Albatros DV insignia ?

PFFF · 23 November 2004, 03:59 PM

The Colored photo of a Albatros DV:
1) Reconstruction?
2) What is the insignia of a fire breathing Dragon mean?

StephenLawson · 23 November 2004, 06:36 PM

What is this in reference to? Where is the coloured image?

PFFF · 24 November 2004, 04:41 AM

See

Hans Waldhausen of Jasta 37 bio.
Words "Albatros DV" is outlined and goes to colored photo

EricGoedkoop · 24 November 2004, 05:20 AM

I think he's referring to this, the Aerodrome DV page.

The aeroplane pictured is a replica built for a museum, but top of my head I forget where it is. I think Dan-San Abbott had something to do with it, and I know he has commented previously that the silbergrau is incorrect and was a choice made by the builder and/or owner of the machine to give it a snappier appearance. The original was part of a small batch of Albatri painted overall dull grey. Otherwise, the scheme is authentic to the best of my knowledge. I would ask Dan-San for the details - he'll fill you in.

Mark_Miller · 24 November 2004, 06:15 AM

That particular photo is of a reproduction or a restoration.
But it is based on an actual scheme
photos exist

Mark

PFFF · 24 November 2004, 07:43 AM

Thanks for answaaering query

Cigogne · 24 November 2004, 09:16 AM

The Museum of Flight in Seattle in their new Personal Courage Wing has the Albatros D.V replica built by James Appleby. It is finished in those markings.

I took a look at it a few weeks ago. Nice looking. A few discrepancies, but it is fitted with a 180 h.p. Mercedes D.IIIa. The engine cowling panels don't wrap around the cylinder heads and their is no step in the port side of the fuselage for pilot egress into the cockpit. Other than that, it looks pretty good to me!

Dan_San_Abbott · 24 November 2004, 09:59 AM

PPPF:
Several years ago Jim Appleby commissioned me to provide tohe marking data for Oblt. Richard Flashar's Alb.D.V 2065/17 with the fire breathing dragon on the side of the fuselage. From photos and an article that appeared in Cross & Cockade Vol.1, No.3. When Oblt. Flashar, the Jasta 5 Jastaführer received a new Alb.D.V he passed D.2065/17 on to the newest pilot in the Jasta, Ltn. Hans Joachim von Hippel. Ltn.Hippel did not change any of the markings to reflect his ownership of this machine. It still had black F painted on the underside of each lower wing. It was in this form that the data I funished to Jim for the markings for this machine.
When Patti (wife) and I went out Flabob Airport to see the final results ,I was horrified. The grey fuselage was painted aluminum, all the crosses were screwed up, the form was incorrect and the borders were way to narrow. I chided Jim about the aluminum in place of the grey, he said , "It was too dull. so I painted it aluminum to jazz up the color!" I also raised the subject of the crosses,for which I had provided all the dimensions, his reply was, "The sign painted thought they looked better this way." So much for accuracy!
At that time it had some other engine it and it screwed up the mounting of the machine guns. Jim Did not build this machine, he bought it from some ne else and finished it. It was an abortion to say the least, too much imagination and short of actual facts!
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Intrepid · 24 November 2004, 07:04 PM

Of further note:

Albatros D.V 2065/17 dragon's tail continued on the fin and rudder as an unoutlined red multiple branching tail ,each branch ending in a barb. Dr. Merrill believes there were as many as 13 branches, but also notes his count may be off by one or two.

For further reading see "Jagdstaffel 5 vol 1 " by G.K. Merrill. Bob Pearson has done a superb rendition of this aircraft according to Merrill in this book.