Breguet 19
Encyclopedia
The Breguet 19 (Breguet XIX, Br.19 or Bre.19) was a light bomber
and reconnaissance plane
, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French
Breguet company and produced from 1924.
light bomber
, the 14
. Initially, it was designed to be powered by a 450 hp/335 kW Bugatti U-16
engine, driving a four-blade propeller, and such a prototype
was shown on the 7th Paris Air Show
in November 1921. A new design was flown in March 1922, featuring a conventional layout with a single 336 kW (450 hp) Renault 12Kb inline engine
. The aircraft was built in a biplane
platform
, with shorter lower wings. After trials, the Breguet 19 was ordered by the French Air Force
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 French Air Force
and export, started in France
in 1924.
), 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 cockpit
s, with dual controls.
Many different engines were fitted, mostly water cooled 12-cylinder inline engines:
They carried 365 L (96 US gal) of fuel in a fuselage tank. The propeller
was wood.
A fixed 7.7 mm (.303 in) Vickers machine gun
with interrupter gear
was operated by the pilot, while the observer had twin 7.7 mm (.303 in) Lewis Gun
s. There was also a fourth machine gun, which could be fired by the observer downwards through an opening in a floor. The CN2 night fighter variant was fitted with two pilot's machine guns. The bomber variant could carry up to 472 kg (1,041 lb) of bomb
s under the fuselage, or in a vertical bomb bay
(small bombs up to 50 kg/110 lb). The reconnaissance variant could carry 12 10 kg (20 lb) bombs. The reconnaissance variant had a camera
mounting, which was optional on the bomber variant. All variants had radio
.
Br.19.01 was the first Breguet 19 prototype which first flew in March 1922. It was later bought by the Spanish government.
Pre-production aircraft, whose fuselage was lengthened by 60 cm. Br.19.02 was sent to Yugoslavia
for evaluation in 1923.
Two-seat reconnaissance plane.
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 298 kW (400 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Db inline V12
, the 336 kW (450 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb W12
, the Renault 12K, the Hispano-Suiza 12H and the Farman 12W.
Night fighter
version, almost identical to the B2 reconnaissance variant with two additional forward-firing machine guns.
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 (ca.530 US 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 (ca.770 US gal). The cockpit was moved slightly aft, and the wingspan
was increased to 14.83 m (48.65 ft). The three aircraft were fitted with different engines: the first one (no.1685) had a 500 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Hb, the other two had a 550 hp Renault 12 kg and a 520 hp Farman 12Wers. In 1927, no.1685 received a new 600 hp Hispano 12Lb engine, its fuel capacity was extended to 3,500 L, and its wingspan was further increased by one metre. 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 550 hp Hispano 12Hb. (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.)
Built in 1927 with various aerodynamical refinements and 3,735 L (987 US gal) of fuel in the fuselage. With an additional fuel tank in the wing, the total fuel capacity was 4,125 L (1,089 US gal). Five were built by Breguet and two by the Spanish company CASA
. Three of the French aircraft had a 600 hp Hispano 12Lb, one had a 550 hp Renault 12 kg, and one had a 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. The second Spanish Bidon was christened Jesús del Gran Poder, and flew from Sevilla to Bahia
(Brazil).
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 total fuel capacity. It was powered by a 447 kW (600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Lb engine (later replaced by a 485 kW/650 hp 12Nb). 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.
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).
The most popular of the late variants developed in 1930 with a 447 kW (600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Nb engine, giving a maximum speed of 242 km/h (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 582 kW (780 hp) Wright Cyclone
GR-1820-F-56 radial engine, 48 Br.19.7 airframe
s were eventually completed as Br.19.8's in Yugoslavia. Their maximum speed was 279 km/h (173 mph).
A single prototype developed in Yugoslavia with a 641 kW (860 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs engine.
A single prototype developed in Yugoslavia with a 536 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 Japan was fitted with floats built there by Nakajima
.
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.
Further passenger variants with a totally rebuilt fuselage 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, Belgian SABCA and the Yugoslavian factory in Kraljevo.
Independent State of Croatia
Greece
Italy
Persia
Kingdom of Romania
Kingdom of Spain & 
Spanish Republic
Venezuela
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
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.
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 (35,418 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 (4,911 mi) from Paris to Moullart on 27–29 September 1929 on this plane. 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. 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.
Light bomber
A light bomber is a relatively small and fast class of military bomber aircraft which were primarily employed before the 1950s. Such aircraft would typically not carry more than one ton of ordnance....
and reconnaissance plane
Aerial reconnaissance
Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance that is conducted using unmanned aerial vehicles or reconnaissance aircraft. Their roles are to collect imagery intelligence, signals intelligence and measurement and signature intelligence...
, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Breguet company and produced from 1924.
Development
The Breguet 19 was designed as a successor to a highly successful World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
light bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
, the 14
Breguet 14
-See also:-References:*Tomasz J. Kowalski, Samolot Breguet 14, TBiU no.197, Warsaw 2002, ISBN 83-11-09461-6...
. Initially, it was designed to be powered by a 450 hp/335 kW Bugatti U-16
Bugatti U-16
|-See also:- References :...
engine, driving a four-blade propeller, and such a prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
was shown on the 7th Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show is the world's oldest and largest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France...
in November 1921. A new design was flown in March 1922, featuring a conventional layout with a single 336 kW (450 hp) Renault 12Kb inline engine
Inline engine (aviation)
In aviation, an inline engine means any reciprocating engine with banks rather than rows of cylinders, including straight engines, flat engines, V engines and H engines, but excluding radial engines and rotary engines....
. The aircraft was built in a biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
platform
Platform
- Physical objects and features :* Diving platform, used in competitive diving* Jumping platform, naturally occurring platforms, or platforms made in an ad-hoc way for cliff jumping* Oil platform, a structure built for oil production...
, with shorter lower wings. After trials, the Breguet 19 was ordered by the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
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
Duralumin
Duralumin is the trade name of one of the earliest types of age-hardenable aluminium alloys. The main alloying constituents are copper, manganese, and magnesium. A commonly used modern equivalent of this alloy type is AA2024, which contains 4.4% copper, 1.5% magnesium, 0.6% manganese and 93.5%...
as a construction material, instead of steel or wood. At that time, the aircraft was faster than other bombers, and even some fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
. Therefore, it met with a huge interest in the world, strengthened by its sporting successes. Mass production, for the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
and export, started in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1924.
Design
The Breguet 19 was a biplane (sesquiplaneBiplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
), conventional in layout, with braced wings. The fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
, ellipsoid in cross-section, was a frame of duralumin
Duralumin
Duralumin is the trade name of one of the earliest types of age-hardenable aluminium alloys. The main alloying constituents are copper, manganese, and magnesium. A commonly used modern equivalent of this alloy type is AA2024, which contains 4.4% copper, 1.5% magnesium, 0.6% manganese and 93.5%...
pipes. The front part was covered with duralumin sheets, the tail with canvas
Canvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
. The wings were canvas covered. It had a conventional fixed landing gear
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
with rear skid. The crew of two, pilot and observer/bombardier, sat in tandem
Tandem
Tandem is an arrangement where a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction....
in open cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
s, with dual controls.
Many different engines were fitted, mostly water cooled 12-cylinder inline engines:
- Renault 12Kb (336 kW/450 hp), 12Kd (357 kW/480 hp) - V12V12 engineA V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
- Lorraine-Dietrich 12Db (298 kW/400 hp) - V12
- Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb (336 kW/450 hp), 12Ed (same, reducted) - W12W12 engineA W12 engine is a twelve cylinder piston internal combustion engine in a W configuration. W12 engines are manufactured in two distinct configurations. One configuration uses four rows of three cylinders merged into two 'cylinder banks' , coupled to a common crankshaft - as in Volkswagen Group W12...
- Hispano-Suiza 12Ha (336 kW/450 hp), 12Hb (373 kW/500 hp) - V12
- Farman 12We (373 kW/500 hp).
- Gnome-Rhône 9Ab Jupiter (313 kW/420 hp) (radial engineRadial engineThe radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...
, in Yugoslav aircraft)
They carried 365 L (96 US gal) of fuel in a fuselage tank. The propeller
Propeller (aircraft)
Aircraft propellers or airscrews convert rotary motion from piston engines or turboprops to provide propulsive force. They may be fixed or variable pitch. Early aircraft propellers were carved by hand from solid or laminated wood with later propellers being constructed from metal...
was wood.
A fixed 7.7 mm (.303 in) Vickers machine gun
Vickers machine gun
Not to be confused with the Vickers light machine gunThe Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 inch machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army...
with interrupter gear
Interrupter gear
An interrupter gear is a device used on military aircraft and warships in order to allow them to target opponents without damaging themselves....
was operated by the pilot, while the observer had twin 7.7 mm (.303 in) Lewis Gun
Lewis Gun
The Lewis Gun is a World War I–era light machine gun of American design that was perfected and widely used by the British Empire. It was first used in combat in World War I, and continued in service with a number of armed forces through to the end of the Korean War...
s. There was also a fourth machine gun, which could be fired by the observer downwards through an opening in a floor. The CN2 night fighter variant was fitted with two pilot's machine guns. The bomber variant could carry up to 472 kg (1,041 lb) of bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
s under the fuselage, or in a vertical bomb bay
Bomb bay
The bomb bay or weapons bay on some military aircraft is a compartment to carry bombs, usually in the aircraft's fuselage, with "bomb bay doors" which open at the bottom. The bomb bay doors are opened and the bombs are dropped when over the target or at a specified launching point.Large-sized...
(small bombs up to 50 kg/110 lb). The reconnaissance variant could carry 12 10 kg (20 lb) bombs. The reconnaissance variant had a camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
mounting, which was optional on the bomber variant. All variants had radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
Variants
- Br.19.01
Br.19.01 was the first Breguet 19 prototype which first flew in March 1922. It was later bought by the Spanish government.
- Br.19.02 to 011
Pre-production aircraft, whose fuselage was lengthened by 60 cm. Br.19.02 was sent to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
for evaluation in 1923.
- Br.19 A2
Two-seat reconnaissance plane.
- Br.19 B2
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 298 kW (400 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Db inline V12
V engine
A V engine, or Vee engine is a common configuration for an internal combustion engine. The cylinders and pistons are aligned, in two separate planes or 'banks', so that they appear to be in a "V" when viewed along the axis of the crankshaft...
, the 336 kW (450 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb W12
W engine
A W engine is a type of reciprocating engine arranged with its cylinders in a configuration in which the cylinder banks resemble the letter W, in the same way those of a V engine resemble the letter V....
, the Renault 12K, the Hispano-Suiza 12H and the Farman 12W.
- Br.19 CN2
Night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
version, almost identical to the B2 reconnaissance variant with two additional forward-firing machine guns.
- Br.19 GR (Grand Raid)
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
Fuel tank
A fuel tank is safe container for flammable fluids. Though any storage tank for fuel may be so called, the term is typically applied to part of an engine system in which the fuel is stored and propelled or released into an engine...
of about 2,000 L (ca.530 US 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 (ca.770 US gal). The cockpit was moved slightly aft, and the wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
was increased to 14.83 m (48.65 ft). The three aircraft were fitted with different engines: the first one (no.1685) had a 500 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Hb, the other two had a 550 hp Renault 12 kg and a 520 hp Farman 12Wers. In 1927, no.1685 received a new 600 hp Hispano 12Lb engine, its fuel capacity was extended to 3,500 L, and its wingspan was further increased by one metre. It was christened Nungesser
Charles Nungesser
Charles Eugène Jules Marie Nungesser, MC was a French ace pilot and adventurer, best remembered as a rival of Charles Lindbergh...
et Coli
François Coli
François Coli was a French pilot and navigator best known as the flying partner of Charles Nungesser in the doomed attempt to fly the Atlantic Ocean on the aircraft known as The White Bird....
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 550 hp Hispano 12Hb. (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.)
- Br.19 TR Bidon
Built in 1927 with various aerodynamical refinements and 3,735 L (987 US gal) of fuel in the fuselage. With an additional fuel tank in the wing, the total fuel capacity was 4,125 L (1,089 US gal). Five were built by Breguet and two by the Spanish company CASA
CASA
- Aviation :* Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Australian statutory authority responsible for the regulation of Civil Aviation* Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA- Spanish aircraft manufacturer, became EADS CASA in 1999...
. Three of the French aircraft had a 600 hp Hispano 12Lb, one had a 550 hp Renault 12 kg, and one had a 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. The second Spanish Bidon was christened Jesús del Gran Poder, and flew from Sevilla to Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
(Brazil).
- Br.19 TF Super Bidon
The last and most advanced long-distance variant, built in 1929, and designed for transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east...
. 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 total fuel capacity. It was powered by a 447 kW (600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Lb engine (later replaced by a 485 kW/650 hp 12Nb). 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.
- Br.19 ter
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).
- Br.19.7
The most popular of the late variants developed in 1930 with a 447 kW (600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Nb engine, giving a maximum speed of 242 km/h (150 mph). The first five machines were converted in France for Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, then a number were built in Yugoslavia, and a further 50 built in France for export to Turkey.
- Br.19.8
With a 582 kW (780 hp) Wright Cyclone
Wright Cyclone
Wright Cyclone was the name given to a family of air-cooled radial piston engines designed by Curtiss-Wright and used in numerous American aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s.-Background:...
GR-1820-F-56 radial engine, 48 Br.19.7 airframe
Airframe
The airframe of an aircraft is its mechanical structure. It is typically considered to include fuselage, wings and undercarriage and exclude the propulsion system...
s were eventually completed as Br.19.8's in Yugoslavia. Their maximum speed was 279 km/h (173 mph).
- Br.19.9
A single prototype developed in Yugoslavia with a 641 kW (860 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs engine.
- Br.19.10
A single prototype developed in Yugoslavia with a 536 kW (720 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Hfrs Petrel engine.
- Br.19 hydro (or Breguet 19 seaplane)
Fitted with twin floats as a seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
, a single prototype (no.1132) was produced for France. Another aircraft sold Japan was fitted with floats built there by Nakajima
Nakajima Aircraft Company
The Nakajima Aircraft Company was a prominent Japanese aircraft manufacturer throughout World War II.-History:...
.
- Nakajima-Breguet Reconnaissance Seaplane - Nakajima built Breguet 19-A2B seaplanes.
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.
Further passenger variants with a totally rebuilt fuselage were designated :
- Br.26T (1926)
- Br.26TS or Br.261T
- Br.280T
- Br.281T
- Br.284T
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, Belgian SABCA and the Yugoslavian factory in Kraljevo.
Operators
- Argentine Air ForceArgentine Air ForceThe Argentine Air Force is the national aviation branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. , it had 14,606 military and 6,854 civilian staff.-History:...
operated 25 aircraft.
- Belgian Air ForceBelgian Air ForceThe Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
bought six Br.19 B2s in 1924, and further 146 A2s and B2s were manufactured in under licence by the SABCA works in 1926-30. They were powered with Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb and Hispano-Suiza 12Ha engines, and used until the mid-1930s.
- Bolivian Air ForceBolivian Air ForceThe Bolivian Air Force is part of the Military of Bolivia.-History:By 1938 the Bolivian air force consisted of about 60 aircraft , and about 300 staff; the officers were...
bought ten aircraft and used them during the Chaco warChaco WarThe Chaco War was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region of South America, which was incorrectly thought to be rich in oil. It is also referred to as La Guerra de la Sed in literary circles for being fought in the semi-arid Chaco...
against ParaguayParaguayParaguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
- Brazilian Air ForceBrazilian Air ForceThe Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
operated five aircraft.
- Chinese Nationalist Air Force received four aircraft bought by government.
- ManchuriaManchuriaManchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
n warlord Zhang ZuolinZhang ZuolinZhang Zuolin was the warlord of Manchuria from 1916 to 1928 . He successfully invaded China proper in October 1924 in the Second Zhili-Fengtian War. He gained control of Peking, including China's internationally recognized government, in April 1926...
bought 70 aircraft.
Independent State of Croatia
- Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države HrvatskeAir Force of the Independent State of CroatiaThe Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia, the Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske was the national air force of the Independent State of Croatia during World War II, founded under German authority in April 1941...
seized 46 aircraft used for anti-partizanPartisans (Yugoslavia)The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
missions.
- French Air ForceFrench Air ForceThe French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
operated their first Breguet 19s in the A2 variant from the autumn of 1924, the B2 variant from June 1926, then the fighter C2 and CN2 variants. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, they were the most numerous French combat aircraft. In metropolitan France, they were withdrawn from service in the early 1930s; the last Br.19 CN2 was withdrawn in 1935. Until 1938, they were still used by the French Air Force in colonies in the Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
- among others, they were used there to suppress native rebellions.
Greece
- Hellenic Air ForceHellenic Air ForceThe Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to HAF is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the...
acquired 30 Breguet 19 A2s and some were used against invading Italian forcesGreco-Italian WarThe Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
in 1940, delivering valuable information on Italian movements.
Italy
- Regia AeronauticaRegia AeronauticaThe Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
bought one aircraft for tests.
- According to some publications, Japan bought a number, and they were license-built in Nakajima, though this is not confirmed, apart from the two aircraft bought by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
Persia
- Persian Air ForceHistory of the Iranian Air ForceThe history of the Iranian Air Force can be divided into two phases - before the Islamic Revolution, and after it.-Imperial era: The Imperial Iranian Air Force was a branch of the Imperial Iranian Armed Forces and was established by Reza Shah, the Shah of Iran, in 1920. It became operational with...
operated two aircraft.
- Polish Air ForcePolish Air ForceThe Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
bought 250 Breguet 19 A2s and B2s, with 336 kW (450 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb engines, in 1925-30. 20 aircraft were reportedly the longer-range reconnaissance variant, but details are not known. the first Br.19 entered Polish service in 1926, but most were delivered in 1929-30. They were withdrawn from combat units in 1932-37, and used in training units until 1939. They were not used in combat during the Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland (1939)The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
of 1939 and most were destroyed on the ground.
Kingdom of Romania
- Royal Romanian Air ForceRoyal Romanian Air ForceThe Forţele Aeriene Regale ale României , or simply Forţele Aeriene Române was the Air Arm of Royal Romanian forces in World War II...
bought 50 Breguet 19 A2s and B2s in 1927, then 108 Br.19 B2s, and five Br.19.7's in 1930. They were in service until 1938.
- Soviet Air ForceSoviet Air ForceThe Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
bought one aircraft for tests.
Kingdom of Spain & Spanish RepublicSecond Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
- Aeronáutica MilitarSpanish Air Force-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
bought a prototype and a license in 1923, and started production in the CASA works, in A2 and B2 variants. The first 19 aircraft were imported, the next 26 completed from French parts, then 177 were manufactured (50 of them had Hispano-Suiza engine, the rest the Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb engine). The Breguet 19 was the basic equipment of Spanish bomber and reconnaissance units until the initial period of the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil WarThe Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. In July 1936, there were less than hundred in service in the Spanish Republican Air ForceSpanish Republican Air ForceThe Spanish Republican Air Force, , was the air arm of the Second Spanish Republic, the legally established government of Spain between 1931 and 1939...
. They were actively used as bombers during the war, especially on the government's side. In 1936, the Nationalists bought an additional twenty from Poland. With an advent of more modern fighters, the Br.19 suffered many losses, and after 1937 were withdrawn from frontline service. The Republican side lost 28 aircraft, and Nationalists lost 10 (including 2 Republican and 1 Nationalist aircraft, that deserted). The remaining aircraft were used for training until 1940.
- Turkish Air ForceTurkish Air ForceThe Turkish Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. It ranks 3rd in NATO in terms of fleet size behind the USAF and Royal Air Force with a current inventory of 798 aircraft .-Initial stages:...
bought 20 Br.19 B2s, then 50 Br.19.7s in 1932. Some of these aircraft were used in bombardment and reconnaissance missions during the Dersim RebellionDersim RebellionThe Dersim rebellion was an uprising against the Turkish government in the Dersim region of eastern Turkey, which includes Tunceli Province, Elazığ Province, and Bingöl Province...
.
- Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
bought one aircraft for tests.
- Uruguayan Air ForceUruguayan Air ForceThe Uruguayan Air Force is one of the three main branches of the Armed Forces of Uruguay under the Uruguayan Ministry of Defense. The current head of the force is General of the Air Enrique A...
Venezuela
- Venezuelan Air Force operated 12 aircraft.
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
- Yugoslav Royal Air ForceYugoslav Royal Air ForceThe Yugoslav Royal Air Force was formed in 1918 in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and existed until Yugoslavia's surrender to the Axis powers in 1941 following the Invasion of Yugoslavia during World War II....
bought 100 Br.19 A2s in 1924, and in 1927 acquired a license to manufacture them in a new factory in KraljevoKraljevoKraljevo is a city and municipality in central Serbia, built beside the river Ibar, 7 km west of its confluence with the Western Morava. It is located in the midst of an upland valley, between the mountains of Kotlenik in the north, and Stolovi in the south.In 2011 the city has population of...
. The first batch of 85 aircraft were assembled from French parts, and a further 215 were built from scratch. The first 150 aircraft in Yugoslavian service had Lorraine-Dietrich engines, the next 150 - 373 kW (500 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Hb engines, and the last 100 - 313 kW (420 hp) Gnome-Rhone Jupiter 9Ab radial engines. From 1932, the Br.19.7 variant was manufactured - the first five were built in France, the next 75 in Kraljevo (51 according to other publications), and a further 48 aircraft, lacking engines, were completed in 1935-1937 as Br.19.8's, with 582 kW (780 hp) Wright CycloneWright CycloneWright Cyclone was the name given to a family of air-cooled radial piston engines designed by Curtiss-Wright and used in numerous American aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s.-Background:...
radial engines. (Some publications give different numbers of Yugoslavian Bre.19s). Some of these Yugoslavian aircraft were used in combat after the German attack on Yugoslavia in 1941.
- SFR Yugoslav Air ForceSFR Yugoslav Air ForceThe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force , was the air force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Formed in 1945, it was preceded by the Yugoslav Royal Air Force which was disbanded in 1941, following the German occupation of Yugoslavia...
operated one Croatian Br.19 taken by its pilot and delivered to the partisans of TitoJosip Broz TitoMarshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
, and used in June–July 1942, until it was shot down. Another two, captured by the new Communist government forces in April 1945, were used to pursue Ustashes.
Sports 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 (19,660 ft) carrying a 500 kg (1,100 lb) load. It was later bought by Spanish government.Many crews made long-distance flights in Br.19s. In February 1925, Thieffry
Edmond Thieffry
Edmond Thieffry was a Belgian First World War air ace and aviation pioneer. He made, with Léopold Roger and Jef de Bruycker, the first successful flight between Belgium and Congo ....
flew from Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
to Leopoldville
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
in central Africa, a distance of 8,900 km (5,500 mi). Two Br.19 A2s were bought by the Japanese Asahi Shimbun
Asahi Shimbun
The is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
newspaper and fitted with additional fuel tanks. They were flown by H. Abe and K. Kawachi on the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
-Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
-London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
route in July 1925, covering 13,800 km (8,600 mi). Between 27 August and 25 September 1926, the Polish crew of Boleslaw Orlinski
Boleslaw Orlinski
Bolesław Orliński was a Polish aviator, military, sports and test pilot.He was born on the family estate in Niwerka, Podole. During World War I he was commissioned in the Russian Army, and fought in an infantry Regiment on the German front, becoming a NCO. In 1918 he joined the newly formed Polish...
flew the Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
-Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
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
Little Entente
The Little Entente was an alliance formed in 1920 and 1921 by Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia with the purpose of common defense against Hungarian revision and the prevention of a Habsburg restoration...
air races.
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
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Villa Cisneros
Dakhla, Western Sahara
-External links:**...
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
Omsk
-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
, beaten on 31 August-1 September by Challe and Weiser's 5,174 km (3,215 mi), and on 28 October by Dieudonne Costes
Dieudonne Costes
Dieudonné Costes was a French aviator, well-known for long distance and record breaking flights, as well as being a fighter ace during World War I.-Life:...
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
Charles Nungesser
Charles Eugène Jules Marie Nungesser, MC was a French ace pilot and adventurer, best remembered as a rival of Charles Lindbergh...
-Coli
François Coli
François Coli was a French pilot and navigator best known as the flying partner of Charles Nungesser in the doomed attempt to fly the Atlantic Ocean on the aircraft known as The White Bird....
) around the world, covering 57,000 km (35,418 mi) - though the journey between San Francisco and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
was taken by ship.
The Super Bidon was created especially for the purpose of a transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east...
. It was named Point d'Interrogation ("The Question Mark"). Dieudonne Costes and Maurice Bellonte set a non-stop distance record of 7,905 km (4,911 mi) from Paris to Moullart on 27–29 September 1929 on this plane. Then on 1–2 September 1930, they flew from Paris to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, 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. The second Super Bidon, the Spanish Cuatro Vientos, vanished over Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with M. Barberan and J. Collar Serra, after a transatlantic flight from Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on 10–11 June 1933.
Specifications (Br 19 A.2)
Surviving aircraft
- Breguet Br.19 GR no.1685 Nungesser et Coli, in the Musée de l'Air et de l'EspaceMusée de l'Air et de l'EspaceThe French Air and Space Museum is a French museum, located in the south-eastern edge of Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris, and in the commune of Le Bourget. It was created in 1919 from a proposition of Albert Caquot .-Description:Occupying over of land and hangars, it is one of the oldest...
of Le BourgetLe BourgetLe Bourget is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.A very small part of Le Bourget airport lies on the territory of the commune of Le Bourget, which nonetheless gave its name to the airport. Most of the airport lies on the territory of the...
, near Paris (not in public display as of 2009) - CASA Br.19 TR Bidon Jesús del Gran Poder, in the Aeronautics and Astronautics Museum of SpainAeronautics and Astronautics Museum of SpainThe Aeronautics and Astronautics Museum of Spain, in Spanish Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica o Museo del Aire, is a aviation museum located in the outskirts of Madrid at Cuatro Vientos Airport, Spain. The museum was founded in 1981 and offers 6 exhibition galleries and it has 130 aircrafts on...
of Cuatro VientosCuatro Vientos AirportMadrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport , also known as Cuatro Vientos Airport, is the oldest Spanish airport and one of the three civil airports of Madrid along with Madrid-Barajas and Torrejón Air Base....
, Madrid - Breguet Br.19 TF Super Bidon Point d'Interrogation, in the Musée de l'Air et de l'EspaceMusée de l'Air et de l'EspaceThe French Air and Space Museum is a French museum, located in the south-eastern edge of Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris, and in the commune of Le Bourget. It was created in 1919 from a proposition of Albert Caquot .-Description:Occupying over of land and hangars, it is one of the oldest...
(restored, on public display)