Inspiration courtesy of MK2, Kajoo and others - but my wallet is lighter

Ritterton · 11 March 2009, 09:29 PM

Here is a great one that I found on line. When I scanned it, I noticed something in the cockade that looked like a number. So I cropped it and then "sharpened" it with the photostudio program... A 14 popped out.

Here it is...

It's interesting that they are using the terrain to hide the balloon staging location. Makes a lot of sense in that you wouldn't see the balloon going up until it was ascending quickly.

Nothing on the back to indicate a date, location, etc. But a great picture!

Thanks to LUFTSCHIFFHARRY and a series of emails back and forth, he has concluded that it appears to be a group of American soldiers with two balloons used by the Americans during the War period.

This GIF shows the roundel/cockade used during that time and it does lend itself as a match klick on it and let it run it takes a minute or so:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...roundelevo.gif

Ritterton · 12 March 2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritterton

R

Harry sent me information that does in fact confirm that this is Lt. Mayr, but the identifcation of the squadron has an error. He noted that it should be Feld Luftschiffer Abteilung (kurz: FLA) 9. He then, bless the guy, provided me with information as to a site showing the structural organization of the Germany aviation division Übersicht der Fliegereinheiten der Deutschen Fliegertruppe/ Luftstreitkräfte im Ersten Weltkrieg 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918.

AGAIN - THANK YOU HARRY! You are amazing!

R

Ritterton · 20 March 2009, 11:06 PM

This was found at a shop that I passed while running to a meeting and then on my way back to my car afterwards - during a major downpour! First of three. Here is the info on the back - the photographer, but at least it's a lead:

Now the front:

Ritterton · 20 March 2009, 11:13 PM

So, there were a lot of great images to choose from, but this one just struck me as one worth getting. OUCH - but I wonder if the survivor of this landing may be there at the front in the long coat? Look at that divit.

Oh - would the odd markings - like upward arrows on diamonds - be an indicator of the pilot or squadron?

There are a few close ups of some of the people in this picture too:

Ritterton · 20 March 2009, 11:17 PM

This was another that really said - ok, add me to your collection! Had to leave a few others, but I VILL BE BACK. ;-) Unless TimW beats me there...

Now this one has a lot of good clues on it so I can start trying to learn identification techniques...

Ritterton · 22 March 2009, 09:15 PM

National Markings

Based upon this information, the markings on the fuselage do appear to be of the right time for the date written on back - "13.I.18." 13 Jan 1918.

So - now I can at least confirm the date of the picture but no indicators as to the place at all in this one.

Ritterton · 22 March 2009, 09:25 PM

Ok - now I am truly heading into an area where I have no expertise whatsoever....so the warning is being given.

But, could this plane be a Sopwith Pup? Looking through the various aircraft it appears to be a possibility due to the slope of the tail fin and the look of the fuselage....

https://www.fiddlersgreen.net/aircra...opwith-pup.gif

But, again, I have no expertise here at all and this could be um messed up thinking!

Thoughts?

MK2 · 25 March 2009, 05:16 PM

That is fairly late for it to be a pup in my opinion (January 1918) but it could definitely be a Sopwith Camel.

The Pup's last victory came on December 1st 1917 and by the end of 1917 the only Pups left were on home defense (I could be wrong but this could be found in Osprey's Sopwith Pup Aces of World war 1 book)

These are awesome pictures by the way!

Ritterton · 25 March 2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MK2

That is fairly late for it to be a pup in my opinion (January 1918) but it could definitely be a Sopwith Camel.

The Pup's last victory came on December 1st 1917 and by the end of 1917 the only Pups left were on home defense (I could be wrong but this could be found in Osprey's Sopwith Pup Aces of World war 1 book)

These are awesome pictures by the way!

MK2 - thanks but I see I left things a bit confused.

The German plane on its back is the one with the January 1918 date.

The English plane has no date given at all on it - so I was just trying to match up the angle of the tail fin and the curvature of the pilot side of the wing tips.

R

MK2 · 25 March 2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritterton

MK2 - thanks but I see I left things a bit confused.

The German plane on its back is the one with the January 1918 date.

The English plane has no date given at all on it - so I was just trying to match up the angle of the tail fin and the curvature of the pilot side of the wing tips.

R

I think I am the one that can't read.

Well we can agree it's probably a Sopwith! Great pictures.