The Sopwith 1½ Strutter was a British single- or two-seat multi-role biplane aircraft of World War I. Indiana Jones got to fly in one while he was a part of the 124th Squadron in 1917.
History[]
In 1917, Indiana Jones joined the 124th Squadron while he was part of the French Secret Service. On his first mission with the squadron, he flew in a Sopwith 1½ Strutter and was tasked with taking photographs of a German railroad yard. His pilot was Lieutenant Harold Green. They were escorted by two Sopwith Camels. As he took the photos, they encountered enemy anti-aircraft fire and Albatros D.III planes. Their craft was hit by flak fire so Indy had to climb out of his seat to see if the wheels were still intact. Meanwhile, Green maneuvered the plane to avoid enemy fire, nearly causing Indy to fall to his death. He was able to hang onto the wheels and climb back on.
A German plane, flown by Manfred von Richthofen, caught up with them and shot at the plane, damaging it and forcing a crash landing. The two originally planned to abandon the craft as it could have caught fire but, as German troops surrounded them, the pair were captured before they could use the plane's machine gun. Hobey Baker searched for them both but he only saw their abandoned plane in a field.
Indy escaped capture and flew another Strutter, this time with Baker as the pilot and they succeeded at taking photographs of Charles Nungesser shooting down the Red Baron. Attacked by more German planes, Indy was able to shoot one down while protecting a wounded Baker who was shot. The German planes downed Nungesser but Indy and Baker saved him and brought him back to base. Indy would fly in the Strutter in many more missions, including his last with the squadron where he would be taken out by Richthofen in his new Fokker Dr.I triplane. However, Indy was able to save their vehicle before it crashed by pulling on the wires at the back of the plane which allowed Baker to restart the engine and fly home. The damaged plane promptly exploded after they landed and fled to safety.
Indy would fly in a disguised Sopwith for one last mission when Nungesser used it to paradrop Indy into Germany and picked him up after his mission was over.
Appearances[]
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Young Indiana Jones and the Attack of the Hawkmen" → Attack of the Hawkmen
