Halberstadt CL.II: First World War Aircraft

The Halberstadt CL.II was one of the few two-seaters of WW1 (the Bristol Fighter is another example) whose performance was almost comparable to that of the fighter planes it encountered. This sturdy, purposeful looking machine was designed to fly escort protection for reconnaissance missions but proved so successful in an infantry close-support role, that this became its primary function. Both crew members shared one open cockpit which was a huge advantage in terms of communication (Communication in this context consisted of yelling over the noise of the engine and slipstream, and vigorous pointing, I imagine).