SSW D.III and D.IV in combat

[VonHelton]

RE: Pfalz D.VIII
I'm pretty sure that Bäumer and Beckmann were successful with it, as was Auffarth. But Bäumer cracked his up and sat on the bench for months with a shattered jaw. I'd imagine they weren't the easiest to fly. Reasonably fast and blessed with a fine rate of climb, they D.VIII was used primarily by the Kests as the SSW fighters were more maneuverable.

RE: Claims against SSW's
Who knows, what with RFC claims being so dodgy. Some unit claimed 2 SSW D.IV's as 'OOC' in September, but like I said . . . and it seems an 'OOC' is as good a a wink to a blind man . . . .

YEP!!

That's how Bäumer got the nickname "Iron Eagle"!!

LOL!

[Craig]

Just hoping for the second part of DSA's answer . . .

RE:Pfalz D.VIII

Doesn't look like you think much of the Pfalz D VIII.

Joe

[Craig]

That 'smiley' was a mistake. Never use them, at least not intentionally.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

baldeagle:
As I promised here is Part 2.
following Idfliegs instructions the Siemens-Schuckert Werke (SSW) rebuilt the SSW D.III machines that had been withdrawn from the front in May 1918. The Aircraft were rebuilt with a new rudder, and wings and the engine cowl cut back to aid in the engine's cooling. The Sh.III engines were rebuilt and a good number of the SSW D.III had been powered with the Rehenania lMotorenfabrik AG license built Sh.III(Rh) engines. THe SSW D.IV that were coming out at the same time were powered with the new Sh.IIIa engine built by Siemens-Halske.
Jage Nr.2. On 22 July five SSW D.III aircraft, s/n D.1603/18 and D.1614 to 1617/18. twn more were received on 17 October, s/n D.3077/18 and D.3082/18. On 25 october 1918, Jage Nr.2 received SSW D.III 3083/18. I don't have any information which ones went to which Jasta. Jasta 12 did received some of the rebuilt SSW D.III machines and had them to the end of the war.
Jasta 15 had some in October and November.
I have no means to tell which victories were attributed to the SSW D.III fighters.
Jasta 14 received seven SSW D.IV on 23 August 1918, which supplemented the Fok. DR.I they had in inventory. On 28 October, Jasta 14 received four more SSW D.IV machines, followed on 5 November 1918 with six more SSW D.IV machines.
During the period of 23 August to 11 November 1918, three victories were achieved in late October, one aircraft and two balloons shot on 29 October by Vzfw. Paul Rothe. He was most likely flying a SSW D.IV Fighter, which by the late date Jasta 14 was fully equipped.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

SSW D.III / SSW D.IV continued.
* *Jasta 22 received a total of 10 SSW D.IV machines between 30 August and 9 October 1918.
During the period of 30 August to 28 October 1918, Jasta 22 achieved 12 victories. Ltn. Alfred Lenz, Jastaführer, shot down a S.E.5a over Bellenglise at 1050 hours. *The most successful Jasta 22 pilot was Vzfw. Karl Bohenkamp, who scored seven victories during this period. While I cannot say he achieved this while flying a SSW D.IV, those most likely after 9 October were most probably achieved while he was flying a SSW D.IV, the last two, his 14th on the 27 October and his 15th on the 28 October.
*The Kampfeinsitzerstaffeln, (Kest) were home defense units had received the bulk of the rebuilt SSW D.III machines *
Kest 6 at Bonn began receiving their SSW D.III *on 2 August 1918 and by 4 october 1918 had received a total of eight SSW D.III aircraft.
Kest 5 at Lahr-Dingingen received a total of 12 SSW.D.III aircraft between 24 August and 9 November 1918.
Kest 8 were located at Bitsch and were issued a toal of five SSW D.III machines between 24 August to 9 November 1918.
Kest 4b based at Freiburg received a full complement of 12 SSW D.III aircraft between 2 September and 11 September 1918.
Kest 2 stationed at Saarbrucken was issued a total of ten SSW D.III aircraft between 16 September and 8 November 1918.
Kest 4a based at Böblingen, were issued a total of 8 SSW D.III machines between 5 October and 9 November 1918.
*On 29 October 1918, Kest 2 became Jasta 82, Kest 4a and 4b were combined and became Jasta 84w. *Kest 5 became Jasta 85, Kest 6, became Jasta 86 and Kest 8 became Jasta 88.
* The victory records for the Kest are incomplete and none of the War Diaries show any victories during the period of 22 July to 11 November 1918.
* The Kest were involved in the home defense of Germany and there was considerable activity by the French, British and American Bomber units *during this period (July-November). *With that in mind the above Kests were deployed for the sole purpose to intercept those bombers. *The bombing forcres suffered loses, so it is most probable that there were victories achive by German pilots flying the SSW D.III aircraft. *Unfortunuately we can't prove that *assumption.
* * * * * * * * * * * *Blue skies,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dan-San
P.S. Oblt. Ernst Udet did not fly any combat patrols with his all red (rudder was white) SSW.D.III 8350/17.

[Lyle]

Dan-San,
Is there any evidence to indicate that some of the D.IIIs that served previously in JGII retained their squadron colors when put into service with the Kests?
Thanks in advance--

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Lyle:
I really don'y know, but it is possible.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[baldeagle]

Thanks Dan-San. Did Jasta 22 have specific unit markings on it's SSW D.IVs?

AK