Siemens-Schuckert D. III/IV in Switzerland

[Raineranton]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

Hi There,

The unknown pilot's personal marking was based on the epaulette badge of his former unit. In the old "Profile Publication" on the SSW D.III and D.IV, this Peter Grosz photo is indeed captioned as showing 8356/17.

Hello,

I don´t know if this is known, or if this helps for identification about the pilot with the former unit emblem, but the sign is of

2. Ostpreußische Grenadier-Regiment Friedrich Wilhelm I. Nummer 3.


Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I. ( 2. Ostpreußisches ) Nr. 3

There is a picture of this SSW D III of KEST 5 at Lahr in the Propellerblatt No. 6.

Regards

Rainer

[mikec]

I don't know if it helps but one of Dembrowsky and Eger is described as "Ostpreussen" in the copies of the records I have [Dembrowsky]. Eger is described as coming from "Leipzig".

[Gregvan]

Hallo Raineranton,

Thanks so much for that great information! I had forgotten about the photo in "Propellerblatt".

Thanks again.

Greg

[Raineranton]

Originally Posted by mikec

I don't know if it helps but one of Dembrowsky and Eger is described as "Ostpreussen" in the copies of the records I have [Dembrowsky]. Eger is described as coming from "Leipzig".

Leipzig is and was in Saxony, so Dembrowsky seems to be the hottest candidate who served in this Regiment.

Rainer

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi Peter_T1958:
The information I have on Siemens Schuckert orders show that SSW D.III1600/18 to 1629/18 were all D.III machines, no D.IV aircraft in this order. The first SSW D.IV order from a partial order for 117 aircraft. Thirty SSW D.3000/18 to D.3026/18 were ordered as D.III aircraft, the remaining 87 on the order, D,3027/18 to D.3057/18 and D.3060/18 to D.3109/18 were ordered as SSW D.IV aircraft.
Merry Christmas Peter,
Dan-San

[Peter_T1958]

Gentlemen, thanks al lot!
Now I'm slowly getting a picture of the situation in November 1918.

@Raineranton and micek.
Ok, than this must be the D.III, 1618/18 piloted Dembrowsky. He damaged his aircraft while landing (look at the broken off propeller blades).



@ Dan-San
In another thread you wrote that the 5 tone lower Lozenge was on the upper side of this aircraft. Strange, but obviously reality. I played around with photoshop: Is it that, what you mean, Dan-San

Right flap …


About the same dimensions …


Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, Dan-San
Peter

[mikec]

Originally Posted by Peter_T1958

Gentlemen, thanks al lot!
Now I'm slowly getting a picture of the situation in November 1918.

@Raineranton and micek.
Ok, than this must be the D.III, 1618/18 piloted Dembrowsky. He damaged his aircraft while landing (look at the broken off propeller blades).



Peter

I believe my grandfather’s SSW DIII might have been similarly damaged on landing since it too had broken propellers, and also had it’s wings and tail removed. My understanding is that the more badly damaged SSWs were used by the Swiss as a source of spare parts, so as to allow the planes which were in better condition to fly.

Originally Posted by Peter_T1958

In regard to the upcoming article, I still don't want to forestall anything, but what confuses me, is the number associated with Beckhardt’s machine: 8340/17.I am not really interested in Beckhardt’s SSW D.III as it landed in Rapperswil. (BTW: Absolute impossible to do a model with a swastika in Switzerland today!!!)
Nevertheless that classification in Swiss archives lead to the following list:

8340/17 Beckhardt
8344/17 Eger
8356/17 Lange*
1618/18 Dembrowsky

Peter

Just to clarify Peter; are you saying there is documented evidence in the Swiss Archives that Beckhardt’s plane was 8340/17? I ask because as you know, in the Swiss Army report on the 13th and14th November landings, dated 22nd November, his plane is recorded as 8356/17.

So far as I know, it is not known which German unit 8340/17 was assigned to. Hopefully the experts here will correct me if I'm wrong.

Mike C.

[mgtaylor]

ANY final guess as to the Black/White Totenkopf Serial number ?
D.8356/17 has it been generaly aggreed upon ?

Also any ideas here IF the Fuselage (D.1618/18) was the standard Dark Stained Wood here for this one and what colors the Crest may have been ? Gold ? White with black detail ?



Inquistive minds want to know ?


BTW Pete I look forward to the Better Resoultion Photo posts of the Totenkopf ? I like that profile and I am trying to draw it. I think from the Photos it appears it was painted slightly differently from the Left side and the right side.
Yours Mike

[Peter_T1958]

Hi Mike
Sorry for being late with my answer. Until now I didn’t have received any reply from the author of the article. The article will be published by end of December. The scans have not been delivered too. I have to wait …

Here a picture of the so called Offiziers-Schulterstücke. They are similar to the epaulette badge of the Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I.
Gold would therefore be a good option…



Isn't it a bit insane to ask, whether they already had golden colors in that time? If so I would go with that. The officer epaulettes were made of golden filament on silvery background.

Greetings from Schaffhausen, Peter

[mgtaylor]

Yeah I would venture a guess they had Gold Paint in 1918. Actually the photo is a big help. Look forward to both the articcle and photos.

thanks for posting.