Letter from von Hippel

[Terry_Crisp]

Gentlemen,
Some time ago I mentioned in a Models thread that I had recieved as a teenager a letter from von Hippel.I said that I intended to have it retranslated and that if folks were interested I would print it here. I did and now I am. Unfortunately there is little that we don't already know but here it is.It's basically just a polite reply to an interested kid.
20.3.68
Dear Mr. Crisp,
Thank you for your letter from Febr.28, which only arrived 18.3. To answer all your questions after fifty years is naturally very difficult for me, as much as I would like to help you,so please don't count my recollections as 100% complete.
In regards to the colors, Mr. Paul E.Parker president of the N.Y. Chapter(of C&C) can give you better information ,because he gets information not only from me but from several other sides.
The colors of the Jasta 5 alb. DVs were silvergray with the tails and wheel covers being dark green with a dark red border.
The Iron Crosses were in the original form until 1918, then became the Balken Cross.
I can't tell you the names of the 1917 pilots, as I wasn't with Jasta 5, except Adelweiss,white flower, yellow dots= Pilot Lehrman,Iron Fist Flashar,(looks like a warrior fist). Siklomer:black band white border. Rumeys plane had a diagonal black and white line.
I'm sorry I can't read your question on the card.If you would like your sketches(diagrams of the planes) back they are not worth the airmail postage and I would have to send them by ship as it is too expensive for me. All other questions please direct to Mr. Parker. He can give you better information.I hope I could be a little bit helpful.
regards,
v.Hippel

As I said it's pretty much an excercise in good manners on his part but perhaps there is some small bit of usable info.I believe the part about the red border refers only to the tails and is merely a misphraseing.
Best wishes to all for the New Year and God Bless us every one,
Terry

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Terry Crisp:
Thank you for the translation, I was one who ha requested the translation. I have Parker's book which illustrates von Hippel's aircraft, if I recall ,"blitz". I will have to find it and review what Parker wrote.
Happy New Year,
Dan-San

Thanks for posting that Terry. 8)

It may not contain any new info, but it is interesting to hear from these old soldiers in their own words.