Lambert's SSW DIII

rcsruss · 16 October 2009, 08:59 AM

Gentlemen,

The listing for W.C.Lambert 24 Squadron in

ATT shows him downing a SSW DIII on 2 June,1918 around 1115 over Davenscourt. How do you suppose the aircraft type was determined? According to what I have read the SSWs were withdrawn from the front at this time do primarily to overheating problems.
Lambert himself claims a Fokker D VII in his book "Combat Report". Any ideas what aircraft it was and from what unit?

Thanks for your time.

Russ

Roadhog · 16 October 2009, 09:18 AM

Dear Russ, From everything I have read, dogfights lasted a few seconds and were obscured by clouds as well as friendly and enemy aircraft.

I always taught my soldiers that upon capturing an objective, we immediately did a 100% security sweep since their army was as screwed up our army and that 10 per cent of them never got the word to pull out.

Maybe a few SSW D III were modified locally and kept in service to meet mission requirements. Maybe this German unit was slow to withdraw the D IIIs. Any maybe just maybe, this Allied pilot splashed a Nieuport 28 by mistake. Just a thought.

Anyway you have raised a great question and I can't wait to read the answer. VR, Scott

StephenLawson · 16 October 2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcsruss

Gentlemen,

The listing for W.C.Lambert 24 Squadron in

ATT shows him downing a SSW DIII on 2 June,1918 around 1115 over Davenscourt. How do you suppose the aircraft type was determined? According to what I have read the SSWs were withdrawn from the front at this time do primarily to overheating problems.
Lambert himself claims a Fokker D VII in his book "Combat Report". Any ideas what aircraft it was and from what unit?

Thanks for your time.

Russ

This information was from Dr. Gustav Bock and his studies.

rcsruss · 19 October 2009, 04:02 AM

Thanks Roadhog and Stephen!

Has any of Dr. Bock's research been published or is it available to the public? I would very much like to know the unit which was still flying the SSW DIII and the pilot if possible.
Lambert indicated that these D 7s(sic) had red noses.

Russ

rcsruss · 20 October 2009, 05:34 AM

MORE DIII's DOWN!

To add to my post, on further reading Capt. I.D.R. McDonald and Lt. J.A.E.R.Daley are also credited with a SSW DIII each in this same combat! I realize this should be accepted with reservations but if true would put this Jasta having a bad day! If indeed true might the engine problems of the SSW have shown up at a very inopportune time? Jasta 15 maybe? Any help would be appreciated.

Russ

MikkoH · 20 October 2009, 08:26 AM

Or they all shoot same SSW.. or the very unlucky Ni28.

UPZZZZ · 20 October 2009, 09:01 AM

In "The Jasta Pilots" and "Casualities of the German Air Service" by N.Franks there were only five german losses of fighter pilots on june, 2nd.
Jasta 1 Gefr. A. Schneider
Jasta 6 Lt. Heidenreich
Jasta 37 Ltn. G.Schreiber
Jasta58 Ltn. J. Dunkelberg
MFJ 1 Flgmt. H.Sawatzki

Wonder wether anyone of them flew a SSW- DIII.