CCI Digest 805 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Sopwith Schneider by "Warren Munkasy" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2003 19:10:59 -0500 From: "Warren Munkasy" To: Cc: Subject: Sopwith Schneider Message-ID: <001001c2ca4f$918f7400$6cbe56d1@warrenl9p6akf2> Please help me with this mystery: a Sopwith Schneider (advanced Tabloid on floats), in USAS markings and "Hat-in-the-Ring" insignia on the fuselage, is in the latest 1/48 plastic kit from Special Hobby (Czech Republic). Instructions state this is US aircraft "A-394" and ex-British "3765". The latter is a legitimate British production batch number. I have searched the Putnam and Crowood Sopwith Aircraft books, The Hat in the Ring Gang, Larkins' USN and USMC books, US Navy histories, and several others to try to resolve: 1. Was this a US European combat aircraft? To what unit might it belong- U.S. Naval, Marine? Is the "A-394" number a correct U.S. match for ex-British "3765"? The references don't mention that the US even operated Schneiders; at best, the kit instructions only say that "Several. were delivered to Canada and the USA". 2. I read "somewhere" that the "Hat-in-the-Ring" insignia was a general US graphic expression until it became associated only with the 94th Aero Squadron. Is that why it appears on a naval floatplane, or is this just the kit maker's imagination? 3. Has the US use of "Schneiders" in WW I been covered in a publication? Thanks for your attention. Warren Munkasy machmaster727@earthlink.net ------------------------------ End of CCI Digest 805 *********************