Note the hand-painted numbers below the windshield. This was 411 with the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee

Ex East German Air Force serial 411.

The Spad XVI was a two-seat version of the very successful single-seat Spad fighters of WWI. An otherwise undistinguished aircraft, this Spad XVI on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center is significant because of it's association with Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell. Six Spad XVIs were acquired from the French in August 1918 and this one became Mitchell's personal aircraft.

The Mi-9 was the airborne command variant of the Hip-C with additional radar and comms capability. This example was one of eight delivered to East Germany and served in the NVA as '411' with KHG-5 'Adolf von Lützow' in Basepohl. Withdrawn from service in Oct 1990 she was allocated the GAF serial 93+92 and has ended up in the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr.

Preserved at the Luftwaffenmuseum at Gatow on that rainy day.

SPAD was better known for its single-seat fighters, and the two-seat S.XI/S.XVI served without distinction as a reconnaissance aircraft. Six S.XVIs were supplied to the Americans, and this particular one was flown by Lt Col Billy Mitchell during the Battle of Château-Thierry in July 1918.