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Dan-San,
425/17 arrived from the factory with standard, large white cross fields. I do not know if the aircraft was entirely standard as far as camouflage goes - I know Allan Toelle has inspected many samples and has noted a complete absence of upper surface camo, and I believe his findings are that the aircraft arrived from the factory painted mainly in red.
You are wrong when you say that the crosses were changed prior to the aircraft being painted red. The first change in National markings was to overpaint the large cross fields so that the Eisernes Kreuz was surrounded by a narrow border - the crosses remained the same - this would not have been carried out after the 17th of March 1918. Surely you are not suggesting that MvR would instruct his men to paint his aircraft in superseded National markings at some stage in April or even late March and then have them repaint it again shortly after.
This is not a question as to whether the LeChelle photos are of 425/17 or 477/17 it is simply a matter of logical deduction on the history of 425/17.
Langdon
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