"Flying Duck"

Shredward · 23 June 2006, 03:02 PM

Hello all,
Is the identity of the pilot of the Albatros DII (LVG) from Jasta 9 often referred to as the "Flying Duck" known? It is often, I believe wrongly, given as

Kurt Student.
Hope you can help,
shredward

Gregvan · 23 June 2006, 04:07 PM

Hi Shredward,

I know of no Albatros D.IIs (LVG-built or otherwise) in Jasta 9 that carried anything resembling a 'flying duck'. However, if you mean one of the two Albatros D.IIs seen here:

They both come from Jasta 14, not 9, and I think both were Albatros-built. I don't know the pilot of the D.II on the right (with the wings in the 'up' position), but the one on the left (wing pointing down) was also photographed with Vzfw Otto Gerbig of Jasta 14. I cannot read the serial numbers on my print, sadly, but Ed Ferko believed that Gerbig's D.II was D.1782/16, which he believed later had a new radiator fitted on the top wing, and the bird insignia was overpainted with a dark band as a background for a skull and crossbones insignia (and is seen in a well-known photo with Gerbig). This has been discussed on this forum before.

Greg VanWyngarden

Gregvan · 23 June 2006, 04:12 PM

Hi,

Here's Otto Gerbig of Jasta 14 with the 'bird' Albatros D.II:

Gerbig achieved four victories before he was mortally wounded as a member of Jasta 18 on 18 August 1917.

Greg VanWyngarden

Shredward · 23 June 2006, 04:34 PM

Thanks Greg,
That's the one. Thanks for clearing that up. If it belonged to Otto Gerbig, that really simplifies matters, as I've been trying to put pilot's with a/c for our upcoming freeware release of Over Flanders Fields for CFS3. We already have Gerbig in, flying D1782-16 with the Totenkopf markings. I can now happily ignore the 'Flying Duck'.
Best Regards,
shredward