Question for GregVan

Scimitar · 24 August 2006, 03:11 AM

Reference book: "Fokker D VII Aces of WW I, Part Two"
Page: 29
Picture showing Leutnant der Reserve Simons with "his" Fokker D VII.

It is said that his aircraft was bearing number 3. But on the picture, the aircraft is bearing number 9...
So, is that a/c the habitual mount of Simons?

And what are the colors of that "number 9" stripes: green? red? anything else?

Thanks for the help!

greetings from Belgium,

Daniel.

Gregvan · 24 August 2006, 04:44 AM

Dear Scimitar,

No, it's not a '9', it IS a '3'. It is a stylized numeral, and the bottom half of it is masked by the horizontal stabilizer (tailplane). My statement was based on photocopies and information sent to me by Wouter Warmoes, who has an incredible collection of hundreds of annotated Jasta 43 photos from the albums of a Jasta 43 member, as well as a flight log. Wouter sent me an annotated photocopy of the well-known line-up photo on page 30 (much sharper than my print) and he noted that Simons' aircraft was No. 3, based on this and several other clear photos. Gutknecht's aircraft was No. 1, Raesch's was No. '2', Simons flew '3', Keller had '4', Wernicke flew No. '5', Kiep flew '6', and so on. If there was a '9' I do not know who flew it.

As to the colors of the stripes on Simons' aircraft, I have no information. It is anyone's guess.

Greg VanWyngarden

Scimitar · 24 August 2006, 09:36 AM

Thanks for your answer, Greg.

May I also ask you also the following:

- is it possible that the a/c of Ltt Simons was an a/c coming from the Jasta 18?

- How many a/c were in the jasta 43 at this time? Were there Fokkers only, or is it possible that other types of a/c (Albatrosses, etc) were also present?

Many thanks again,

Greetings from Belgium

Daniel.

Dan_San_Abbott · 24 August 2006, 12:44 PM

Scimitar:
When Jasta 18 moved from lomme Airfield in the German 6.Armee on 13 June 1918, They turned their Fok.D.VII machine into Armee Flugpark 6, and they were issued to Jasta 43 at Gondecourt airfield in the German 6.Armee. When received the Fok.D.VII aircraft were still in Jasta 18 colors. On 14 June 1918, Jasta 18 settled in at Montigen Airfield east of Metz in the German 19.Armee.
I suspect Jasta 18 may have turned in their motor vehicles as well.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Scimitar · 24 August 2006, 10:42 PM

Many thanks for your answer, Dan-San !!!

Scimitar · 26 August 2006, 09:56 AM

Well, sorry but I've a few other questions:

Do you know the number of the aircraft of Leutnant der Reserve Jacobs?

How many aircrafts were in service in that Jasta?

Did the Jasta own a servitude aircraft?

Thanks for your answers...