Wreckage, but of what

[charles]

Can anyone figure out what airplane this is - or possibly the remains of two airplanes?



This was posted on ebay and the poster notes the Seeflieger hatband

Charley

[EdStevens]

Some observations: the wreckage is curiously "clean" with virtually no fabric remnants attached to the elevator or rudder, no wheels on the undercarriage, and no debris on the ground under it. It appears to have been stripped previously and moved to this location and placed there, possibly from the train in the background.

[YavorD]

Empennage structure reminds me Albatros B.II or C.I.
Regards,
Yavor

[Lyle]

My vote is that it's a Rumpler C-type, possibly C.IV. Angled ribs in elevator plus inverted airfoil profile in stab are all likely indicators...
Neat photo!

[Der Grüne Flieger]

I'd say Rumpler as well.

In addition, take a look at the guy third from the right. He looks guilty as hell.

Phil

[Varese2002]

Originally Posted by EdStevens

Some observations: the wreckage is curiously "clean" with virtually no fabric remnants attached to the elevator or rudder, no wheels on the undercarriage, and no debris on the ground under it. It appears to have been stripped previously and moved to this location and placed there, possibly from the train in the background.

This picture makes the following brain waves in my head:

• are these remnants (fully cleaned as Ed has already noted) of any use and what is this use?

• Eight people which are guarding this precious heap ? Or is this heap used to pose and is there no relation between the people and the remnants?

• the ominous presence of the train with it wagons in a tree-less landscape brings in my mind pieces of Kafka, especially when looking these eight mostly grim men in the face

Kees

[StephenLawson]

Interesting comments. Consider these.

The "pilot " is wearing a flieger combination suit. Image taken as early as spring 1918.

The last name of several personnel are written over the top of them in hande schrift in what appears to be a weak fountain pen ink.

The landing gear at left notes a Rumpler C.IV - VII type.

The lack of coal scuttle helmets in use - notes image taken well behind the lines.

The established rail head and buildings in the background (and rail car contents) may note this is a taken at a military dispersal depot.

The wreckage is throughly burned but no engine can be discerned and the ground beneath it does not look charred.

Most are wearing clean heavy coats. Early spring or late fall 1918.

The "Seeman" seems to be the only naval personnel present. Though it is hard to tell about the pilot.

I agree that this whole image may be posed for the benefit of the fellows concerned.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Charles:
It is a Rumpler C.IV, C.V. C.VI, C.VII or C.IX. Without the engine and/or fuel tanks, it could be any one of the above.
Blue skies,
Dan-San.

[Gregvan]

Hi,

The ebay seller of this photo (item 110134347208) describes it as a postwar Freikorps shot. I asked Dick Bennett (President of OtF and an expert on the Freikorps) to check it out. Here's part of what he had to say:

"I can't zoom in close enough to get a good look at the collar insignia, but they appear to be oak leaves. A lot of Freikorps units used oak leaves, but in overall size and general proportions, these look most like the von Hülsen Freikorps, which fought the Spartacists in Berlin in January and March 1919 and in Mitteldeutschland in April and May."

"There wasn't very much (if any) air-to-air combat between the Freikorps and the Reds...My guess is that this is the aftermath of an accident...The pilot's name appears to be Stübe - maybe I can run down some connection with him."

Finally, Dan-San nailed it when he described this as one of the later Rumpler C-types.

Greg

[charles]

Dan & Greg,

Thank you very much for your help as well as that of the other gentlemen.

It was great finally meeting you both at the OTF seminar, my very first. I could not stay for the dinner as my younger daughter, Emma, was turning 3, a very big deal for Emme. Like her older sister, who is 6.5 yaers old, we adopted Emme from China.

I will see you both at the next one, if not sooner.

Charley