The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Pflaz DIIIa

Dan_San_Abbott · 3 November 2009, 12:42 PM

Gentlemen:
I found Frank Olynyk's score totals for Albatros and Pfalz aircraft rather interesting. I don't believe they reflect correct values. Long were the each at the front? How many Jagdstaffeln were equipped with each type?
Albatros D.III served from December 1916 to at least 31 August 1918. On 30 April 1917, there were 327 at the front and for them part the most successful of the German fighters in service, Also there were 97 Roland D.IIs 44 Fok.D.I and D.IIs and 97 Roland D.II in service at the front. There were several Roland Jasta with the Roland D.II or D.IIa Jasta 25, 27, 32b, 36 and 37. I don't know, but I suspect that some of the victories reported were credited to the wrong aircraft.
The Albatros D.III and the Alb.D.III(OAW) served longer than the Alb.D.V. The Alb.D.V entered front service in May 1917 and 216 were reported at the front on 30 June along with 72 Alb.D.II and 303 Alb.D.III. The Alb.D.V peaked at 526 on 31 Oct.1917 along with 446 Alb.D.III, mostly* (OAW) and 53 Alb.D.Va machines. By 28 February 1918 reporting, there were, 357 Alb.D.III(OAW*), 250 Alb.D.V and 475 Alb.D.Va aircraft. On 30 April the front listing reported 174 Alb.D.III(OAW*), 131 Alb.D.V and 928 Alb.D.Va.
A good number of the Jagdstaffeln had a mix of aircraft, for example, Jasta 4,7, 15,16b,18 and 21s, to pick a few, had a mix of Pfalz D.IIIa and Alb.D.V in February 1918.
The Pfalz D.III entered service in August 1917 with 3 machines at Jasta 10. By 31 October 1917 145 were at the front. on 31 December 1917, there were 276 Pfalz D.III and 114 Pfalz D.IIIa in service at the front which means 34 % of the fighters at the front were Pfalz D.III or D.IIIa types compared to the Albatros types. On 28 February there were 182 Pfalz D.III and 261 D.IIIa equals 443 Pfalz machines at the front and were 40.6% of the 1089 Albatros types. By 30 June there were 708 Albatros types and 321 Pfalz types which includes 14 D.VIII and 5 D.XII machine constitute 45 % of the Albatros types. On 31 August 1918, there were 379 Albatros types which breaks down to; 52 Alb.D.III, 20 D.V and 307 D.Va and 356 Pfalz types, 3 D.III, 166 D.IIIa 19 D.VIII and 168 D.XII.
Of the fighters at the front 1505, on 31 August 1918, 828 Fok.D.VII, (53.4%)
Albatros 379, (24.5%) and Pfalz 356 (23.0). Pfalz of Albatros types 93.9%
All through this study shows the Albatros types dwindling when compared to Pfalz aircraft. The Albatros D.III, D.V and D.Va were being replaced before the Pfalz D.IIIa and D.IIIa with the arrival of the Fok.D.VII. What this shows, Idflieg had preferred the Pfalz D.III and D.IIIa over the Alb.D.III, D.V and D.Va. This most likely had more to do with structural strength than performance.
I would have liked to see the At Front Listings for September and October 1918 to see if this trend continued and what effect did the Pfalx D.XV have.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

3 November 2009, 12:42 PM	#30 (permalink)
Dan_San_Abbott Rest in Peace Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Ceres, California Posts: 9,119	Under reported. Gentlemen: I found Frank Olynyk's score totals for Albatros and Pfalz aircraft rather interesting. I don't believe they reflect correct values. Long were the each at the front? How many Jagdstaffeln were equipped with each type? Albatros D.III served from December 1916 to at least 31 August 1918. On 30 April 1917, there were 327 at the front and for them part the most successful of the German fighters in service, Also there were 97 Roland D.IIs 44 Fok.D.I and D.IIs and 97 Roland D.II in service at the front. There were several Roland Jasta with the Roland D.II or D.IIa Jasta 25, 27, 32b, 36 and 37. I don't know, but I suspect that some of the victories reported were credited to the wrong aircraft. The Albatros D.III and the Alb.D.III(OAW) served longer than the Alb.D.V. The Alb.D.V entered front service in May 1917 and 216 were reported at the front on 30 June along with 72 Alb.D.II and 303 Alb.D.III. The Alb.D.V peaked at 526 on 31 Oct.1917 along with 446 Alb.D.III, mostly* (OAW) and 53 Alb.D.Va machines. By 28 February 1918 reporting, there were, 357 Alb.D.III(OAW), 250 Alb.D.V and 475 Alb.D.Va aircraft. On 30 April the front listing reported 174 Alb.D.III(OAW), 131 Alb.D.V and 928 Alb.D.Va. A good number of the Jagdstaffeln had a mix of aircraft, for example, Jasta 4,7, 15,16b,18 and 21s, to pick a few, had a mix of Pfalz D.IIIa and Alb.D.V in February 1918. The Pfalz D.III entered service in August 1917 with 3 machines at Jasta 10. By 31 October 1917 145 were at the front. on 31 December 1917, there were 276 Pfalz D.III and 114 Pfalz D.IIIa in service at the front which means 34 % of the fighters at the front were Pfalz D.III or D.IIIa types compared to the Albatros types. On 28 February there were 182 Pfalz D.III and 261 D.IIIa equals 443 Pfalz machines at the front and were 40.6% of the 1089 Albatros types. By 30 June there were 708 Albatros types and 321 Pfalz types which includes 14 D.VIII and 5 D.XII machine constitute 45 % of the Albatros types. On 31 August 1918, there were 379 Albatros types which breaks down to; 52 Alb.D.III, 20 D.V and 307 D.Va and 356 Pfalz types, 3 D.III, 166 D.IIIa 19 D.VIII and 168 D.XII. Of the fighters at the front 1505, on 31 August 1918, 828 Fok.D.VII, (53.4%) Albatros 379, (24.5%) and Pfalz 356 (23.0). Pfalz of Albatros types 93.9% All through this study shows the Albatros types dwindling when compared to Pfalz aircraft. The Albatros D.III, D.V and D.Va were being replaced before the Pfalz D.IIIa and D.IIIa with the arrival of the Fok.D.VII. What this shows, Idflieg had preferred the Pfalz D.III and D.IIIa over the Alb.D.III, D.V and D.Va. This most likely had more to do with structural strength than performance. I would have liked to see the At Front Listings for September and October 1918 to see if this trend continued and what effect did the Pfalx D.XV have. Blue skies, Dan-San