Lt.d.R. Becht SEE I his personal marking

Regulus · 10 September 2002, 12:11 PM

Hi,

Just weeks away from publishing a photobook on the German naval air units in Flanders and days away from building a model of Lt. Philip Becht his HB WD19 seaplane. And this question is important to me for both things...

Becht flew with the Seeflugstation Zeebrugge and the Marine Feldjagdstaffel.

Could it be that Lt Becht's personal marking was a white green chequered field ? Some say red and white.

In the case of white and green, a reference to Sachsen or not ?

I have a photo of his plane 1414, but ah these colors !

Thanks and best from Regulus

Jimmaas · 10 September 2002, 05:53 PM

If you are referring to the checkerboard marking on 1414, that has been illustrated in a number of different colors: black and white, green and white and red and white. I subscribe to the idea of red and white for the following reason.

The pilot was a naval officer, and came from a naval tradition. According to a (reprint) of a WWI Jane's Fighting Ships, the red/white checkerboard was the naval signal flag for the number "1". So the pilot was telling his fellow (naval) pilots "Hey, here's the Number One pilot". Given the well-known humility of fighter pilots, it makes ssense to me

Regulus · 10 September 2002, 10:54 PM

Hi Jim,

I originally also was convinced of the red and white, and I even mentioned it that way in my book on the Marinekorps Flandern.

Receiving however a number of -unfounded- suggestions that it was green and white, and having seen a few models of his plane with this pattern I really started to doubt about this.

Also it most certainly is not black and white as there is to much difference in that case between the other black paint that was used.

You're remark is indeed something to think about and could very well be the right thing !

Thanks and best from Regulus