Karl Thom's airplanes

sprueflyer · 24 April 2006, 07:18 PM

Last month while strolling in downtown Munich, my son noticed a Pour Le Merite in an antique shop's window. It is now here in my hands. It has TK engraved in the back side. A brief research of the Blue Max recipients has led me to belive that it once belonged to

Karl Thom, ace of the Saxon Jasta 21. Thom had 27 confirmed victories, one escape as POW and two crashes - this is how much I found out so far. I build airplane models but thusfar I have only built WWII with the exception of a Fokker Triplane. I found out that Thom flew Albatros DV and Fokker DVII. The picture of his Albatros DV is on page 50 in Norman Franks' Albatros Aces of WWI by Osprey. His picture, possibly in front of his airplane with fellow jasta 21 fliegers Keller and Schmuckle is on page 49.
I would VERY much like to build Thom's Albatros and Fokker DVII BUT I don't have any info about the color schemes. Does anybody have any info, pics and hints as to how did these planes look like?

Dan_San_Abbott · 24 April 2006, 07:51 PM

Sprueflyer:
The thumbnail photograph of Alb.D.V2164/17 is not

Karl Thom's machine. Alb.D.V 2164/17 was with curved bar on the T is Ltn.

Emil Thuy's Albatros.
This photo has been mis-identified fr a long time.
Ltn. Karl Thom flew Alb.D.V 21--/17, his personal marking was a black? and white triangular pennant if frongt of the black and white Jasta 21s bands with a black capital T with serifs, aft of the bands. The wings, tailplane and rudder were covered with five color printed linen fabric with salmon pink rib tapes on the wings and stabilizer. The ailerons, elevator and rudder were not taped.
Ltn. Karl Thom's Fok.D.VII9OAW 2052/18 is illustrated in "Fokker D.VII Aces of World War 1, part 2", Osprey Aircraft of the Aces-63 on pages 47,55 and 60.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

sprueflyer · 25 April 2006, 04:33 AM

Thank you for the clarification. Do you or anyone has any information of the color scheme of Thoms Albatros and Fokker DVII? Was there a uniform paint scheme for Jasta 21? What was it?

Dan_San_Abbott · 25 April 2006, 10:13 AM

Sprueflyer:
In my post I gave you a description of Thom's Alb.D.V. I will add a few details, the black and white pennant was 550mm inheight and 500mm long.
the capital black T was 400mm in height and width.
I have a copy of Thom's Alb.D.V in my catalog, it is Js 21-12. $4.00 plus $1.50 for postage and handling.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Gregvan · 26 April 2006, 05:08 PM

Hello Sprueflyer,
Here is

Karl Thom in his OAW-built Fokker D.VII 2052/18. The broad black and white bands aft of the cockpit were the unit markings of Jasta 21 at this time (these had been in effect for a long time, but were much narrower earlier). The black nose and tail were apparently Thom's personal markings as well as his usual black angular "T" with white outline. I am in total agreement with Dan-San about the white T with the curved top bar being

Emil Thuy's insignia - there is NO doubt about that. Norman Franks was misled (as well as many others) by the caption in the old book "Der Flieger Thom" by Hansgeorg Bucholz (1927) which mistakenly attributed this aircraft to Thom.

I still suggest you buy "Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1, Part 2" from Osprey (shameless plug

), as there is a beautiful color profile and planform view by Harry Dempsey in the book. By all means, buy Dan-San's drawing of Thom's Albatros as well.

Greg VanWyngarden

Gregvan · 26 April 2006, 05:11 PM

Hello Again,

Here is a very poor view (the only one available) of Thom's D.VII (OAW) 2052/18 which shows some of the top wing surface. Note the black "T" (seemingly without the white outline) on the starboard wing - I assume it was repeated on the port upper wing as well. Thanks to Alex Imrie for this photo.

Greg

Gregvan · 26 April 2006, 05:16 PM

Hi, Here's a poor view of Thom's earlier Albatros D.V with the markings Dan-San describes. It's on the extreme right. You can see the black/white triangle and you can just make out the "T" aft of the narrow black/white stripe unit markings.

Greg

Gregvan · 26 April 2006, 05:20 PM

Hi One Last time,

This is a photo of what is probably a different Albatros D.V crashed by Thom. I cannot make out any bit of the black/white triangle marking in the wreckage, but I could be missing something. Definitely had five-color lozenge fabric on the wings. Note the anemometer ASI on the strut.

Greg

drIace · 26 April 2006, 05:56 PM

Greg,

Perhaps the Blk/Wht triangle was only on the right side of the fuselage ????

Or it looks to be as you say a different DV . It appears that the distance between the Blk/Whit stripe and the fuselage cross is wider than the previuos photo and the "T" larger and more defined.

PS: the Alb D-III in Veltgens Markings is close to being done.

sprueflyer · 28 April 2006, 03:32 AM

Gentlemen,

Thank you for the pictures. I have ordered the Osprey books already. On an other note, there was one more Pour Le Merite in Munich in another antique shop's window but the shop was closed. Perhaps somebody going to in Munich can fetch it. I can give the directions.