbian air victory in history. In 1917, the Farman F.40 would be replaced with Dorand AR.1 and AR.2s
Dorand AR.1 and AR.2
The rapid aviation developments during this time often meant that certain models of aircraft did not stay long in service before needing to be replaced by new ones. This was the case with the Farman F.40, which was becoming obsolete. As it became inadequate in the role of scout, the French replaced it with the Dorand AR.1 aircraft. This was a two-seater biplane developed by Section Technique de l’Aéronautique- STAe in 1916. This aircraft was intended to perform the role of a scout and a light bomber. Interestingly, the lower wing was not directly connected to the Dorand fuselage but suspended under it. The pilot was seated to the front, with the observer/rear machine gunner placed just behind him. Its armament consisted of one forward-mounted Vickers 7,7 mm machine gun, and the rear gunner operated one or two Lewis 7.7 mm machine guns. In addition, a small bomb load consisting of 80 kg could be carried.
There were a few different versions of this aircraft powered by various engines. Initially, a Renault 8Gb 160 hp engine was used, but it was later replaced by a stronger 8Gc 190 engine. The AR.2 version was powered by a stronger 8Bd 200 hp engine, and the wing design was changed. It entered service in 1917, and by the end of the war some 1,425 aircraft of these types were built. Besides the French Air Force, some models were given to the US, Greece, and Serbian Air forces.
In Serbian Service
Given their fairly large production numbers, the Dorand aircraft would see service almost on all fronts in Europe, except in the East. They began to arrive at the frontline starting in February 1917. In the Balkans, they began to appear in greater numbers during mid-1917. Initially, these were mainly allocated to French units, replacing the G.40 aircraft. Initially, four such aircraft were allocated to the Serbian F. 524 squadron in February of 1917. Given the lack of radiators, these were stored and not used up to June 1917. More extensive distribution to Serbian units did not occur before the end of the 1917 winter. To train pilots, a training center was established at Termi town in Greece. Around 40 aircraft of the AR 1, of different sub-versions, were allocated to the Serbian Air Force which operates on this front. While at least one AR.2 also was used. The precise number of allocated aircraft of this type is unknown to this day. In either case, these saw combat service during the Entente offensive launched in September 1918. Despite having around 40 such aircraft, due to a lack of properly trained pilots only 26 were used.
With the collapse of the Bulgarian forces, the Solonica front was breached by the Entante forces in late September 1918. Thanks to this victory, the Serbian Army finally liberated its homeland. Regarding the Dorand in Serbian service, their fate was unceremonious as some of them were left behind in Greece. Most of them were discarded and scrapped shortly after the end of the war. Some 13 surviving AR 1 aircraft were pressed into service with the new Air Force of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. This new Air Force in its early years lacked a sufficient number of pilots and funds to maintain the Dorand aircraft. By 1920 this aircraft was rarely used, and soon after, it was removed from service and replaced by Brege 14 aircraft.. While no aircraft survived to this day, two of their propellers are preserved and stored at the Aeroklub Novi Sad.
Conclusion
The Dorand AR.1 and AR.2 biplanes despite being designed to replace the obsolete F.40 were themselves, rather not impressive designs. Nevertheless over 1,000 such aircraft would be built by the end of the war. Those allocated to the Serbian Air Force at Salonika Front would see some combat service. But their service was rather short, being used mainly in late 1918. After the war most were removed from service and those that were used, did so only briefly before being replaced by better designs.
Dorand AR.1 Specification |
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| Wingspans | 13.3 m / 43 ft 8 in | |
| Length | 9.14 m / 29 ft 9 in | |
| Height | 3.3 m / 10 ft 8 in | |
| Wing Area | 50 m² / 540 ft² | |
| Engine | One Renault 190 hp engine | |
| Empty Weight | 890 kg / 1,960 lbs | |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight | 1,330 kg / 2,930 lbs | |
| Maximum Speed | 148km/h / 90 mph | |
| Service ceiling | 5.5 km / 18,000 ft | |
| Range | 276 km / 172 miles | |
| Flight Endurance | 3 hours | |
| Crew | Two – the pilot and the observer/rear gunner | |
| Armament |
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Illustration
Credits:
- Written by Marko P.
- Edited by Henry H.
- Illustration by Godzilla
Source:
- Č. Janić and O. Petrović, Kratka Istorija Vazduhoplovstva u Srbiji, Aero komunikacije
- D. Cvetković and I. Cvetković (2016) Borbeni Avioni Prvog Svetskog Rata, Medija Centar Odbrana
- D. Aleksić and N. Đokić (2008) Francuski vazduhoplovi U Naoružanju Vosjke i Mornarice Kraljevine Jugolsavije, INIS
- http://www.vazduhoplovnetradicijesrbije.rs/index.php/clanak