Albatros W.8 seaplane

[ArvoLV]

Esteemed forum members;

I am trying to locate some more exacting information re the Albatros W.8 seaplane(s). Ray Wagner/Heinz Nowarra, in their book, German Combat Planes; Doubleday Press; 1971, LOC CCN 71-125035, states on page 177 that two Albatros W.8's were built. One had a prop spinner, the other did not. A third a/c may have been built, but this is not certain. Both W.8's were completed in July of 1918; they had a Benz Bz IIIb engine. There is a photograph of a W.8 in front of what looks like a large hangar with many doors on page 177 of the Wagner/Nowarra book. This W.8 has a spinner cap on the propeller. Page 178 of the same book shows a second W.8 with the number 5002 on the fuselage; no spinner cap.

My questions then:

- Is it known exactly how many Albatros W.8 seaplanes were built (two or more)?
- What became of them/where did these airplanes serve operationally?
- Do any additional photographs of Albatros W.8's exist (aside from those in the Wagner/Nowarra book cited above)?

Thank you kindly in advance for any additional information re the above.

Regards;

Arvo L. V.

[Varese2002]

Only 3 Albatros W 8 two seat fighter floatplanes were built, which got the Marinenummer 5001-5003.

I do not know what became of them. There are two possibilities. The first one is broken up after the armistice owing to the stipulations in the Treaty of Versailles. The second is that it was taken to the allied nations for study. Will look into it.

Think I have seen more pictures of the W 8. Will look for it.

Kees

[Varese2002]

ArvoLV

I have seen two pictures of the 8002 one directly of the side, the other a 3/4 view from the back (right). The pictures look like official Albatros firm pictures.

Douglas T. Pardee states in a two part history of the Albatroswerke GmbH that of the three W.8 machines ordered, possibly two were supplied before the armistice.

So it is a meager harvest, but that is possibly all there is

Kees

[ArvoLV]

Esteemed Kees;

Thank you very much for your information; am most appreciative of same. If you have any leads or ideas as to where I could obtain some 3-view renderings of this airplane as well, I would be much obliged to you.

Again, many thanks.

Regards;

Arvo L. V.

[TASSE]

in lennart anderssons book - soviet aircraft & aviation 1917-1941(putnam)
page 323 it states that 2 albatros seaplanes (663 & 674) were captured on
the red sea. the exact type is not known.
could these be the mysterious albatros w 8s ?

many thanks in anticipation of an answer TASSE.

[Varese2002]

Originally Posted by TASSE

in lennart anderssons book - soviet aircraft & aviation 1917-1941(putnam)
page 323 it states that 2 albatros seaplanes (663 & 674) were captured on
the red sea. the exact type is not known.
could these be the mysterious albatros w 8s ?

many thanks in anticipation of an answer TASSE.

Black sea surely. Andersson gives it as 'Albatros' floatplanes with 220 hp Benz engine. The machines are an enigma because no Albatros seaplanes were built with the 220 hp Benz and the Marine number 663 and 674 were not given to Albatros seaplanes.

663 was a Friedrichshafen FF 33E (Benz Bz.III engine) and 674 was a Gotha WD 7 (twin engined).

Surely these two machines were no Albatros W 8 floatplanes.

Kees

[TASSE]

dear kees
thank you for the info.i should have looked it up.
like arvoL i too am looking for a small 3-view so as to compose a detailed
multy-view for my web site <www.roytassell.com> any information would
be of great help.
thanks for your reply TASSE.

[Varese2002]

Originally Posted by TASSE

d--looking for a small 3-view so as to compose a detailed multi-view ----

To be honest I have never seen a 3-view of the Albatros W 8 till now.

Kees

[TASSE]

Originally Posted by Varese2002

To be honest I have never seen a 3-view of the Albatros W 8 till now.

Kees

Dear Kees. Acording to German Aircraft of the First World War by P.Gray & O.Thetford (Putnam) the 3 W.8s.had 195h.p. Benz 111b.V.8. engines.
Would this be a clue to the 2 captured in the Black Sea ?

Cheers again TASSE.

[TASSE]

I now have almost enough info to draw a reasonable side view but still need details fon the plan & front view.

There must be info out there somewhere.

Cheers TASSE.