FFL 7/FFL 26 help needed

jager1 · 15 August 2003, 10:26 PM

Hi there

Could anyone help me with any information concerning FFL 7 in 1916 and FFL 26 in 1917, I'm looking for where they were based, what aircraft they were flying etc.

Many Thanks
Jager1

Soderbaum · 16 August 2003, 01:29 AM

Hi

According to my notes FFA 7 was stationed at the airfield Moyembrie* within the 7 German Army from late 1914 until 1 Oct 1916 when they moved to the Somme and came under the 1 German Army...
*the airfield only for sure during 1916

However other sources states that a crew who were lost on 29 Feb 1916 in the northern part of the 6 Army came from FFA 7..?
I believe this is a typo or the crew really lost their way ..!

Do you knew when Rittm Werner Fhr von Beschwitz took over the command of the unit or who which took over the command after him..??

FFA 26 was renamed to FAA 259 already in mid Nov 1916, so they did not existed in 1917...

8)
Gunnar

Soderbaum · 16 August 2003, 10:00 AM

Hi again

Some short notes on FFA 26(if you have an interest)..

They also early belonged to the 7 German Army in 1915 and 1916, perhaps already in 1914..?

In the first half Year of 1916 they were stationed at the airfield at Laon.
Around 3 Jul 1916 they moved over to Somme and came under the 2 Army. Perhaps they then shortly afterwards came under the "new" 1 German Army, when it was re-establish in mid Jul 1916...

They moved around a little it seems when they arrived to the Somme...!
Probably stationed first at Hargicourt. Later in Jul they were stationed at Trefcon and in Aug they had moved to Hesbecourt where they stayed until ca 25 Oct 1916. The new location was Bellicourt where they stayed until 11 Mar 1917(now renamed).
The new airfield was Caudry where they stayed very long, probably until spring 1918...

I knew little about their aircraft but both units had Fokker/Pfalz pilots in early 1916, who were attached to the temporary KEKs on 1 April 1916...

:

Gunnar

jager1 · 16 August 2003, 10:59 AM

Hi Soderbaum

Many thanks for taking the time to get back to me with this information, it is very interesting and will really help me build a 'picture'.
The reason I was wanting to find out about these particular units, is that I aquired a pilots tunic which has stamps for these units (also starting with FLG PK 1 1915) and its always nice to try and research these items - unfortunately its not named but even just finding out a little about the units is very interesting. In your first email you mention that FFLA 26 was FLAA 259 by 1917 but it has a clear stamping for FFLA 26 in 1917- I presume they must still have been using the old stamps!
Sorry but I don't have any info on Rittm Werner Fhr von Beschwitz but if I find any I will get in touch.
It seems FFLA 7 were flying all the typical two seaters during 1916/17 including DFW CIV's Rumpler CIV's, Roland CII's,Albatros CIII's, CV'S and CVII'S- they are the often photographed unit with the large white arrow and number on the fuselage.

Thanks again
Jager1