Hans Shultz's Fokker DVII

Welcome Everybody,

I wasn't too sure whether to post this thread on 'Models' or 'Aircraft' as I'm not only curious about this plane, but as I have a huge pile of Fokker DVIIs and Albatros's (in boxes, as yet unmade) I thought it would make an interesting subject.

My question is, gang, did Hans Schultz serve with Jasta 18? The reason I've asked this question is that there is a picture of his aircraft on the 'Pilots and Planes' site; the aircraft is coloured the same as August Raben's Jasta colours of red and white. The information on this pilot seems to be very limited; I understand that he had the rank of Hauptmann and the aircraft production no. is 1450/18.

It seems quite a simple subject to build and paint.

Best Wishes, Ken :)

[Rick]

Ken,

Yes, Ltn.d.R. Hans Schultz went from Jasta 15 to Jasta 18 on 20Mar18. He was part of the 'Berthold swap', when he (Berthold) took command of JG II. Schultz was captured in Fokker D.VII 368/18. Perhaps 1450/18 is the Werk number?? He was perhaps promoted Hptm. after the EOW or upon retirement ?? R.

[Gregvan]

Hi,

Yes, as Rick says, Schultz' Fokker D.VII was 368/18 and it (and he) came from Jasta 18. The technical reports on this captured a/c gave the "F.N. 1450 and Maker's No. 2455". Both of these have been mistakenly reported as the military serial number; however, the Werke Nr. was 2455, the Wing Number (F/N=Flugel Nr., wing number) was 1450. The Werke Nr. 2455 corresponds to the military serial number 368/18.

As I wrote in Cross & Cockade, Vol.25 No. 1 (1984 !) the only known photo of this a/c show it after the fabric has been stripped off :-[. However, there is a sketch which was made by some artist which appeared in C & C G.B. 10 No. 3, page 141, which shows it with fabric on. It shows the machine painted in the usual Jasta 18 colors, but the raven is missing. Either it was never painted on, or had been souvenired and the artist "restored" some aspects of the air frame and did not show any missing fabric ?? I feel the raven probably wasn't there, but Ray Rimell "restored" the raven when he depicted this machine in Anthology 1. The sketch shows it had two vertical black ?? stripes on the fuseelage ahead of the tailplane. The Ministry of Munitions Report said of this aircraft:

"The fabric is coasre flax...It is colour-printed in the usual irregular polygons...The top surface of the wings is painted a brilliant vermillion, while on the underneath surface the fabric is untouched, and is revealed as the familiar printed fabric colour. The body is red in the front portion - where are the aluminum cowls - except the radiator, which is painted white. From the cockpit to the rear, the colour is white. The vertical surfaces of the tail are also white, and the horizontal surfaces - both top and bottom - black."

More to follow.

Greg

[Gregvan]

Just to confuse us, the Flight Magazine report on this same a/c contradicts the Ministry of Munitons report in some aspects. It says:

"The front portion of the body and the top portion of the top plane are painted a deep vermillion, while the rear portion of the body is painted white. The lower surfaces of the top plane and the bottom plane are camouflaged in the usual German manner by a printing in different colours of lozenge-shaped figures. The tail plane and elevator are painted black, with the exception of a parallel portion of the top surface, which is painted white like the body."

So was the bottom wing red on the top surface, or lozenge fabric ? Take your pick. Personally I think it was red, as was common practice onlater Jasta 18 D.VIIs. The tailplane was black except for a white central band roughly parallel to the fuselage upper longerons.

Is that sufficiently clear, or are you totally confused ?

Greg

[Dan_San_Abbott]

kenderoz:
In my study Catalog No. J18-50 of Ltn. Hans Schultz's Fok. D.VII 368/18, w.n 2455 is as follows based on all available data:
Wings; vermillion red on the upper surface and 4 color printed fabric on the lower surfaces. crosses, 1200 mm x 250 mm with white border between the arms 60 mm wide on the upper wing and 1000 mm x 200 on the lower wing with white borders 50 mm wide. wheel covers, u/c struts and cabane struts were vermillion red.
Fuselage; front radiator shell, lower front cowl back to the the rear landing gear leg, rear fuselage aft of the cockpit white, as were the fin and rudder and also the center part of the tailplane on both sides. 240 mm forward of the rear edge of the turtle-deck were two black bands, 150 mm wide and 250 mm apart.
The sides, top and bottom aft of the rear landing gear leg to rear of the cockpit were vermillion red.
The tailplane was painted black outside the white center panel on both sides.
The interplane struts were light grey.
The propeller was a Wolff make.
The rudder cross was 600 mm x 100mm.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Hi Everyone!

Thanks everybody for the information on this subject: now, I'll be able to build and paint an exceptionally accurate replica to add to my ever-growing collection of models.

Best Wishes, Ken. *;D