Captured Alb DV/DVa RFC markings
Printed From: Cross & Cockade
Category: Member's Photos
Forum Name: German
Forum Discription: Photos of German Aircraft
URL: http://www.crossandcockade.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1226
Printed Date: 22 Mar 2023 at 09:44
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 10.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Captured Alb DV/DVa RFC markings
Posted By: John-G
Subject: Captured Alb DV/DVa RFC markings
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2014 at 18:14
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Hi, Can anyone shed any light on the history and any other details about this machine? Many thanks John  John-G |
Replies:
Posted By: Davef68
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2014 at 11:48
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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) |
Posted By: John-G
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2014 at 15:50
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Hi, thanks for making contact, I brought it through EBay as a b/w post card, I suspect that it was printed in the UK as all the details, address etc. are in English. Cheers john-G |
Posted By: AndyK
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2014 at 19:59
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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, AndyK
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Posted By: John-G
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2014 at 21:43
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Cheers Andy, at least this could narrow it down a bit. John-g |
Posted By: Davef68
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2014 at 21:48
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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" rel="nofollow - 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" rel="nofollow - 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" rel="nofollow - 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" rel="nofollow - http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205314852 |
Posted By: Davef68
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2014 at 02:19
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Just to complete the others, it's not G.56 (DV 1162/17) as it has the black ribbon round the fuselage, nor G.101 (DVa 5390/17, the airframe now in the AWM) The other aircraft known to carry RFC/RAF markings (outwith the Middle Eastern aircraft) was D4545/17, of which several high quality photos exist. This is usually ascribed the UK intelligence number G.97, although there are discrepancies as the description in the intel report doesn't match the photos, with marking on the fuselage in the report not shown on the pics. I'm begining to think it's a post-war aircraft at a German airfield - the style of hangar matches, for example, the one at Bickendorf: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C04519/" rel="nofollow - http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C04519/ http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/A03954/" rel="nofollow - http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/A03954/ |
Posted By: John-G
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2014 at 09:13
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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 |
Posted By: Davef68
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2014 at 15:37
| I suspect it's an un-recorded one, those used after the war weren't given UK serials. |
Posted By: AndyK
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2014 at 15:51
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It does indeed look like Bickendorf, in which case all our chatter about G numbers is for nothing :-) John - Any provenance on this shot, that might give us a clue? AndyK
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Posted By: AndyK
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2014 at 16:20
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Anyone got a photo of G.159? Paul reckons it might be a match. Albatros D.Va 5734/17 flown by Vzfw Weimer of Jasta 56 ... AndyK
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Posted By: Davef68
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2014 at 22:06
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See my post above, Three (Two in UK marks) in Windsock Datafile no 151 (I'm not going to incurr Ray Rimmel's wrath by scanning and posting them online!) I don't think it is |
Posted By: NickForder
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2014 at 09:11
| A Journal photo feature on captured German aircraft would be a good way to go with this, along the lines of the one Stuart Leslie compiled on G56 some years back. |
Posted By: John-G
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2014 at 09:51
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I am quite happy to provide a decent scan if required. John-g |
Posted By: AndyK
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2014 at 12:50
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I suspect Dave's right and this D.Va is in Germany post-war, but I'm not convinced it's Bickendorf as the shed glazing looks different. A scan would be excellent - meantime I'll dig some more ... AndyK
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Posted By: Davef68
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2015 at 01:44
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Via the Facebook captured aircraft group, I became aware of another photo of this one: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205341508" rel="nofollow - http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205341508 The RE8 might help with identification? |
Posted By: KK
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 17:19
| By jove ,a IWM photo lve not seen before.ls such a thing possible? |
Posted By: Davef68
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 17:21
| It's not well indexed! |
Posted By: NickForder
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 19:42
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Interesting to see the 'related objects' at the bottom of the page. The indexing of IWM photos is an ongoing task, as it is with every museum or archive; the option being to stop collecting ! |