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Laserlloyd · 19 June 2009, 07:22 AM

Hi Dan-San:

Yes, the lower wing cross held at AWM does have the March 17, 1918 Balkenkreuz style. I think this was was more common at that time due to the amount of cross changes in a short time (IMO). This can be seen in other photos of different Dr.I's. I should have made that more clearer as I was narrowing on the two fuselage crosses (RCMI, Omaka). It should be noted that the Lower Wing cross was not changed correctly (IMO) to the March 17, 1918 Balkenkreuz order. The width of the Eisernes Kreuz was not followed as the Balkenkreuz cross show a shorter beam width with the end of the Eisernes Kreuz extending past the beam width causing these points to stick out past the newer beam width.

The top wing cross held at AWM also show the March 17, 1918 Balkenkreuz style.

The rudder is a bit of mystery too but I believe the fabric was replaced and would have had just the one Balkenkreuz style of April 10 order.

It also needs to be said that there is no factory streaked camouflage on any of the 425/17 samples. The only other color found would be the factory blue on the bottom surface as also seen in the 20mm side bleed in the RCMI sample located at the bottom edge were the lower longeron would be. It's hard to see in the photo posted here but you can still see it. Alan's high res photos clearly shows the 20mm blue border. I have excluded the new gray anomaly streaks that is showing up in many of the the samples.

Dan-San I have tried to stay away from the photo controversy and just talk about the fabric sample. As you know there are these two main theory's on which plane is in the photo. I hope that one day we will have more photographic and or document evidence to proves which one it is. Just like you, I would like not to debate this subject anymore as we have done this many time in the past until new evidence comes to light. I will say that it could be one of the two but what is more important to me is Fabric samples from 425/17 them self.

The piece of fabric that you once owned, was this the piece clipped from the RCMI top right corner sample?

For all the others that would like to learn more on this please read the old threads on this subject as there are several.

Lloyd...

19 June 2009, 07:22 AM	#23 (permalink)
Laserlloyd Fokker DR.I Top Ace Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN (USA) Posts: 2,245	Hi Dan-San: Yes, the lower wing cross held at AWM does have the March 17, 1918 Balkenkreuz style. I think this was was more common at that time due to the amount of cross changes in a short time (IMO). This can be seen in other photos of different Dr.I's. I should have made that more clearer as I was narrowing on the two fuselage crosses (RCMI, Omaka). It should be noted that the Lower Wing cross was not changed correctly (IMO) to the March 17, 1918 Balkenkreuz order. The width of the Eisernes Kreuz was not followed as the Balkenkreuz cross show a shorter beam width with the end of the Eisernes Kreuz extending past the beam width causing these points to stick out past the newer beam width. The top wing cross held at AWM also show the March 17, 1918 Balkenkreuz style. The rudder is a bit of mystery too but I believe the fabric was replaced and would have had just the one Balkenkreuz style of April 10 order. It also needs to be said that there is no factory streaked camouflage on any of the 425/17 samples. The only other color found would be the factory blue on the bottom surface as also seen in the 20mm side bleed in the RCMI sample located at the bottom edge were the lower longeron would be. It's hard to see in the photo posted here but you can still see it. Alan's high res photos clearly shows the 20mm blue border. I have excluded the new gray anomaly streaks that is showing up in many of the the samples. Dan-San I have tried to stay away from the photo controversy and just talk about the fabric sample. As you know there are these two main theory's on which plane is in the photo. I hope that one day we will have more photographic and or document evidence to proves which one it is. Just like you, I would like not to debate this subject anymore as we have done this many time in the past until new evidence comes to light. I will say that it could be one of the two but what is more important to me is Fabric samples from 425/17 them self. The piece of fabric that you once owned, was this the piece clipped from the RCMI top right corner sample? For all the others that would like to learn more on this please read the old threads on this subject as there are several. Lloyd... __________________ Fokker Dr.I Photo Web Site At FokkerDr1.com This site is dedicated to document the pictorial history of all 320 Fokker Dr.I's built during World War I and the fighter pilot Manfred Von Richthofen also known as The "Red Baron" Last edited by Laserlloyd; 19 June 2009 at 07:28 AM.