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Originally Posted by Langdon
Dave W.
The dates you have provided above give us a great insight into the unfolding events of the time, the first thing that draws attention was the brief period that MvR flew 152/17, I had always thought this aircraft was an old faithful, kind of like the Albatros he handed on to Lothar. Having studied the events you quote above it becomes evident, if Dan-San and others are correct, that he only used this aircraft for 6 days, and recorded three victories on it!
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I had always thought 152/17 was one of his main mounts also. It sure looks war weary in the photos to have been used only for a short time. As others have stated maybe he simply had not scored in it before. It was delivered in Nov or Dec 1917 and I do not think MvR would have taken over a used machine.
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Originally Posted by Langdon
As with others I have been re-reading many books lately. Last night I came across another scenario for this aircraft, Ed Ferko states that 152/17, along with other Jasta 11 triplanes, were sent to Jasta 5 where it was flown by  Josef Mai between the 15th and 17th of May, possibly scoring an additional victory, does anyone have further information on this? I cannot imagine a pilot in another Jasta flying in MvR's colours. |
Laserlloyd on this site mentioned Mai had scored in 152/17 on a earlier thread. This is the only other source I have heard state this. I to doubt someone else would use MvR's colors, maybe Mai modified the paint scheme ? 152/17 sure looks very thicky overpainted in it's final paint job,maybe in a effort to make it red again for the museum?
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Originally Posted by Langdon
Kilduff states that MvR had three triplanes at his disposal, 127/17 and 477/17 so which is the third 152/17 or 425/17? If he's correct, one or the other has to be present at LeChelle.
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As RagIII has mentioned above,because of MVR position it would be logical for his plane to be repainted with the new style crosses first correct? In the photo of the LeChelle lineup with the swastika marked plane,the 8th plane in the line appears to be a overall dark color even the rudder and it appears to have had the cross change done already. Maybe this is the third red plane?
CWatson