Whatever happened to Voss' Albatros D.III ver 2

tcrean7828 · 5 April 2008, 03:00 PM

Mates,

Whatever happened to

Werner Voss' Albatros D.III (you know the one with the exhause pipe running down the left side) ???

Enquiring minds would like to know?

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

tcrean7828 · 6 April 2008, 12:40 AM

Mates,

It is the Albatros D.III with the hear the wreath and the National Insigna or for those in the know would be interperted as: 'with heart and luck and an Iron Cross' painted across its fuselage.

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

StephenLawson · 6 April 2008, 09:15 AM

Exhaust down the left side eh? Sounds like your looking at an image that was printed in reverse. The first was an example from the early production batch with a centralized radiator. The next had an offset radiator with 5 vents around the cowling ring. Both were marked similarly but not identically. "How do we fight? With heart, luck and an iron will." May have been the motto of the 11th Hussars. Research is on-going with this.

Roadhog · 6 April 2008, 10:03 AM

Dear Tom do you have a production number for this aircraft? On all of the illustrations that I have managed to run down it appears as the paint job obscured these numbers. Also the exhaust on all of them (photos and drawings) ran down the right side as was the normal production model.

On a personal note. Tuesday afternoon I had a pretty good heart attack and wound up in the hospital for over three days. They put in a stent. Lordy it hurt like hell. Maybe we could meet in Marysville and comapre notes on your research when I can drive again. Scott

Taz · 6 April 2008, 10:18 AM

Tom- In all likelihood, both were turned over to an Armee Flugpark when they were exchanged for the next improved aircraft. The AFP would have scrapped them or refurbished them and given them to a Jagdstaffel-Schule or another unit in a lower threat sector or front. Older Mercedes D.III engines were rebuilt with the latest parts available such as higher compression pistons and reused in later build aircraft. Voss' early center radiator D.III was probably exchanged directly for a later offset radiator model and that aircraft was likely exchanged later for an Albatros D.V. Lifespan on WW-I aircraft could be measured in weeks to months and attrition and turnover were very high from normal wear as well as from accidents and operational losses.

Photos from JS I at Valencienne show older model Halberstadt and Albatros fighters with new paint jobs and likely rebuilt engines. The same fate awaited the Dr.Is, some of which ended up at the Jastaschulen.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Southside Bucky · 6 April 2008, 11:53 AM

Hi guys.

I've never given it a great deal of thought, but Tom's question made me think:

Considering how many photos of his Albatros D.III were taken (15-20 maybe?). Are there any photos at all of his Pfalz D.III or maybe an Albatros D.V that he flew?

I know there's a very blurry photo, taken from long distance of a Pfalz D.III that author Dennis Hyland states is Voss' on page 16 of his Aces & Aeroplanes book, but that's hardly conclusive.

Or maybe he used the D.III all the way through till September '17, when he received his triplane?...Does anyone know?

Regards.

Bucky

PS. Wishing you a speedy recovery Scott!

Taz · 6 April 2008, 01:42 PM

Scott- Hang in there. Remember, better life through chemistry. Plus I am looking forward to reading your novel, like you promised.

Bucky-A photo album devoted to Voss in the city archives of Krefeld has a photo of a silver Pfalz D.III coming in to land. Probable it is Voss, but no guarantee. A visit to Krefeld or a photo provided by JG I afterVoss' death? Unknown.

There is also a taxi shot of a Pfalz reported to be Voss in Greg VanWyngarden's excellent Pfalz Scout Aces of World War 1 plus a color profile, but Greg was not completely convinced on the ID. Voss showed up from Jasta 14 at Jasta 10 on 30 July, so was probably at Jasta 10 for the Pfalz introduction or very close to it. At least the color schemes on the two aircraft matched (silver Pfalzes were unusual, no?).

Taz
Terry Phillips

Reinout · 6 April 2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

On a personal note. Tuesday afternoon I had a pretty good heart attack and wound up in the hospital for over three days. They put in a stent. Lordy it hurt like hell. Maybe we could meet in Marysville and comapre notes on your research when I can drive again. Scott

Sounds terrible Scott!

I wish you a speedy recovery!

Kind regards,

Reinout

Southside Bucky · 6 April 2008, 02:29 PM

Hi Taz.

You got my hopes up there!...But it turns out the photo on page 21 of Greg's Pfalz Scouts is the same photo I already referred to.

The lack of other Voss A/C photos seems remarkable to me, considering he seemed to enjoy having his picture taken with his planes so much...

Maybe he just hated that Pfalz eh?

Taz · 6 April 2008, 03:02 PM

Bucky- When Tom gets his set of photos from Krefeld, maybe he can post the one of the Pfalz coming in to land.
It is a head-on shot and not too high res.

Voss was still somewhat in the doghouse when MvR rescued him to come to Jasta 10. Maybe he was maintaining a low profile. He came out of his shell again when the Austrian Crown Prince, Otto von Hapsburg, visited Jasta 10 on 9 September 1917 and was feted and treated to a flying demonstration. Ten-twelve photos exist of that visit. Did Voss demonstrate both aircraft? No photos to prove he flew anything that day except the F.I Triplane. Only the castor oil on the cowl in one photo even proves he flew the Triplane that day, so he could have flown both.

Taz
Terry Phillips