Friedrichshafen FF29

[Regulus]

Hi,

Has anyone basic specifications on these planes that were in use at Seeflugstation Zeebrugge in 1915 ?
I have quite some info on the FF's but not on this one ! :-[

Thanks and best from Regulus

[Regulus]

It seems as that the FF 33 was developped from the FF 29, and the photo I've seen was taken from the back, and the only real difference I remarked was the tail. Am I correct ?

Thanks and best from Regulus

Regulus,

the FF 29 was indeed one of the aircraft in a basically unchanged row of designs spanning from the pre war FF 19 (of which 15 were build) over the FF29 to the FF 33 and basically to the FF 49.

The FF 29 was build in 44 examples by both Friedrichshafen and KW Wilhelmshaven, naval numbers being 91-100, 201-220, 290-296 and 406-415, (3 of which were not build, leaving 44 in total).

In general, the FF 29 was an up-engined FF 19, replacing the Daimler D I with a D II (or an Argus in some aircraft), even though some or all of the Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven build FF 29´s seem to have reverted to the D I.

Dimensions of the FF 29 included a span of 16.300 mm and a length of 10 200 mm, even though variations may be possible.

The FF 29 was really similar to the early FF 33/33a - an identifier compared to the later 33 versions being the third float under the tail.

Use in Zeebrugge included the first recorded attack on British soil (by aircraft 204 on Dec 24, 1914, the bomb crater of whose bombs were found - something not happening with the first "usually claimed" attack by Carl Caspar in a Gotha Taube 2 month earlier) or the retrival of HMS Maori´s Ensign by a/c 209 on May 7, 1915.

There is a number of photos of Zeebrugge FF 29´s. Two typical examples include the two aircraft above, which are both depicted in Alex Imrie´s "German Naval Air Service" (in the AAP Vintage Aviation Fotofax series), photos 18 and 25 (even though Imrie misses out the story of 204 over there).

Volker

[Regulus]

Volker,

Thank you very much again !

I even know about the bombings, but never had any idea it happened with these planes ! I have both German and British remarks on it. A real surprise to me !

I just ran into some hundreds of new photo's of the Marinekorps the other day in an archive over here, very few concerned naval air units, but the ones who did were very interesting. The FF29, and the Sopwith Schneider were amongst them.

Again, sincere thanks and

Best from Regulus

or the retrival of HMS Maori´s Ensign by a/c 209 on May 7, 1915.

Hi Volker,

* *This is very interesting. Can you expand on this subject?

* * * *MacBain

Hi Volker,

* *This is very interesting. Can you expand on this subject?

* * * *MacBain

I can´t offer more than what Imrie wrote in the AAP booklet:

The HMS Maori (which, as an educated guess, must have been a destroyer of either the "M" class or the early "Tribal" class) was sunk by a mine near Blankenberghe (Belgium) on May 7, 1915. Her yardarm with the flag still flying remained above water after the sinking.

FF 29 No. 209, piloted by Olt. zS Drekmann landed near the wreck, and the observer, a Faehnrich zS von Bluecher (no idea whether this guy belonged to that Bluecher family) climbed out on the wing of the a/c. "With a open clasp knife between his teeth, pirate fashion" (to quote directly from Imrie) Drekmann positioned v. Bluecher (after some attempts) in such a way that he could cut loose the Ensign. After a "hazardous take off" they returned to Zeebrugge.

The photo coming with that story shows the crew with HMS Maori´s Ensign in front of 209. Disregarding the potential fatalities aboard the destroyer, I like that story for the fact that it shows how these guys tried to maintain a sense of tradition and even humor in an otherwise cruel beyond believe period of time.

Volker

[Regulus]

Hi,

Just some additional info on HMS Maori.

Constructed in 1909, 1035 tons, mined 2 miles NW of the Wielingen Light Vessel, had two 4inch guns and two 21 inch torpedotubes.
She belonged to my surprise to the last F class Destroyers. HMS Crusader, and HMS Maori. There were also some differences between these ships.

Also part of the F class were the HMS Nubian, Viking, Zulu, Amazon, Saracen, Swift, Afridi, Cossack, Ghurka, Mohawk and Tartar.

As mentioned she ran on a mine and while sinking, her crew also opened the valves on the bottom of the ship. Crew left ship in sloops and were to be rescued by HMS Crusader. Both ships were fired at by the Zeebrugge batteries and some planes from the Seeflugstation were also on the way (one of them probably being 209). HMS Crusader went for safer waters and had to leave the crew of HMS Maori. Two fishing vessels from Flanders took the crew on board, amongst them commander Barrow and 88 officers, NCO's and men. Amongst them it seems also some crew of the sloops of HMS Crusader that came to the rescue. The prisoners were transferred to Germany the next day.

Best from Regulus

[DavidErrol]

I always liked this photograph that appeared in the New York Times Mid Week Pictoral in 1917.

Sorry the scan isn't the best. DE