Original Fokker Dr.I Triplane Rudders Exist!

gipsymoth236k · 2 August 2006, 09:09 PM

Here are TWO original Fokker Dr.I Triplane rudders that exist today! Any interest is a research topic concerning them?

Note: these original Fokker Triplane rudders have TWO different kinds of hinges!

Regards,

Gary Sewall

Taz · 2 August 2006, 09:58 PM

Gary- Very interested.

Taz
Terry Phillips

gipsymoth236k · 2 August 2006, 10:12 PM

GREAT Taz!

Here we go! My CADD drawing is based on a personal examination of the actual Dr.I rudder from 583/17, w/n #2253, of Jasta 14, which was shot down and captured on JUNE 8th. 1918.

I welcome your thoughts, or comments.

Regards, Gary Sewall

garysewal@aol.com

SCMc · 2 August 2006, 10:37 PM

The cross on the left rudder in the first post seems a bit odd to me (apparently hand painted). Has anyone seen anything like it before?

Steve

3 August 2006, 12:12 AM

Do any of you know if Werner Voss's triplane rudder from F1 103/17 still exists? According to Alex Revell's supurb book on Arthur Rhys Davids 'Brief Glory', it was last residing at the imperial war museum after being brought back by Gerald Maxwell in July 1918. Surely it is still there?

Scottie · 3 August 2006, 05:05 AM

Britace:

Read the following:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/sh...ht=voss+rudder

Regards

Scottie

Jim Bruton · 3 August 2006, 05:36 AM

I like this thread alot GipsyMoth- thanks!

One question about fabric. As I prepare to cover my own rudder, one method could be to try and run a tape around the perimeter of the circular outline of the rudder. Is that what they did back then, or just fold over the second side's fabric? I hope my question makes sense!

Jim

Biber · 3 August 2006, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCMc

The cross on the left rudder in the first post seems a bit odd to me (apparently hand painted). Has anyone seen anything like it before?

Steve

Looks like somebody tried to convert it back to the earlier style cross.

B

ps.

Derrittmeister Militaria a few years back had a similar style Fokker rudder for sale. Apparently came from a DV (or was it EV?) trainer biplane. The description of the item noted how apparently light it was compared to its size and construction.

b

ONEALM · 3 August 2006, 06:46 AM

Gypsy -

I think this Dr.I was shot down on the 9th, not the the 8th. A group of 1 Sq. SE-5A's were involved including a NJ native, Harold Bradley from Montclair.

It's a little off the "technical development" track, but a little background is always interesting I think. Excerpted from my (yet unpublished.....) brief bio of Harold Bradley -

Quote:

On the 9th, the squadron bombed Bac St. Maur just after 6 AM. Climbing to altitude, the patrol was attacked by at least 3 Fokker Triplanes of German Jagdstaffel 14. In the ensuing fight, one Triplane flown by Gefreiter Rheinhold Preiss, chased one of the SE-5’s across British lines. The remainder of the patrol jumped on the Triplane, forcing it lower and lower as it now attempted to retreat back across German lines. Lt. Duerson Knight, a California native and member of 1 Squadron, recalled the fight in a 1980 correspondance.

"It has been over sixty years since that day in June when the Fokker Triplane was brought down by a patrol of No. 1 squadron."

I was flying one of the planes that fired bursts into the Fokker and I was so crowded by other SE-5’s trying to get a good firing position that it was very difficult to be sure who actually did really down the plane."

The Triplane was forced lower and lower until it hit the ground near Dikkebusch, in the 2nd Brigade area. The plane landed relatively well, but got caught in the trench wire, tipping up on it’s nose in the process.

We all had good burst at it (at) close range until crowded away by our fellow pilots and each of us felt that he was the real factor in bringing down the plane – but of course no one really knew.

Someone put a group of 5 shots into his back which came out of the stomach of the German pilot. He was still alive and strong enough to walk to a nearby Casualty Clearing Station for aid before we arrived to take the plane out of our barbed wire."

Ten SE-5’s were with the patrol that morning and several pilots shared in this victory including Capt. Percy J. Clayson, John C. Bateman and Bradley. Preiss’s aircraft was later dismantled and became the subject of a detailed report on the type. It was Fokker Dr.I 583/17 and finished in the squadron markings of Jagdstaffel 14 with a black and white band running longitudinally from nose to tail and two vertical red and white bands on the fuselage behind the cockpit.

The pilots from 1 squadron, including Bradley drove to the crash site and collected souvenirs including the pilot’s parachute, a luxury not afford to Allied pilots. Knight later commented that all parts of the plane salvaged by 1 Squadron were turned over to HQ for detailed examinations.

At least two photos have been published of this aircraft. Paul Leaman did a nice treatise on the airplane some time ago which I think was then misidentified as 588/17. Greg VanWyngarden provided a copy more than 25 years ago which helped me get the story right. Duerson Knight also answered my queries about that incident which proivded the quotes above.

One of the shots and a photo of Bradley are attached. Unfortunately, Bradley did not survive the month, falling on the 25th, probably to Paul Billik of Jasta 52. Neither his body nor his airplane were ever located.

gipsymoth236k · 3 August 2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bruton

I like this thread alot GipsyMoth- thanks!

One question about fabric. As I prepare to cover my own rudder, one method could be to try and run a tape around the perimeter of the circular outline of the rudder. Is that what they did back then, or just fold over the second side's fabric? I hope my question makes sense!

Jim

Jim,

Fabric covering is out of my expertise! Maybe Achim or Dan-San could advise?

Regards, Gary Sewall