video accuracy?

Greetings all

I have just watched a video, done by military films Inc of fighter aces of the First World War. *(1991
simitar entertainment UK Ltd)
Does anyone know this video and know if the footage is genuine archive?

The commentary has a number of errors in it, but some of the film footage that is supposed to be of the pfalz assembly shop and some of the war aces being presented with medals, such as Richthofen, Rickenbacker, Ball and Lufberry is stunning, even if in faded sepia

Some of the film footage of the aircraft shows some wonderful shots and liveries as well, like the albatros 2 seater with skull and crossbones taking off, and actual footage of some of Richthofen's mounts. *Likewise the batch of Albatros D111's being wheeled out of a hanger all in dark livery with light spinners and cowlings, and finally the streaky finish triplanes

Hoping someone knows how accurate this 30 minute video is.

Graham Evans

[MikeW]

I've not seen that particular video, but I have one that portrays aircraft of 1918. It has some very good sequences of camels and SE5as as well as DH4s and German 2 seaters - its all kept quite basic so there isn't much to quibble about.

Its when it gets onto "exact replicas" of a camel and Fokker *triplane that I start to get a bit twitchy.

I can recommend another video by Pegasus covering an idiots guide to the Great War 1917 -1918. Lovely sequence of *SE5s being manhandled onto the flight line. Good shot of a Gotha as well. Lots of Tanks and artillery pieces including anti-aircraft guns.


Mike

[Cigogne]

The footage is very famous and authentic, being used in numeous videos and presentations. The skull and crossbones Albatros is actually a DFW C.V that had a special pod attached to the starboard interplane struts with the motion picture film/equipment inside. The Albatros assembly footage is from the Albatros factory in late 1916 or early 1917. In it both D.II and D.IIIs are shown being assembled, although the focus is on the D.III.

The Triplane footage is film taken by Anthony Fokker when he visited JG.I in the late Summer of 1917. He was an avid amateur cinematographer and shot a lot of film. The footage is of FI. 102/17 and shows them rolling it out of the hangar and von Richthofen briefing some of his men. Then it shows the mechanics priming the engine, von R suiting up and then taking off. All authentic footage.

Cigogne