Lithuanian Halberstadt CL.IV (Roland)

[Sergey]

Dear Sirs,

I have a question regarding colors of Lithuanian Halberstadt CL.IV 9432/??(Roland built).

Was it's fuselage painted in standard Rolad 4-color camouflage or it was just unpainted (of wooden color) or of green color.

Also, what color was used to write on the fuselage: "Halb.CL.IV Rol. 9432/??"

Much obliged in advance for your kind help!

Best regards,

Sergey

[YavorD]

I do not know about colours but photo of Halberstadt Cl.IV 9432/18 of Lithuanian AF was shown in Crashfile Challenge #482.
Regards,
Yavor

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi Sergey:
The fuselage of the Roland built Halb.Cl.IV is camouflaged in four colors, right side from the nose: purple, 14F7, left side, greyish blue, 22E7; right side, light brown, 5D5, left side,dull green 27E4; right side, dull green, left side, light brown 5D5; right side, greyish blue 22E7, left side, purple 14F7. The colors meet on the top center-line of the fuselage. Each segment is about 1/4 of the length of the fuselage. On the left side is painted the weight table, and datum line in light blue 21B5, on both sides is: Halb.Cl.IV(Rol)XXXX/ and on the lower longeron, just forward of the tailplane, hier anheben. All data is painted in light blue 21B5. Fin and rudder are white. Except those area covered by printed, the center sectionand all struts are painted purple 14F7.
Top surface of the Wings,center-section, tailplane and wheel covers are covered with five color dark pattern day printed fabric, the lower surface of the wings, center-section and tailplane are covered with 5 color day, lower light pattern printed fabric. Top surface rib and edge taping is with cut strips of the 5 color day dark pattern printed fabric. All bottom surface rib taping is with cut strips the 5 color light day pattern printed fabric. The white area are flat white paint. The black crosses are matt black lacquer.
Blue skies Sergy,
Dan-San

[Lodzermensch]

Hello,

I do not have reliable data on colours this particular plane was painted in Lithuanian service but there are some circumstantial evidences that make me think it flew in standard German camouflage (standard for Roland built machine of this type of course) described in detail by Dan-San.

Here is another picture of crashed Halberstadt Cl IV serial 9432/18. The photo is of poor quality but yet gives some clues.

Let's start from its history. The aircraft was completed in 1918. It was bought by Lithuanians on 28th June 1919. Theretofore, it served with Freiwillige Flieger Abteilung 425. I think Germans had no need to repaint it, however I do not know what the practice was in voluntary air units formed after the Great War.

Life of the machine in Lithuanian service was relatively short. It was destroyed in a crash on 28th September 1919. As far as I know, Lithuanians started to repaint aircraft purchased from different sources no sooner than in 1920.

The picture attached above shows nothing more than a dark fuselage but there is light stripe visible on a top deck, above the national insignia. This may be a remnant of previous markings (a band?) utilised perhaps by FA 425. If my track is correct – it is an evidence that the fuselage was not over painted by Lithuanians.

Regards

Marek

[Sergey]

I thank to all of you for information and pic! I also would like to tell that me and my colleagues restore colors and profiles of aviation of german voluntary air detachments which took part in Baltic conflict during Ciwil War. Does anyone has drawings for Albatros J.II?