Black & White Albatros Scout

MikeW · 26 September 2001, 03:04 AM

Pilots of Naval 1 regularly used to meet a "black & white" Albatros. They called the pilot Mr. Buchanon, a reference to an advertisement for "Black & White" whiskey which was in vogue at the time.

The Albatros scout "appeared" to be black, with a clearly defined white centre section to the top wing, white elevator, and white band around the fuselage behind the cockpit.

Now, I have my suspicions as to the identity of the pilot and Jasta coz they eventually shot him down - but before I say who and give dates, I want to know if anyone can identify the pilot from the description of his aircraft.

MikeW · 28 September 2001, 02:56 AM

OK, no takers eh ???

4th June 17, FltCdr Gerrard of Naval 1 shared a "destroyed" with Phillip Fullard of 1 sqn RFC.

This was "Mr. Buchanan", and identified as Offstr Matthia Denecke of Jasta 18 by none other than Ed Ferko.

Are the colours of this Albatros appropriate to Jasta 18?

Ron_F · 29 September 2001, 11:09 AM

hi,

possibly correct for that time period. jasta 18 is mostly associated with red and white from Raben, but thats during 1918 according to

The jasta pilots.

unless there is a book out there that i havent seen, i wish some of our experten would compile books on unit colors with pics and profiles for the various a/c.

i know of camel and the se5 books, which i should get.. but none on german fighters. only what osprey has on aces and the various a/c related books.

hopefully DSA or someone in the know could answer it.

fwiw,
Ron

Dan_San_Abbott · 29 September 2001, 05:21 PM

Mike W.:
From the information that I have, in this period, Jasta 18 was under the command of Ritt. Karl von Grieffenhagen, and Jasta 18 did not have unit markings. The pilots each had their own markings.
The red and blue markings were instituted by Oblt

Rudolf Berthold when he took command on 12 August 1917. The red and white markings were established by Ltn. August Raben after he assumed command of Jasta 18 on 20 March 1918.
God bless America,
Dan-San

MikeW · 3 October 2001, 11:20 AM

Thanks guys,

I have a photograph of a painting of this incident between Naval 1 Triplanes and Jasta 18 painted by Richard de Quincy (ex 1 Wing pilot) in 1918. The action was described to him by Gerrard and LH Cockey (both involved and both in 1(N)).

The details of the action were related by Cockey in an interview in 1978. Subsequently, Ed Ferko made the identification.

Can't share any more of this at the moment as I will be using the material in the near future.

Thanks again.

Mike