Wing marking question on Hitschler's Pfalz

[erikr]

Hello everybody,

As I stated in my previous thread, I just bought the excellent Osprey book, "Pfaltz Scout Aces of WW1". I saw something I never noticed before on page 31. There is a picture of the Jasta 18 bird flown by Max Hitschler. It appears that the starbord side of the top wing lighter than the port side. The effect is very slight and the demarcation line is right down the centerline. Is there something other than a color change that could cause this effect? Could the port side be blue and the starbord red?

Thanks for any thoughts,
Erik

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Erikr:
I took a look at the Hitschler's Pfalz D.IIIa top of page 43 of Pfalz Aircraft of World War I It also shows up on the upper wing after it was taken over by Ltn. Hans von Buttlar, the two bottom photos page 43. I think you are correct Erik. There is nothing like rattling the cage, very good work.
I am going to accept your hypothesis, red on the left upper wing and blue on the right side.
Very blue skies,
Dan-San

[erikr]

Thanks Dan-San, coming from you that means a lot!

I only have the Osprey book as a reference. Is there any other photos of this bird that show if the lower wings follow the same pattern (port and starbord wings different colors)?

Erik

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Erikr:
Last night I was looking at Pfalz Scout Aces ofWorld War 1, by Greg Van Wyngarden. On page 32 is another photo of that line-up with von Buttlar Pfalz on the right end. I cannot see a change in color whatsoever. I have relooked at Hitschler's Pfalz D.IIIa (before von Buttlar rook it over.) I have had some rethinking about how Hitschler has painted it. I agree there is a demarcation at the center-line of the upper wing, I don't think the left side is red. If it were red it would be nearly as dark as the black cross on the wing. I think it might be blue as the rear fuselage on the left side, and the light blue on the right side. Greg, if you have looked at this, I would like to hear your thoughts about this.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Thomas Trauner]

Well, I fear I have to add something to this idea of a two coloured upper wing of Hitschler´s Pfalz DIII /D IIIa

You will find a real good photo of this Plane under:
Flugzeugforum

Unfortunately it’s only in German language and you have to be registered to see the photos, but under “Forum-Luftfahrzeuge-Props-Alte Fotos aus der Doppeldecker-Ära-page 4”
you find an excellent, if not the original photo of Hitschler´s plane as shown in the Osprey book.
The photo is presented by "John Silver" in the forum).
Compared to the print in the Osprey book, where it is indeed possible to see a colour demarcation line on the top wing, this picture does not show any.
What you can see is that around the top wing radiator the colour is a little bit lighter then on the rest of the wing, but that’s it. The lower wing and the elevator seem to have the same grey tone as the upper wing.
The demarcation of the red/blue on the fuselage is clearly visible.
I really don’t think that this photo gives a good reason to postulate a light blue / dark blue wing configuration.
If someone wants to be on the save side, well, he may assume that the wings and elevator should be in JG 2/Jasta 18 blue.

If you still see a colour demarcation on the top wing, I cannot help to think that the wings and elevator was in the usual two-coloured mauve/green. Maybe in the sometimes-found mauve left, green right wing configuration of some Albatrosses.

Only my 2 cents.
I’m awful sorry my source is so hard to reproduce on the pc, but maybe someone of the forumites finds an easier way to get access to this picture….

Thomas