Editing Fokker Scourge (section)

===End of the Scourge===
[[File:Ni-11 Navarre.jpg|thumb|The red Nieuport 11 of [[Jean Navarre]], ''Guardian of Verdun'']]
The scourge waned during the [[Battle of Verdun]] (21{{nbsp}}February{{snd}}20{{nbsp}}December 1916). The Germans tried to impose an air barrage ({{lang|de|Luftsperre}}) which concealed much of the German preparation for the offensive from French aerial reconnaissance. During March and April increasing numbers of the new French [[Nieuport 11]] fighters were sent to Verdun. Organised in specialist fighter squadrons ({{lang|fr|escadrilles de chasse}}) the Nieuports could operate in formations larger than the singletons or pairs normally flown by the Fokkers, quickly regaining air superiority for the {{lang|fr|[[History of the Armée de l'Air (1909–42)|Aéronautique Militaire]]}}.<ref>Herris and Pearson 2010, p. 29.</ref>

British F.E.2b pusher aircraft had been arriving in France from late 1915 and in the New Year began to replace the older F.B.5s. The pilot and observer had a good view forwards from their cockpits and the observer could also fire backwards over the tail. [[No. 20 Squadron RAF|20 Squadron]], the first squadron equipped with the F.E., arrived in France on 23{{nbsp}}January 1916, for long-range reconnaissance and escort flying. The new aircraft lacked the speed to pursue the Fokkers and had limited manoeuvrability but the F.E.s became formidable opponents, particularly when flying in formation.<ref>Hare 1990, p. 87.</ref>

[[File:Airco DH2 2.jpg|thumb|D.H.2 taking off from airfield at Beauval, France]]
The [[Airco DH.2]], a single-seat fighter, began to arrive at the front in February 1916. This aircraft had a modest performance but its superior manoeuvrability gave it an advantage over the {{lang|de|Eindecker}}, especially once the Lewis gun was fixed to point in the direction of flight. On 8 February, [[No. 24 Squadron RAF|24 Squadron]] (Major [[Lanoe Hawker]]) arrived with D.H.2s and began patrols north of the Somme; another six D.H.2 squadrons followed. On 25 April, two of the D.H. pilots were attacked and found that they could out-manoeuvre the Fokkers; a few days later, without opening fire, a D.H. pilot caused a Fokker to crash onto a roof at Bapaume.<ref>Jones, 2002, pp. 158–159</ref> The Nieuports proved even more effective when the first Nieuport 16s in British service were issued to [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|1]] and [[No. 11 Squadron RAF|11 Squadrons]] in April.<ref>Cheesman 1960, p. 92.</ref>

By March 1916, despite frequent encounters with Fokkers and the success of {{lang|de|Eindecker}} aces, the scourge was almost over.<ref>Franks 2001, pp. 59–60.</ref> The bogey of the Fokker {{lang|de|Eindecker}} as a fighter was finally laid in April, when an E.III landed by mistake at a British aerodrome. The captured aircraft was found not to have the superior performance it had been credited with.<ref>Lewis, 1977, p. 52</ref> The first British aircraft with a synchronisation gear was a Bristol Scout, which arrived on 25 March 1916 and on 24 May the first [[Sopwith 1½ Strutter]] aircraft were flown to France by a flight of [[No. 70 Squadron RAF|70 Squadron]].<ref>Bruce, 1968, v.2, p.119</ref>