RICHTHOFEN's AERODROME DOUAI 1917

[FOKKERJ]

I was reading Rammjaeger's Thread on Douai and thought about this fotograf that I had seen published so many years ago. The caption says:
"Von Richthofen's airdrome at Douai, 1917. A line up of Albatros D.III's and Fokker triplanes. Note collapsible hangars...."

My question is: Is it really Douai?

I'm asking because I realized that while I have not been able to find M.v.R. in the image, that I can definetly see Hauptmann Adolf Ritter von Tutschek's presence in abundance. The real eye opener for me was the last image enlargement.









I'm surprised that there is so much detail visible on the upper surfaces considering the direction of the available light and possible time of day: see the long shadows cast to the right.

Regards, Jay Schwartz

[Gregvan]

Hi Fokkerj;

I'm glad you scored this one on ebay recently!

Yes, this has often been captioned as "Richthofen's airfield" or JG I, even in German books of the '30's. However, it is of course Jasta 12 lined up at Toulis in March 1918. It is the most well known of a series of official Kogenluft photos taken of this spectacular line-up, both from the air and on the ground. These were reportedly taken on 15 March, just hours before von Tutschek's death.

The photo is so great that it was "substituted" for JG I and Richthofen's airfield in any number of books. The same thing was often done with the famous line-up shot of Jasta 19 Fokker Dr.I's lined up at Balatre.

Greg

[Froggy]

Hi Fokker and greg

As evidence of Greg was saying, here is an actual satellite vieuw of Toulis
You see clearly where the airfield was by comparizon with your Photo



Cordialement
BRUNO

[crankcase]

froggy
if that is a current photo of toulis, then it is remarkable that nothing has changed (i.e. the airfield hasn't been transformed into a shopping mall/parking lot/housing development).

in fact, when i toured northern france with the map and guide from the video "where they flew and where they fell", i was amazed at how rural the landscape has remained, so that it was possible to stand on certain locations (ball's crash site, MvR's crash site, the chateau that jasta 11 quartered the pilots in -- was it rocourt?) and just use your historical imagination...
CC

[Froggy]

Hello crankcase

Yes its amazing , at least at toulis, how things are same as they were 90 years ago(187 inhabitants at Toulis so...)
Not to forgot netherless, that most of countries in the nearby of Douai (and elesewhere in France..)
was enterely destroyed during 14-18-For example only 5 houses remainded at Brebieres near Douai (this town received the "Croix de guerre" for the courage of the population)
You will see a satelitte vieuw of Roucourt in the other thread "airfield near douai"-Same as Toulis-we are nearly surprised not to see the MVR albatros!!


Cordialement
Bruno

[FOKKERJ]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

Hi Fokkerj;

I'm glad you scored this one on ebay recently!

Yes, this has often been captioned as "Richthofen's airfield" or JG I, even in German books of the '30's. However, it is of course Jasta 12 lined up at Toulis in March 1918. It is the most well known of a series of official Kogenluft photos taken of this spectacular line-up, both from the air and on the ground. These were reportedly taken on 15 March, just hours before von Tutschek's death.

The photo is so great that it was "substituted" for JG I and Richthofen's airfield in any number of books. The same thing was often done with the famous line-up shot of Jasta 19 Fokker Dr.I's lined up at Balatre.

Greg

Hi Greg,

Me too!
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing so many facts about this foto.

I recently aquired "THE FOKKER Dr.I AND D. VII" by Heinz J. Nowarra and already have "Fokker Dr.I in action", also by Nowarra. Great fotografs, but I get a little bent out of shape when Jasta 12 triplanes are identified as "These Dr.I triplanes of Jadgeschwader I, are believed to be assigned to Jasta 10. All of the aircraft are painted with bright yellow engine cowlings as a unit recognition marking." Another foto caption says: "The triplanes of Jasta 26 had the cowlings painted in bright yellow. The aircraft in the foreground has four White bars painted on the fuselage sides just behind the cockpit, while the aircraft behind it has a White bar on the fuselage side."

It's "Three White Bars", both aircraft are on the previos page, individually identified as Jasta 12 machines, and the triplane with the single White bar is in the first foto. Jasta 26 did have a Dr.I with four White bars.

Both books show the same foto, one captioned as "Below is Dr.I 425/17 in which the Red Baron took off from Cappy on an enemy patrol, never to return." and the other says "Fokker Dr.I (425/17) was another of Manfred von Richthofen's Dr.Is. He scored his 80th victim in this aircraft on 20 April 1918, shooting down a Sopwith Camel. The combat report says only that this aircraft was painted Red, although the color of the wing undersurface appears to be Light Blue. Von Richthofen was killed this same day in this aircraft."

My question: Is the Fokker Dr.I in this foto one of the many possible representatives of M.v.R.'s many triplanes?

It has a White cowl, streaky camoflage, and a Black or Red tail and rear fuselage section from and including the fuselage Eisenkreuse. It looks very familiar.

In my opinion it bears a striking resemblence to Fok.Dr.I 404/17 which was flown by one of my heroes, Ritter Adolf von Tutschek.

Any facts are always gratefully appreciated, even the painful ones!

Regards, Jay

[FOKKERJ]

Hi Froggy and Crankcase,

Thanks for sharing the great images and information.
It's nice to know somethings are still around to be visited and enjoyed.
I have seen enough malls and "Ticky Tacky Houses on Ticky Tacky Hillsides.......".

Regards, Jay