Feltre aerodrome

Cigogne · 13 May 2006, 08:35 PM

You are not alone here... there are many of us interested in k.u.k. research and other fronts! I also would like to mention that Augie has written material on the Serbian Air Force in WWI in a series of articles in Cross & Cockade, US back in the late 1960s which is also recommended reading.

Now, here is data from Meindl's book on the Hansa-Brandenburg D.I on Hansa-Brandenburg D.I (Phönix-built Series 28.26)

"...28.26: Delivered 20 January 1917; accepted April 1917; to Flep 1 in Marburg on 24 April 1917. Deployed at the front as an escort fighter, interceptor aircraft and photography single-seater until mid-January 1918. In the afternoon hours of 11 January 1918, while flying a photography mission, Feldpilot Hptm. Raoul Stojsavljevic (CO of Flik 16/D) was severely wounded by phosphorus ammunition in air combat with five enemy aircraft and made an emergency landing behind his own lines near Seren. The airplane was badly damaged and written off 21 March 1918.

This was probably the aerial victory shot down in flames near Seren at 1235 hours (British time) by British pilots Lieutenant K.B. Montgomery and Second Lieutenant A.F. Lingard of 66 Squadron, flying Sopwith Camels. However, three Italian pilots also claim to have downed 28.26. According to the December 1917 report by Flik 16/D, 28.26 did not have camouflage paint..."

So writes Herr Meindl. Hope this helps!

markojeras · 13 May 2006, 11:41 PM

Hello Cigogne

Beautiful reply I'd say. I have ordered that book from Flying Machines Press and now I really looking forward to it

Thank you for help!

With best regards,

Marko

AGO · 15 May 2006, 01:37 AM

Dear friends,

Cicogne is right when he says that there are many people here who are interested in the KuK LFT, KuK Seeflugwesen and, more generally, in fronts other that the Western one. The published sources available on these subjects have been continually increasing over the past years, but they appear to be always too few!

Returning for a moment to Bertrand Gonzaga’s query, I recall that the LFT operated a fourth unit in Albania: Flik 64/F; basically, a general-purpose unit that was based for some time at Fjeri and Tirana.

May be Agblume will tell us something about it too?

Best regards,

AGO

agblume · 15 May 2006, 08:25 AM

Hello AGO and Markojeras and Bertrand Gonzaga, My apologies for failure to remember Flik 64/D. Flik 64 was activated in Strasshof in December 1917 as a recon unit for the Albanian Front. It served as such from 06.02.-20.04.1918 at Igalo (Bocce di Cattaro. From 20.-27.04.1918 the unit was being transported by ship to Albania. From 27.04.-07.07.1918 they flew from Fjeri. From 08.07.-10.07.1918 they were at Banja and were designated as Flik 64/F. From 11.07.-begin October 1918 they were based at Tirana. From the middle to end of October they moved north out of Albania and were disbanded in early Novemer 1918 at Igalo. Their activities are mentioned in the two articles by Alberto Casirati and myself in OTF. Best regards, agblume

AGO · 15 May 2006, 09:50 AM

Hi Agblume,
you are always ready to help out....thanks for this further demonstration of kindness!!! I didn’t read your article on OTF yet, but now that I know of it, I must have it!
In the meantime could you confirm the fact that on 7 July 1918 Flik 64/D was momentarily withdrawn from combat, on account of its aerodrome at Fjeri being rushed into by Italian cavalry?
Thank you!
Best regards,
AGO

agblume · 16 May 2006, 05:47 AM

Hello AGO, On the 1st of July 1918 the Italian XVI Corps began an offensive in Albania. On the 7th their cavalry, in a daring rush, reached Fjeri and captured five K.u.K. pilots and six aircraft of Flik 64. The cavalry also rescued two RAF POWs (D.H.9 crew whose names escape me) who had been captured the day before. Italian troops occupied Fjeri on the 8th. Hope this helps you in your research. Cheers, agblume

duedicoppe · 16 May 2006, 11:40 AM

Dear friends (Ago and Augie, nice to see you again),
according to some notes of Karl Meindl, the Austrian lost in such occasion 7 planes, 4 of Flik 6/F (Aviatik D.I 238.29, 238.51, 238.39 and Albatros D.III 53.28) and 3 of Flik 64/F (Br. C.I 169.58, 169.83 and Fokker D.II (MAG) 04.72).
On 7th July 1918 the Italians captured 62 members of the ground personnel, too. The captured airmen were: Zgsf. Gustav Schwara (pilot), Korp. Wilhelm Grundbrecher (pilot), Oblt. i.d.r. Mathias Wodzivodsky (observer) and Lt. i.d.r. Alfred Valentini (observer and Technical Officer).
Happy landings.
Paolo

P.S. It's a pleasure indeed to see such "crowded" post about Austrian the Italian (or Albanian) front...

markojeras · 16 May 2006, 01:02 PM

To continue on topic:

Is it known which pilot had white letter H on black band around fuselage behined canopy on Phönix D.I in 1918. on Feltre aerodrome?

AGO · 17 May 2006, 12:56 AM

Dear friends,

Yes Paolo I share the same pleasant feeling. I am thankful to Agblume and to to you for sharing those information with us. We all know what great researcher Dr. Meindl is....I only wish he'd write more books! But, obviously, writing a good research is not something one can do every a few days.

I also wish to thank Markojeras for having 'accommodated' this 'sub-thread' on Albania!!!

Best regards,
AGO

markojeras · 17 May 2006, 01:07 AM

You are welcome AGO

Any idea on Flik 60J pilot surname beginning with letter H ?