Captured Alb DV/DVa RFC markings

It's an interesting one as the markings don't match any of the 'well known' RFC Albatros DV/DVas.

Can I ask where the pic came from as it's a much better copy than the one I'd previously seen (and confirms the tones on the fuselage stripe)


Edited by Davef68 - 25 Nov 2014 at 11:50

Hi John
I've checked this with Paul Leaman, who isn't on the forum but knows a LOT about captured German aircraft. However, he doesn't recognise this one! He suggests that it's either G144 Albatros D.Va 2359/17 which came to the UK in March 1918, or G159 Albatros D.Va 5734/17 that was brought home on 21 April 1918. These are the only two he hasn't seen photos of ...
Cheers,

I'm surprised Paul hasn't seen photos of G.144 - it's the one with the most photos in my hd/database of captured Albatros pics. e.g. in Windsock Datafile 151 (including with a '96' marking that I beleive was applied at the School of Aerial Fighting at Marske) and in a number of other collections.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205307918

None of the pictures of it show a fuselage stripe. Some pics do show it with G.144 on the side, but that might be a 'post production' thing.  e.g. this one from the Canada Aviation Museum collection:

http://image-bank.techno-science.ca/databases/image_bank/images/KM687.jpg

G.159 is a rarer one, but there are a couple of photos in Datafile 151. It does have a fuselage stripe, although the tones are reversed from John's photo, that could be a result of the film used, or at a later date (Plenty of history of re-painting captured aircraft!)

BTW, the poorer quality copy of John's pic is in the IWM as well:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205313930

There is also a pic in the IWM collection showing an aircraft with a similar stripe, but unfortunately (for us) it's still in German hands!

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205314852






Edited by Davef68 - 28 Nov 2014 at 23:40

Hi Dave,

Thanks for all you input and help. I agree it does look like the sheds at Bickendorf and G.97 looks the best shot at the moment, presumably the Germans had similar sheds at other locations?


cheers

John

It does indeed look like Bickendorf, in which case all our chatter about G numbers is for nothing :-)