Jasta 11 Triplane markings

[spitfire921]

Looking for accurate markings and colors for any Triplanes that would have flown with von Richthofen in early April 1918. Who flew with him on the last patrol and what are their markings? I have von Richthofen, Steinhauser and Wenzl. Thanks - Bob

[StephenLawson]

Look for Greg VanWyngarden's book on the Fokker Dr.I in service at the Jagstaffel level through Windsock publications.

[Laserlloyd]

Hi Stephen:

I didn't know how to address this one, didn't think about just listing a book.

I have all of Greg's books on the Dr.I's but Bob's question cant be answered from what he's asking. I'll go thro Rick's listing for J11 to get the list of pilots in April. The hard part is matching who's planes are they in the J11 flight line photo. But this is a start.

Lloyd...

[spitfire921]

I have the following books - all of which I think are excellent. Greg's book on "Richthofen's Circus - Osprey. Questions on plates 20,21 and 22. Were these aircraft possibly flying with Richthofen his last few days, and if so had the crosses been changed to the straight crosses? Also I've seen plate 21 (white cross) shown as having red and white as opposed to black and white. Speculation or were they two different aircraft? Also, would Jasta 11 and Jasta 6 aircraft both be based at the same airfield together as well as fly together? Is it also possible that some of the aircraft flying might have the old style crosses mixed in with aircraft that had the straight crosses. It also looks like in Greg's book, "von Richthofen's Flying Circus" with Ray Rimell that on page 56, #150 that the first and second Triplanes had the forward part of the fuselage a solid color as opposed to the streaked finish on the rest of the aircraft. Is it possibly that this was a solid red color? Thanks - Bob

[Laserlloyd]

Here is the list of pilots at Jasta 11 in April from Rick D. research.

Pilots in April
Staffelführer..................................Victories....... From...............To
................................................Js ...Ttl...Unit.....Date.....Date.....Unit

Ltn. Karl W. Effers........................0....0.............. ...Jan17...13Jun18...AFP 17
Ltn.d.R. Erich Just........................6....6...............1 Mar18.....3May18...WIA
Oblt. Walther Karjus......................0...1..JSch II...26Mar18....29May18..AFP 2
Ltn. Wolfram Frhr. von Richthofen....8....8..JsSch I..27Mar18.....1Aug18
Ltn.d.R. Edgar Scholtz...................5....6..BG 2/10..11Mar18....2May18...KIC
Ltn. Werner Steinhäuser................9...10..Hosp........2Ap r18....26Jun18...KIA
Ltn.d.R. Hans Weiss......................5...18..Js 10.......1Apr18.....2May18 KIA
Ltn.d.R. Richard Wenzl...................0...11..Js 31.....27Mar18...15May18...Js 6
Ltn. Joachim Adolf Wolff................10...10...............3Feb18. ..16May18...KIA
Ritt. Manfred Frhr. von Richthofen...64...80..Leave...16Feb18.....21Apr18. ..KIA

Pilots available in April but not on April 21
Uffz. Robert Eiserbeck...................0....0................ .Apr18....12Apr18.....KIA
Ltn.d.R. Siegfried Gussmann...........4....5..JsSch I....29Oct17....7Apr18..WIA,lt.
Ltn.d.R. Ernst Udet.......................3....62..Js 37....18Mar18....8Apr18...Hosp.
Robert Eiserbeck...........................0....0........ .........Apr18....12Apr18...KIA
Oblt. Erich Rüdiger von Wedel........13...13...............23Apr18...EOW

This list then shows that ten pilots were there for that whole month of April and five other pilots we're either KIA, WIA or just arriving.

I thought that there would have been 12 pilots with at lest one or two in reserve. This would be a question for Dan-San to shed some light on this if this is accurate.

Now the next part of the question is to match up the names to the available planes.

Lloyd...

[spitfire921]

Thats great! The research is for a lineup of Triplane models that would have flown on April 21st or a few days before. Three of the aircraft are complete and I'd like to add three more. Bob