BFW built Halberstadt CL.IIs in Polish service?

[BLOWHARD]

A friend of mine sent me some interesting info on BFW built Halberstadt CL.IIs in Polish service in 1919.
The information mentions that 5 color fabric was used but at 90 degrees to the spar rather than the 45 degrees on Halberstadt built planes. It also mentions 5 color rib tapes. The fuselages are varnished plywood rather than the Halberstadt stipple camouflage.
About factory colors;
There are a few painted profiles of these Polish planes that show green-gray struts but bare metal (or light gray?) cowlings and other metal fittings on the fuselage. Would the metal parts be left unpainted?

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Blowhard:*I am aware of the Bavarian Flugzeug Werke built Halb.Cl.II aircraft under license.* To my knowledge, I have only seen on photo of a BFW built Halb.Cl.II. In researching Schlachtflieger!, I never came across a photo of one in front service. That is why it is not included. I'll see if I can find that photo.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[BLOWHARD]

Thanks Dan There are 2 photos of BFW marked CL.IIs in Polish markings on page 23 of Windsock Datafile #27. There are 3 good photos of one particular plane in Polish service, Halb.Cl.II.Bay.201/18, from the source my friend in Poland scanned for me. I'll see if I can find out what Magazine or book they are from.
Of course, being in Polish service, it's hard to tell how much of the standard factory finish is altered. The Datafile does mention that the serial number block is of Polish origin, not BFW.
Perhaps no BFW built planes saw any front like German service?
Again, it's always interesting plying through these murky waters

[2ESK_Lucas]

Greetings Gents,

That "guy from Poland" is me I'd like to say hello to everyone and thank for all your attepmts to research new things in WW1 aviation.
Here is the list of serial numbers of the Halbs used in Polish service:

Some halbs received new serial numbers. After capturing the Zeppelin Hangar in Winiary near Poznan (Posen), the Poles found there few hungred planes which were in storage. It looked like this:




So, having so many aircrafts needed to introduce new number schemes to keep some order. But not always. Some kept old ones, some new ones Here is the list. The first number is the original one, then the Polish.

1. 750/18. Bay, 205/18, Mercedes D.III
2. 752/18, Mercedes D.III
3. 753/18. Bay, 208/18, Mercedes D.III
4. 754/18, Argus As.III 180HP, 221/18
5. 781/18, 201/18, Benz Bz.III, later Mercedes D.III
6. 782/18 (factory no 1746), 202/18, Mercedes D.III
7. 783/18, 215/18, Mercedes D.III
8. 2031/18, 203/18, Mercedes D.III
9. 2821/18, 204/18, Mercedes D.III
10. CL.IIa, 2869/18, 223/18 (tactical no "55"), Mercedes D.III
11. CL.IIa, 2875/18, 222/18, Mercedes D.III
12. CL.IIa, 5760/17, 206/17, Mercedes D.III
13. 6641/18, 226/18, Mercedes D.III
14. 6642/18, 236/18, Mercedes D.III

15. One with unknown number, found in Warsaw on Mokotow Aerodrome in 1918, only fuselage.

16. 15459/17 (factory no 1046), Mercedes D.III, preserved in Aviation Museum in Cracow, captured in 1945, part of Goering's Collection.

Below are some pictures from early 1919. The planes found in the Zep hangar are being assembled and repainted. Many were carrying the same cammo. Only crosses were overpainted by checkboards.





The halb is carrying new Polish number 208/18 (I have another photo at home which comes from different book)

References:
The aircraft list comes from "Samoloty wojskowe w Polsce 1918-1924" (military airplanes in Poland 1918-1924), author: Andrzej Morgala, Bellona Press 1997, Warsaw.

Magazines which I took other references from (those ones which Blowhard mentions about):
Tomasz J. Kopanski, "Walka powietrzna na bolszwickim froncie" (dogfight on the Bolshevik front) in: "Lotnictwo z Szachownica"(aviation with checkboard), no 3, p. 22-24
Piotr Kukialka, Krzysztof Wielgus, "Halberstadt CL.II part 2" in: "Model Hobby", no 20. The pictures were described in Polish and English by Piotr Morozowski. He did all the research about those BFW-built Halbs and described the paint on the Halb with PL ser.no 201/18 Bay.

Regards,
Lukasz Kubacki

[BLOWHARD]

Thanks for posting Lucas

Can you imagine what a hanger full of WWI German planes would be worth today?

[crankcase]

Lucas,
The hangar photo is amazing. in my daydream moments i see myself stumbling on an abandoned barn and finding it stuffed with WW1 aircraft.
Anyone else share this phantasy? =0)
marc

[Kilian]

Originally Posted by crankcase

Lucas,
The hangar photo is amazing. in my daydream moments i see myself stumbling on an abandoned barn and finding it stuffed with WW1 aircraft.
Anyone else share this phantasy? =0)
marc

Yes Unfortunately here is no deserted farmland where i can search for it

[2ESK_Lucas]

This is what survied from the Zeppelin Hangar During 1945 the object was damaged and later demolished by the authorities.

And here is the satelite image from present times:
Poznañ, Po³abska 2 - Zumi.pl Lokalizator internetowy

The fundaments are located between the lanes, above the parking.

[Piotr]

In the [I]Schlachtflieger[/I]! book, we can read that both batches from Halb. CL.II (Bay) are covered by 5 colour lozenge dark and light pattern... Hmmmm???

According to the photo evidence of the Polish Halberstadts from Bayerishe Flugzeug Werke used in Poland, aircrafts was from two batches (and probably one machine from Halb. production - but no photo evidence for me).

First batch (700/18 - 799/18) have upper surfaces covered by 5 colour dark pattern lozenge (90° to the flight axis). All under surfaces have NO lozenge, just clear varnished canvas.

Second batch (2800/18 - 2999/18) have wings and rudders cowered by Clear varnished canvas. No lozenge on both sites!

Plywood cover at both batches is only shellacked (warm brown transparent colour).

Polish air force using Halberstadts CL.II (Bay) at the begany don't make any changes in German camouflage just overpaint German crosses by red-white chessboards.
Next some Halbs (after repairs etc.) was overpainted khaki, gray etc. colors.

Mr Dan-San what do you think?

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Piotr:
Fabulous photos, Think what it would be like to just wander through that hangar. Spend a day or two or.............
Blue skies,
Dan-San