MvR Albatros DV colors

TXW42 · 11 August 2011, 04:39 AM

Hokay...

I've seen a lot of discussion and debate about this, but I'm thinking of doing my WnW DV in one of MvR's schemes.

My question is regarding underside colors--were both wings blue underneath? Did this include the horizontal stabilizers?

Some of the schemes I've seen make it hard to tell what was oversprayed red v. what was not.

Advice welcome!

Tim W

StephenLawson · 11 August 2011, 05:49 AM

On D.1177/17 all red. On his reserve machine from July 6, 1917 wings, emmpanage - tail surfaces (all surfaces), spinner, wheel covers, cowl ring and struts were red. D.4563/17 from Nov. 1917 had 5 colour lozenge wings and was similar to the July 1917 crash machine but on the front of the fuselage the red went from the spinner to the area just infront of the cockpit.

TXW42 · 11 August 2011, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

On D.1177/17 all red. On his reserve machine from July 6, 1917 wings, emmpanage - tail surfaces (all surfaces), spinner, wheel covers, cowl ring and struts were red. D.4563/17 from Nov. 1917 had 5 colour lozenge wings and was similar to the July 1917 crash machine but on the front of the fuselage the red went from the spinner to the area just infront of the cockpit.

Thanks for the info--that clarifies some things. The Nov 1917 scheme sounds interesting. Any links to pictures or profiles of those schemes?

Thanks again!

Tim W

StephenLawson · 12 August 2011, 08:46 AM

Here is a bit of fun on the subject. Other free links seem to have wrong or outdated info.
recent reference.

StephenLawson · 12 August 2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

". . . D.4563/17 from Nov. 1917 had 5 colour lozenge wings and was similar to the July 1917 crash machine but on the front of the fuselage the red went from the spinner to the area just infront of the cockpit.

Sorry misquote should be 4693/17

StephenLawson · 12 August 2011, 09:00 AM

This is a tale that reaches back in antiquity for me.

Years ago two noted historians thought that the Alb. D.V that MvR crashed in on 6 July 1917 was the best identifier for the the serial number you seek. It was my shining moment when I went from nerdowell WWI aviation junkie to a bonafied source when I proved to both of them it was not possible. D. 4693/17 arrived at the front in the fall 1917. In the current source on the subject of photos concerning JG I we see a line up of an image I have had for years. It shows Jasta 11 in a line up circa Oct. - Nov. 1917. See GvW's "Von Richthofen's Flying Circus", photo 128, page 47 -48.

The lozenge comes from the description of other documented Albatros D.V in this serial range have 5 colour lozenge. In the Bodenshatz photo album there is a line up of Jasta 11, Albatros D. V types (with Bodenshatz playing with a pup in the foreground). All noses in this line up are painted (black & white photo of course) dark. As Jasta 11 we see this as being red. The red is as you described from spinner to just ahead of the cockpit. MvR was photographed in one of these as well. We see the red stop short of the cockpit vertically. Like many images we have of the subject of our interest we have to understand that was how it looked at one point in time. Was it ever painted more down the fuselage? We don't Know. A red forward area and tail is reasonable in the light of his past practices. At least a red forward fuselage and tail in evidence due to the Jasta 11 image.

Remember the premier issues of Eduard's Fokker Dr.I and Alb. D.V? A D.V from Jasta 11 from this time was one of the profiles. Albatros D.V Summer - Fall 1917 as flown by Oblt. Franz Muller. The description of summer is in error. Ltn.d.R. Franz Müller came from AFP 4 on 19July 1917 and on 27 Oct. 1917 KIA. It was this machine that MvR was probably photographed in during Oct. 1917. At least according to the late Alex Imrie.

The bottom profile is not MvR's assigned aircraft but he was photographed in it.

StephenLawson · 12 August 2011, 09:08 AM

The following is an example of the Jasta 11 scheme in autumn / fall 1917. The lozenge camouflage was used on about 1/3 to 1/2 aircraft of all the airframes of batch of the Alb. D.V production 4403/17 -4701/17. Art used by permission from the artist and "Drome" member M. Miller. 5 colour Lozenge seen especially on the airframe serials 4550-4598/17 and 4601-4699/17