Osterkamps Victory on 30 April 1917

[Soderbaum]

Hi all
I wonder if anyone knew what victory number the claim by Lt.dR.MA Theodor Osterkamp for the Sopw-1s which fell near Dunkerke within allied lines on 30 April 1917, was given..?
According to official Naval sources he had already claimed his first victory as an observer in September 1916.
And the victory list of Marine Feld Jagdstaffel 1 which is presented as a supplement to the KTB(War Diary) which unfortunate ends in late July 1918 does NOT have this victory recorded.
What I remember from Ostekamps self written book,
which I read for several Years ago, he stated that
this victory was confirmed in late 1918...!
Was it really confirmed ?
Thanks in advance
Gunnar

[Phil]

This victory was not confirmed.
According to the books The Jasta War Chronology and "Above The Lines", who give a complete listing of claims, Osterkamp scored for the first time the 30 april 1917. The victim, a Sopwith crashed in Oostkerke.

Phil.
http://club.euronet.be/philippe.saintes/asduciel.htm

[Soderbaum]

Thankyou Phil
for a quick and concise answer. This infacts leads to that Osterkamps total victory score for the first World War was 31, and NOT 32 which is given in most sources. And that this early victory was self confirmed by Theo.
By the way Phil, do You have any info on his last 3 victories(29 to 31) which is said to have been scored in Oct 1918.
His 30th victim was reported by Above the Lines(ATL) for 29 Oct 1918.
Official German Naval reports that he scored 6 victories between 28 Sept 1918 and 31 Oct 1918 reported to be Number 26 to 31.
VBR
Gunnar

[Phil]

Gunnar,
I've found in the book The Jasta Pilots that Osterkamps scored effectively once between september 1915 and March 1917 when he was an observer for the Marine Flieger Abteilung I (MFAI).
Strange this confusion because "Jasta Pilots" was written by the same team of authors who worked on "Above The Lines" and The Jasta War Chronology ?!
Unfortunately I don't have more details about his last three victories than you.
Best regards,

Phil.

P.S : Do you remember the name and references of the book that Osterkamps wrote ?

[Soderbaum]

Hi Phil
Theos own book is named "Du oder Ich" and thats what an air combat really happened about.
I have a note that it was published in 1939.
What I remember of the book is that is a real action book, with many pages with "Rat-ta-ta and turn-turns and more Rat-ta-ta". But it also contains facts and many individual statements from Theo like that the 30 April 1917 Victory in some way was reconfirmed in late 1918...
I borrowed the book from a public German library, and the book is also available from Antique book stores which sell German military literature.
VBR
Gunnar