Reinhards Triplane

[Terry_Crisp]

** ** For years I've wondered about the color scheme of Reinhards triplane.
** ** On pg.110 of THE ILLUSTRATED RED BARON there is a copy of the famous photo of Willi and his partially wrecked Triplane. On pg. 108 of the same reference is a photo of MvR, Oblt. Flashar and three other officers standing around both sides of space between the tailplane and wings of what I believe to be the same triplane on a better day.Above this photo on the same page is another shot of a tripe described to be Dr I 525/17. There is an implicit suggestion that these are the same a/c in the text but I don't buy that because the rudders of the a/c in those two photos clearly do not match. The one in the lower photo is apparently black and the one in the above photo is at least three values lighter(possibly matching the underside blue).
** ** Having said that and going back to the the question of the other two photos my Reasons for suspecting they are the same a/c are this;
1. The striping on the tails match ( hardly conclusive,the jasta marking and probably consistent within the unit)
2. The rudders (or whats left)appear to be a match
3.Both photos show a dark triangular area on the top decking just aft of the cockpit where the factory camo is particularly heavy.
4.On what can be seen of the striations of the factory camo the patterns are at least not dissimilar.( I admit this is pretty weak but I don't see anything obviously different)
** ** My questions are:
1.Is the serial# of Willis partially wrecked Triplane Known ?
2.Is there reason to think That the rudder and the cowling would be any color than black?
3.Is it not reasonable to assume that when the request arose that Willi, as C.O of Js 6 would offer MvR his own A/C as a matter of manners and protocol?
5.In the photo taken a Js 5 the wheel cover appears to be the factory blue, is there any reason to doubt this?
4.Are there another Photos of Willis triplane?
5.Other than the tail and cowling the color scheme seems to be straight factory.The photo of the wreck shows very little left of the upper wing except the left aileron,which is factory with a Maltese cross. Is there any reason to believe that the upper wing was marked or painted in any way other than factory camo?
** ** I hope this thread will be of interest to you gentlemen and now, it seems,ladies and look forward to your input.
Very best regards to all,
Terry Crisp