Mystry Fokker D.VII from Dittman collection.

Hi Guys,
Joe posted a closer veiw of a line up of early Fokker D.VII at mensil at the Forum of www.Flieger-Album.de. There is a Fokker with what looks like a 'prancing Bear' standing on its hind legs. Does anyone have any information on the pilot or the markings themselves.
your stu

[StephenLawson]

the closest Fok. D.VII is Jasta 13 own Ltn.d.R. Werner Niethammer (Jun18) to EOW. I believe Greg VanWyngarden covered this bird (Niethammer = rivethammer) in an installment of Over the Front 'Colors' coniciding with Rick Duiven's very fine JG II piece. About Vol 9 or 10.

Thanks Stephen,
I've been looking at Neithammer early D.VII and it seems to have a different tail cross, smaller than one in Anthology 1 p50, possible a third Neithammer plane.
your stu

No mystery about the origin of the insignia. The bear insignia is the traditional symbol of Berlin... even unto the present day! It is part of the Stadtwappen (city crest) as well as regional area. The pilot most likely was from there, hence the insignia. Time to track down which pilots in the unit hailed from there. Karolus Bärenfanger (Bearcatcher) of Jasta 28w also used a nearly identical symbol.

Hansa

[Rick]

However, the aircraft to the left of Niethammer's is sporting the 'man-in-the-moon' motif. A similarly marked Abatros D.III (Va ?) was also in Jasta 14. Most likely the pilot went from Jasta 14 to Jasta 18 to Jasta 15 with Berthold. R.

Thanks guys,
It is possible that it is a man in the moon symbol but it is in a Jasta 13 line up not Jasta 15.

yours stu

[Craig]

Prancing Bear or Man-in-the-Moon?

I say the former.

Thanks for the vote of confidance Craig, I am waiting to see what Greg VanWyngarden says as he knows more than me on this subject.
yours stu

[Gregvan]

Hi Stu,

I had formerly thought this was a sort of crecent moon motif, since all I had was a poor copy of this photo, which came from the Dr. Volker Koos photo via Pete Grosz; I'm sure Dr. Koos' original print was clearer. Thanks very much to Joe and Stu for posting these nice sharp images !! I totally agree that it is a "Berlin Bear" emblem. Very nice indeed !!

I wonder which Jasta 13 pilot hailed from Berlin ??

Greg VanWyngarden

Thanks Greg,
I have been doing a little research but I still do not have all my books back from moving house so there may be mistakes in what I write.

I think there are 13 possible candidates with Jasta 13 for the period mid to late June. I think that it may be mid June as In the photo of the same line up (Fokker Anthology 1 p49) Uffz Piel Fokker does not appear to have its bullet repair patches.
5 of these can be illimnated straight away as we already have confirmation of there planes and personal embalems. These being:-

1. Ltn Franz Buchner
2. Ltn Werner Neithammer
3. Vzfw Albert Haussmann
4. Uffz Johannes Fritzsche
5. Uffz Heinrich Piel

If we now look at wheather they have a connection by birth to Berlin we can rule out three.

6. Ltn Ulrich Neckel born Karlsruhe, Mecklenburg.
7. Ofstv Jakob Ledermann from Czempin, Posen now Poland- also I'm having doubts as to whether he was with the Jasta at this period of June, therefore the provisional identification made by Greg in Fokker Anthology of his embalem of the star of David may be called into question,and I have not listed him with the list of confirmed above.
8. Ltn Werner Dittmann born Koslin.

That leaves:-

9. Ltn Schwarz
10. Ltn Ernst Henke
11. Uffz Hertzsch
12. Uffz Laab

I have no information to hand concerning these men, any would be greatly received.

your stu