Breguet 19

Br.19
The Breguet Br.19A2 two-seat attack bomber
Role Light bomber/reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer Breguet Aviation
Designer Marcel Vuillerme
First flight March 1922
Primary user French Air Force
Number built ~ 2,700

The Breguet 19 (Breguet XIX, Br.19 or Bre.19) was a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.

Development

The Breguet 19 was designed as a successor to a highly successful World War I light bomber, the 14. Initially, it was designed to be powered by a 340 kW (450 hp) Bugatti U-16 engine, driving a four-blade propeller, and such a prototype was shown on the 7th Paris Air Show in November 1921.[1] A new design was flown in March 1922, featuring a conventional layout with a single 340 kW (450 hp) Renault 12Kb inline engine. The aircraft was built in a sesquiplane platform, with lower wings substantially smaller than the upper ones. After trials, the Breguet 19 was ordered by the French Army's Aéronautique Militaire in September 1923.

The first 11 Breguet 19 prototypes were powered by a number of different engines. A "trademark" of Breguet was the wide usage of duralumin as a construction material, instead of steel or wood. At that time, the aircraft was faster than other bombers, and even some fighter aircraft. Therefore, it met with a huge interest in the world, strengthened by its sporting successes. Mass production, for the Aéronautique Militaire and export, started in France in 1924.

Design

The Breguet 19 was a biplane (sesquiplane), conventional in layout, with braced wings. The fuselage, ellipsoid in cross-section, was a frame of duralumin pipes. The front part was covered with duralumin sheets, the tail with canvas. The wings were canvas covered. It had a conventional fixed landing gear with rear skid. The crew of two, pilot and observer/bombardier, sat in tandem in open cockpits, with dual controls.

A wide variety of engine types were fitted, mostly water-cooled V-12 or W-12 inline engines, including the following:

A fixed 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine gun with an interrupter gear was operated by the pilot, while the observer had twin 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Lewis Guns. There was also a fourth machine gun, which could be fired by the observer downwards through an opening in the floor. The Br.19CN2 night fighter variant was fitted with two pilot's machine guns.[2] The bomber variant could carry up to 472 kg (1,041 lb) of bombs under the fuselage, or in a vertical bomb bay (small bombs up to 50 kg (110 lb)). The reconnaissance variant could carry 12x 10 kg (22 lb) bombs. The reconnaissance variant had a camera mounting, which was optional on the bomber variant. All variants had radio.

Operational history

The Breguet had its baptism of fire during the Greco-Italian War, in World War II. At the outbreak of war, 18 Breguet were on line with 1 Observation (or Army Cooperation) Mira, under I Corp Command, based at Perigiali, near Corinth and with 2 Observation Mira under II Corps command, based at Larissa and Kozani.[3] On 4 November 1940, a RHAF (Royal Hellenic Air Force) Breguet from 2 Mira was sent looking for the attacking 3rd Julia Alpine Division, locating it in a mountain pass near Metsovo. Three more Breguets sent to bomb the Italian division were in turn attacked by three Fiat CR.42 fighters. A Breguet was shot down, one crash-landed and the third returned to base, though badly shot up.[4]

Variants

Br.19.01 was the first Breguet 19 prototype which first flew in March 1922. It was later bought by the Spanish government.[2]

Breguet Bre.19 No.3, flown by French aviator Georges Pelletier d'Oisy, at RAF Hinaidi, India en route from Paris to Tokyo in 1924

Pre-production aircraft, whose fuselage was lengthened by 600 mm (24 in). The Br.19.02 was sent to Yugoslavia for evaluation in 1923.[2]

Breguet Bre.19 No.3 flown by French aviator Georges Pelletier d'Oisy crashed at Shanghai on 20 May 1924, during Pelletier d'Oisy's Paris to Tokyo flight, which was completed in Breguet Bre.14A2 No.2097

Two-seat reconnaissance aircraft.

Two-seat light bomber biplane. These first two variants were the most numerous, and were practically identical. They used a variety of engines, the most popular being the 300 kW (400 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Db, the 340 kW (450 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb, the Renault 12K, the Hispano-Suiza 12H and the Farman 12We.[2]

Night fighter version, almost identical to the B2 reconnaissance variant with two additional forward-firing machine guns.[2]

A variant specially modified for long-distance flights, after early long-range attempts were made with the regular Br.19 A2 no.23 fitted with additional fuel tanks. The first Br.19 GR (no.64) had a fuel tank of about 2,000 l (530 US gal; 440 imp gal) and captured the world distance record in 1925. In 1926, three further aircraft (no.1685 to 1687) were modified to Br.19 GR 3000 litres specifications. They had larger fuel tanks fitted in the fuselage, with a total capacity of about 2,900 to 3,000 l (770 to 790 US gal; 640 to 660 imp gal). The cockpit was moved slightly aft, and the wingspan was increased to 14.83 m (48.7 ft). The three aircraft were fitted with different engines: the first one (no.1685) had a 370 kW (500 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Hb, the others had 410 kW (550 hp) Renault 12K and 390 kW (520 hp) Farman 12Wers engines. In 1927, no.1685 received a new 450 kW (600 hp) Hispano 12Lb engine, its fuel capacity was extended to 3,500 l (920 US gal; 770 imp gal) and its wingspan was further increased by 1 m (3.3 ft). It was christened Nungesser et Coli after the two airmen who disappeared in a transatlantic flight attempt in May 1927. A fifth aircraft was built (no.1554) for Greece, called Hellas, with a 410 kW (550 hp) Hispano 12Hb.[2] (Other Br.19 aircraft may have received additional fuel tanks for long distance flights, but these were not officially called Br.19 GR. Some sources mention a Belgian Br.19 GR, maybe a confusion with the Belgian Br.19 TR.)

Jesus del Gran Poder in the Museo del Aire at Cuatro Vientos Air Base, Madrid, Spain

Built in 1927 with various aerodynamical refinements and 3,735 l (987 US gal; 822 imp gal) of fuel in the fuselage. With an additional fuel tank in the wing, the total fuel capacity was 4,125 l (1,090 US gal; 907 imp gal)). Five were built by Breguet and two by the Spanish company CASA. Three of the French aircraft had a 450 kW (600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Lb, one had a 410 kW (550 hp) Renault 12K, and one had a 340 kW (450 hp) Lorraine 12Eb. The first Bidon Hispano was sold to Belgium, and the Bidon Renault was sold to China after a Paris–Beijing flight. The third Bidon Hispano became the French Br.19 TF.[2] The second Spanish Bidon was christened Jesús del Gran Poder, and flew from Sevilla to Bahia (Brazil).[5]

Point d'Interrogation at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at le Bourget airport

The last and most advanced long-distance variant, built in 1929, and designed for transatlantic flight. The French Super Bidon was the third Br.19 TR Hispano, named Point d'Interrogation, with a modified fuselage, a wingspan of 18.3 m (60 ft), and 5,370 l (1,420 US gal; 1,180 imp gal) total fuel capacity.[6] It was powered by a 450 kW (600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Lb engine, later replaced by a 480 kW (650 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12NLb. Another aircraft, with a closed canopy, was built in Spain in 1933. Christened Cuatro Vientos, it flew from Sevilla to Cuba, and disappeared while attempting to reach Mexico.[7]

A replica of the Cuatro Vientos in the Museo del Aire at Cuatro Vientos Air Base, Madrid, Spain

Utilizing the experience with long-distance variants, this improved reconnaissance variant was developed in 1928, maybe for export purposes. It remained a prototype only (with civilian register F-AIXP).[2]

The most popular of the late variants developed in 1930 with a 450 kW (600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Nb engine, giving a maximum speed of 242 km/h (131 kn; 150 mph). The first five machines were converted in France for Yugoslavia, then a number were built in Yugoslavia, and a further 50 built in France for export to Turkey.

With a 580 kW (780 hp) Wright GR-1820-F-56 Cyclone radial engine, 48 Br.19.7 airframes were eventually completed as Br.19.8's in Yugoslavia. Their maximum speed was 279 km/h (151 kn; 173 mph).

A single prototype developed in Yugoslavia with a 640 kW (860 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs engine.

A single prototype developed in Yugoslavia with a 540 kW (720 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Hfrs Petrel engine.

Fitted with twin floats as a seaplane, a single prototype (no.1132) was produced for France. Another aircraft sold to Japan was fitted with floats built there by Nakajima.[2]

Some modified civilian variants of the Breguet 19 were developed, such as the Br.19T, the Br.19T bis and the Br.19 Limousine (for six passengers, with a thicker fuselage), but these were never built.[2]

Further passenger variants with modified fuselages were designated :

These were used in limited numbers in France and Spain.

In total, more than 2,000 Breguet 19s were manufactured in France, and about 700 license-built by Spanish CASA, Japanese Nakajima, Belgian SABCA and the Yugoslavian aircraft factory in Kraljevo.[8]

Operators

 Argentina
 Belgium
 Bolivia
 Brazil
 China
 Independent State of Croatia
 France
 Greece
 Italy
 Japan
Iran Iran
 Poland
 Romania
 Soviet Union
Spain Kingdom of Spain & Spain Spanish Republic
Sabiha Gökçen holding a bomb before the bombardment mission over Dersim with her Breguet 19.
 Turkey
 United Kingdom
 Uruguay
 Venezuela
 Kingdom of Yugoslavia
 Yugoslavia

Record variants

Both standard and modified Breguet 19s were used for numerous record-breaking flights. The first was the Br.19 prototype, which won a military aircraft speed contest in Madrid on 17 February 1923. On 12 March 1923, it also set an international altitude record of 5,992 m (19,659 ft) carrying a 500 kg (1,100 lb) load. It was later bought by the Spanish government.

The Jesús del Gran Poder, a special version of the Breguet 19 that flew to Brazil from Spain in 1929

Many crews made long-distance flights in Br.19s. In February 1925, Thieffry flew from Brussels to Leopoldville in central Africa, a distance of 8,900 km (5,500 mi). Two Br.19 A2s were bought by the Japanese Asahi Shimbun newspaper and fitted with additional fuel tanks. They were flown by H. Abe and K. Kawachi on the Tokyo-Paris-London route in July 1925, covering 13,800 km (8,600 mi). Between 27 August and 25 September 1926, the Polish crew of Boleslaw Orlinski flew the Warsaw-Tokyo route (10,300 km (6,400 mi)) and back, in a modified Br.19 A2, despite the fact that one of its lower wings was broken on the way. Between 1927 and 1930, Romanian, Yugoslavian and Polish Br.19s were often used in Little Entente air races.

Point D'Interrogation at Le Bourget

Breguet 19 GRs and TRs set several world records, mostly of long-distance non-stop flights, starting with Arrachart and Lemaitre's 3,166 km (1,967 mi) flight from Paris to Villa Cisneros in 24½ hours on 2–3 February 1925. On 14–15 July 1926, Girier and Dordilly set a new record of 4,716 km (2,930 mi) between Paris and Omsk, beaten on 31 August-1 September by Challe and Weiser's 5,174 km (3,215 mi), and on 28 October by Dieudonne Costes and Rignot's 5,450 km (3,390 mi). From 10 October 1927 – 14 April 1928, Costes and Le Brix flew a Br.19 GR (named Nungesser-Coli) around the world, covering 57,000 km (35,000 mi) - though the journey between San Francisco and Tokyo was taken by ship.

The Super Bidon was created especially for the purpose of a transatlantic flight. It was named Point d'Interrogation ("The Question Mark"). Dieudonne Costes and Maurice Bellonte set a non-stop distance record of 7,905 km (4,912 mi) from Paris to Moullart on 27–29 September 1929 on this aircraft. Then on 1–2 September 1930, they flew from Paris to New York City, a distance of 6,200 km (3,900 mi) making the first non-stop east-west crossing by a fixed-wing aircraft of the North Atlantic.[11] The second Super Bidon, the Spanish Cuatro Vientos, vanished over Mexico with M. Barberan and J. Collar Serra, after a transatlantic flight from Seville to Cuba on 10–11 June 1933.

Specifications (Br 19 A.2)

Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft[12]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Surviving aircraft

See also

The Breguet XIX played a central role in Nevil Shute's second published work "So Disdained".

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Breguet 19.

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ↑ "Bugatti Powered Aircraft". the Bugatti revue. 1922-06-30. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Claveau, Charles (March–April 1997). "Les Avions Louis Breguet 1919–1945". Le Trait d'Union (in French) (172).
  3. ↑ Carr, John (2012). On spartan wings : the Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War Two. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-84884-798-9.
  4. ↑ Carr, John (2012). On spartan wings : the Royal Hellenic Air Force in World War Two. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-1-84884-798-9.
  5. ↑ Pérez San Emeterio, Carlos. "Entre Oriente y Occidente: Los vuelos del Jesús del Gran Poder" (PDF). ejercitodelaire.mde.es (in Spanish). Ejército del Aire. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Sources differ by a small amount on the exact fuel capacity.
  7. ↑ Betes, Antonio. "Gloria y Tragedia del Vuelo Sevilla-Cuba-Méjico" (PDF). ejercitodelaire.mde.es (in Spanish). Ejército del Aire. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Breguet 19". 1000aircraftphotos.com. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  9. ↑ Green; Swanborough; Layvastre (July–September 1978). "The Saga of the Ubiquitous Breguet". Air Enthusiast: 168.
  10. ↑ Andersson 2009, p. 253.
  11. ↑ "Captain Costa's World Famous Question Mark". Popular Mechanics: 908. December 1930. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  12. ↑ David Donald, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
  13. ↑ Pictures of the Nungesser et Coli stored in the museum.
  14. ↑ Pictures of the Point d'Interrogation in the museum.

Bibliography

  • Andersson, Lennart. A History of Chinese Aviation: Encyclopedia of Aircraft and Aviation in China to 1949. Taipei, Republic of China:AHS of ROC, 2008. ISBN 978-957-28533-3-7.
  • Carr, John, On Spartan Wings, Barnsley, SY: Pens & Sword Military, 2012. ISBN 978-1-84884-798-9.
  • Green, William, Gordon Swanborough and Pierre Leyvastre. "The Saga of the Ubiquitous Breguet". Air Enthusiast, Seven, July–September 1978. pp. 161–181.


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