[Craig]

Regarding the assertion that the D.VIII was "pretty much a bust in combat":

I'll not argue with Mr. Grosz (even in absentia). But I don't believe that the Germans recorded who was flying what when they shot down whomever - or at least the surviving records don't include this info. Point is, there may have been more D.VIII victories, but we don't know because the type of a/c used to accomplish this wasn't recorded.

The limitations imposed on the type: wing failure due to shoddy workmanship, lack of castor oil, and the Armistice, limited the planes's success. I read an account from an SE5a pilot who, after encountering the D.VIII in combat for the first time, said something along the lines of 'it toyed with us', and that 1919 might well turn out to be 'another 1915'. Sorry; I can't recall where I read this at the moment.

Interestingly, in 1917 MvR was very displeased with the "new" Albatros D.V, and made a similar comment to the SE5a pilot's first remark - the Camel and SE5 pilots "could play with us" in the D.V.

Craig