Breguet 14 B.2
Breguet · France · first flew 1917 · bomber
The Breguet 14 B.2 was the dedicated two-seat day bomber variant of the outstanding Breguet 14 series, one of the most successful aircraft of WWI. Its mixed metal-and-fabric construction was innovative for its era and gave it exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Mixed metal-and-fabric construction — fuselage duralumin, fabric wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Mixed metal-and-fabric construction — fuselage duralumin, fabric wings
- Observer/gunner in rear cockpit with two flexible Lewis guns
- B.2 variant has bomb cells under the lower wing and in the fuselage
Sesquiplane-like proportions with a wider upper wing than lower; the metal monocoque forward fuselage contrasts with fabric-covered wings; the offset upper wing to improve pilot view forward and the broad-chord lower wing are key identifiers among WWI two-seaters.
Specifications
- The Breguet 14 B.2 has a length of 8.87 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.36 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 184 km/h (114 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Breguet 14 first flew in November 1916 and quickly proved itself superior to its contemporaries in speed, climb, and payload. The B.2 bomber variant entered service in mid-1917 and was produced in enormous numbers — over 5,500 in total across all variants. It served with the French Armée de l'Air, the American Expeditionary Forces, and was exported widely after the war, serving into the early 1930s in several air forces.
Variants
The Breguet 14 A.2 was the observation and reconnaissance variant; the B.2 was the dedicated bomber; numerous engine fits were used including the Renault 12Fcx and Fiat A.12; a postal variant served on early French airmail routes.
Where you'll see it
Served with France, Belgium, the USA (AEF), Brazil, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Greece, Japan, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Siam, and Spain; the type participated in the pioneering Latécoère airmail services across Africa and South America.
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