Fokker Dr. I service life?

cspellman · 14 August 2006, 09:42 AM

Did any Fokker Triplanes continue to fly on the Western front until the end of the war or were they all withdrawn to the Kests for homeland defense?

Dan_San_Abbott · 14 August 2006, 12:08 PM

cspellman:
There were several Fok.DR.I machines in use to the end of the war. ltn.josef Jacobs, Jasta 7 had two that he flew throughout 1918. He was sht down in October 1918 in Dr.I 450/17. Ltn.August Raben flew Fok.DR.I 481/17 to the end of the war. Another was in use in Jasta 59. There may have been others.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Taz · 14 August 2006, 02:22 PM

cspellman- There is also evidence August Raben flew a Dr.I out of Jasta 18 until the end of the war.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Pips · 14 August 2006, 02:49 PM

By the by what are Kests? Are they an alternate form of Jasta serving in locations other than the Western Front I'm not familiar with the term.

cspellman · 14 August 2006, 02:56 PM

Thanks for the info, gents. Cobby, the Kest units were located inside Germany and served as homeland air defense against bombers. Someone correct me if I they were located outside Germany as well. I read a great book some years ago on the British air offfensive against Germany during the final months of the war and the Kest units are mentioned throughout the book.

gipsymoth236k · 14 August 2006, 04:21 PM

I have often wondered if there were any American (AEF) pilots shot down by the Fokker Dr.I Triplane, or did any of them shoot down a Fokker Triplane? I know there was plenty of action between Fokker D.VIIs and the AEF.

Thanks in advance,

Gary Sewall

Gregvan · 14 August 2006, 05:14 PM

Hi,

On 1 August 1918, Lt.

Robert Todd of the 148th Aero Squadron received credit for downing a Fokker Triplane as his first victory, near Provin at 9:00 A.M.

There were several Americans who flew with the British who were also credited with downing Triplanes.

Duerson Knight and Howard Kullberg of No. 1 Sqn, Mike O'Neal's pal

Kenneth Unger of No. 210 Sqn, among others.

Greg

Taz · 14 August 2006, 06:03 PM

Cobby- Just as a help, KEST stood for Kampfeinsitzerstaffel.

Gary-

Frank Baylies was an American ace (12 victories) who flew with the Storks (Spa 3). He was shot down by Jasta 19 Dr.Is on 31 May 1918.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Simba · 18 August 2006, 02:41 PM

I recall reading somewhere that Jacobs kept his Tripehound flying by offering a reward for each 110hp Le Rhone engine that could be retrieved from downed Allied aircraft and 'donated' to him. The captured engines were more highly regarded than the Oberursel 'copy' of them which originally powered the Dr.1.