As one of the main types that the French
Aviation Militaire chose to standardize on in 1914, the Voisin III quickly became one of the most common
Allied bombers early in the war. Significant numbers were purchased by the French and the
Imperial Russian Air Force. Russia ordered more than 800 from France and built a further 400 under license at
Anatra,
Breshnev-Moller,
Dux,
Lebedev and
Schetinin. Like many aircraft of its era, Voisin III was a multi-purpose aircraft. Its missions included day- and
night bombing,
reconnaissance,
artillery spotting and
training.
Fighter role While flying a Voisin III, Sergeant Joseph Frantz and Corporal Louis Quénault of
Escadrille V.24 shot down a German
Aviatik B.I flown by Oberleutnant Fritz von Zangen and Sergeant Wilhelm Schlichting of
FFA 18 over
Jonchery, near
Reims on October 5, 1914. This was the first time an aircraft had been brought down with small arms fire from another aircraft. Previously,
Pyotr Nesterov had successfully brought down an enemy aircraft, however that was by ramming.
Bomber role 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 to be carried. , French officer and pilot of the 2nd Bombardment Group GB 2, August 1915. France was the first country to organize dedicated bomber units, using the Voisin III. Three
Escadrilles (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. de Goÿs’ 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 the
Badische Anilin Gesellschaft at
Ludwigshafen, Germany, on 26 May 1915, shortly after the
German Army introduced
poison gas in battle. Of the 18 aircraft which took part, only Goÿs himself failed to return when his Voisin suffered a mechanical failure. 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 German
fighter 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 With mounting losses, the Voisin III was withdrawn from daylight operations and restricted to night bombing.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 similar
Voisin V. ==Operators==