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Proposed: that Jasta 52 had the Pfalz D.XII
This is not exactly a new proposal but, as I am uncertain where current thought stands on the issue, I would like to propose it again. Here is the evidence:
On page 90 of Pfalz Aircraft of World War I there are two photographs of D.XIIs from unknown units. Both have dark fuselages and vertically elongated rudder crosses. Both also have light-colored fuselage markings. The first has the word "Kuny", the second a winged propeller insignia. Both are depicted with black fuselages with white insignia in the color profiles in the back of the book. The only background information available on either aircraft is that the photograph of "Kuny" came from a German airman who served on a German airfield at Enghien, Belgium (p. 162). Next we have an Aerodrome thread from 2002, in which stu speculates that the above-mentioned aircraft belonged to Jasta 52. Greg VanWyngarden confirms that, in the one known photograph of a Jasta 52 aircraft (a Fokker D.VII), it had a black fuselage and a vertically elongated rudder cross, but argues that there's no proof the Pfalzes belonged to Jasta 52. Stu concludes the thread by arguing why Jasta 52 (rather than Jastas 7, 9, or 40) is the best fit. Finally we have an Aerodrome thread from 2007, in which Belgian member Chris asks about the identity of a German unit that moved from Vieux Leuze to Petit-Enghien and established an airfield there in November 1918, one of whose aircraft was the above-mentioned "Kuny". After being shown this handy map, Chris concludes that the unknown unit must be Jasta 52. According to the map, Jasta 52 was stationed at Tourpes (very close to Vieux Leuze) on October 30, and at Hove (actually Hoves, which is very near Enghien and Petit-Enghien) on October 31. I am unaware of any Jasta other than Jasta 52 that was stationed near Enghien. Given the above evidence, I conclude that "Kuny" most likely belonged to Jasta 52. I also think it probable, based on the black fuselage, white insignia, and vertically elongated rudder cross, that the other D.XII (with the winged propeller insignia) also belonged to Jasta 52. |
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