How Many Of MvR's Triplanes At Lechelle?

BobPhil · 31 May 2005, 06:52 PM

Friends,

Seeing the new box art for the 1/32 Triplane, I got to thinking about the photos of MvR's Triplanes,seems most were taken at Lechelle. I,ve seen 127/17, 477/17,and 425/17. Was 152/17 taken tere also? ( I think not ). If 477/17,taken at Lechelle, shows only partial red markings, and the changing of the Iron crosses to the straight side crosses, and 127/17 also shown in partial red markings. Yet 425/17 is shown all red with Iron crossed, was this MvR's main crate? Or if, the Dr1 ,all red with the Iron crosses was 477/17 why was this aircraft left with the Iron crosses when a previous photo ( box art ) shows these iron crossed be converted to the straight sided ones. Are these both 477/17 and both taken at Lechelle? MvR scored 10 victories in 477/17 and flew it till mid april 1918, wouldn't this aircraft,his main crate, been all red? as was followed by 425/17 which also was his main crate and painted all red?

Thanks friends.......Bob...

BobPhil · 1 June 2005, 05:00 PM

Friends,

I was not truly familiar with formatting a "Poll", so please, disregard poll if you wish but reply to thread.

Sorry, and thank you..........Bob.

Dan_San_Abbott · 4 June 2005, 04:42 PM

BobPhil:
As far as record go, MvR had Fok.Dr.I 127/17 and Fok.DR.I 477/17 at Le Chelle Airfield. When Jage Nr.1 moved to Cappy Airfield on 12 April 1918, it is not known if Fok.DR.I 477/17 went to Cappy Airfield. From the Bodenschatz Diaries, it was last flown on 7 April 1918, when MvR scored his 77th and 78th victories. After that date, there is no further mention of this machine. For all we know it may have been returned to AFP.2 as a "war-weary". Sometime after the move to Cappy Airfield on 12 April 1918, MvR aquired Fok.DR.I 425/17.
Between 7 to 12 April 1918 Jage Nr.1 was first grounded by rain and weather, from 10 to 11 April 1918, stood down making preparation for the move to Cappy Airfield. Appartently MvR did not fly from 12 to 19 April 1918. During this period, the personnel from the Jagdstaffeln were involved improving the airfield or were weathered out. I think that it was during this period that MvR aquired Fok.DR.I 425/17 and had his mechanics paint it all red. Prior to 20 April 1918, The fact is, there is no published record of where Fok.DR.I 425/17 was located, or who if anyone was using this machine. It, like the rest of MvR's machines, they just appear on the scene.
Very blue skies,
Dan-San