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Originally Posted by Dan_San_Abbott
Langdon:
Sorry if dodged your question. There is a very large piece from the left side of the fuselage that Alan inspected, on it under the red was Fok.DR.I 425/17. And the style of the lettering is definitely Fokker Flugzeugwerke. I have his report on this piece and I don't know if this is the piece that he idenified as not having any streaked camouflage. On my piece of fabric only had clear dope, 2 coats and one coat of very dark red. I have difficulty a production aircraft would go through Army in house inspection and final inspection and test flown in natural doped fabric. without any notation on the acceptance documents explaning it will go to MvR. It arrives at the Front in February 1918, while he is flying DR.I 114/17, DR.I 152/17, DR.I 127/17 and Dr.I 477/17. An yet there is no mention of this machines in his combat reports, his letters to Mama. From that I can only conclude that he did not fly this machine until 19 April 1918 or maybe a day or so before that, however that is supposition. There is no evidence anywhere, any statements from his pilots about this machine until his combat report of 19 April 1918. You cannot prove he has ever flown it before 19 April !918 and neither can I or anyone else. My personal opinion is the fuselage was recovered. Most likely at the Army Flugpark 2. Why is there no record of anyone not flying 425/17 until MvR scores a victory on 19 April 1918, It had to be somewhere for some reason, my opinion is maybe in transit it was damaged in shipment and sat at AFP2 four 3 months. Maybe it was painted red at AFP 2 for MvR??? He had alot of Horse Power! Maybe........?
Blue skies,
Dan-San
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Dan-San,
It seems we are getting closer to agreeing on this. For some reason 425/17 is not mentioned until around the end of April 1918 but we know the aircraft had been around much longer, in fact it was accepted on January the 8th 1918 and as I have established for you its national markings changes provide strong evidence that the aircraft was reserved for MvR prior to the beginning of March otherwise it would not have been painted with narrow white borders surrounding its Iron Cross markings.
You made the point that you have difficulty in the concept of a production aircraft going through an Army in house inspection and final inspection and test flown in natural doped fabric and I agree with you. Therefore it is highly likely that 425/17 went through this process painted in its red scheme with all stencils and blue under-surface camouflage (there really are no other possibilities).
You also mention you have difficulty that it could go through this process "without any notation on the acceptance documents explaining it will go to MvR". This should not surprise you, in one of your postings above you state that Goering's all white D.VII was factory finished and as you know there was no mention in the acceptance sheets of its non standard scheme nor who it was destined to be flown by. This is not surprising though as there is no column on the acceptance sheet for such a notation nor, apart from our historical interest, would there be any need for this information.
You are correct that I cannot prove that the aircraft had been flown prior to April 19 but there is more circumstantial evidence for, than against. It seems likely given the time it was attached to the Jasta (attested by its national markings changes).
You are also correct when you say that... "He had alot of Horse Power! Maybe........?"
Langdon