Min. of Mun Report on G.134, Albatros D.4422

[charles]

I am trying to locate the Ministry of Munitions Technical Report on G.134, an Albatros D.V with the serial number D.4422/17 forced down 16 Feb 1918 at 11:30 by 2nd Lieut. Percy Jack Clayson of No. 1 Squadron RAF flying in S.E.5a B4881.

RFC Communique 127 states that Clayson “attacked an EA scout flying low over our lines, so dived and fired at close range and the EA went down and turned over in a ploughed field in our lines.”

This was Clayson's first of many confirmed victories. He was flying out of the Asylum Ground in Bailleul.

The German pilot was taken prisoner. He had just joined Jasta 30 three weeks beforehand - his name was Bastgen. Haven't found his first name yet. His aircraft was identified as having a yellow body - this could have been the varnished fuselage - and a diagonal slash - which could have been part of the often-seen black-outlined diamond shape on Jasta 30 aircraft.

Charley

[Froggy]

Bonjour

His name was Wendel Paul maria theodor Bastgen
POW on 16/2/1918 born on 15/3/1898
Here is his prisonner ICRC record
http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/fr/File...ls/132178/1/2/
Cordialement
Bruno

[Maxim08]

Charles, if you do find the report, please let me know what the engine serial is.

Regards
John

[charles]

Originally Posted by Maxim08

Charles, if you do find the report, please let me know what the engine serial is.

Regards
John

Back in 2009, Greg Vanwyngarden wrote on the forum "As late as 16 February 1918, Ltn. Bastgen of Jasta 40 was taken POW in Albatros D.V 4422/17, southeast of Bailleul. This aircraft had Mercedes engine Nr. 32518 and Spandaus Nrs. 5178 and 5036."

Charley

[charles]

Originally Posted by Froggy

Bonjour

His name was Wendel Paul maria theodor Bastgen
POW on 16/2/1918 born on 15/3/1898
Here is his prisonner ICRC record
http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/fr/File...ls/132178/1/2/
Cordialement
Bruno

Thanks very much - I really appreciate this.

[ONEALM]

The profile of this airplane in Bruno Schmaling and Winfried Bock's superb history of Jasta 30 published by Aeronaut books, shows it essentially ex-works with the Jasta 30 diamond on the tailplane and the "slash" interpreted as a diagonal black band from just behind the cockpit intersecting the forward and lower arms of the fuselage cross.

Fuselage in clear varnish, cowlings in the typical green/gray.

[charles]

Originally Posted by ONEALM

The profile of this airplane in Bruno Schmaling and Winfried Bock's superb history of Jasta 30 published by Aeronaut books, shows it essentially ex-works with the Jasta 30 diamond on the tailplane and the "slash" interpreted as a diagonal black band from just behind the cockpit intersecting the forward and lower arms of the fuselage cross.

Fuselage in clear varnish, cowlings in the typical green/gray.

Yes, thanks, Mike, I know what you are talking about, I have that book.

A few artists have taken a v ery good stab at interpreting the diagonal slash that is quoted in several sources, such as the Grubb Street books. I haven't found the original source for the slash comment but it may be the pilot's combat report or may be in the Ministry of Munitions report. The slash comment did not, however, make it into the R.F.C. Communique for the period covering the date of this engagement. The communique justs says "attacked an EA scout flying low over our lines, so dived and fired at close range and the EA went down and turned over in a ploughed field in our lines.”

A diamond appears several times on the side of Pfalz and Albatros aircraft of Jasta 30. I'm wondering if the pilot simply saw part of the diamond. Just a thought. Perhaps the diamond became a squadron recognition symbol.

I am studying a photo of the wreckage of an Albatros D.V that was on display in the Captured Enemy Aircraft exhibit in Islington in Novmber, 1918. This photo shows a Jasta 30 aircraft but is it D.4420 or D.4422? The problem with it being D.4420 is that D.4420 went from Jasta 30 to a flying school located on the very east edge of Germany. So how could this aircraft end up in Islington?

I am wondering if the Islington Albatros D.V is D.4422.

[TJon2]

Hi

All the captured aircraft original full reports are to be found at the PRO, Kew. I took photos of all of these

I also found list of most of aircraft handed over in 1918-9, this includes the railway truck number and works number for every engine. Sadly in most cases they ignored the aircraft constructors number.
The report on one train load states all the aircraft were in good condition but as the train pulled out of the station a Belgian civilian poked his umbrella into the fuselage of most of them, thu
Tony

[charles]

Originally Posted by TJon2

Hi

All the captured aircraft original full reports are to be found at the PRO, Kew. I took photos of all of these

I also found list of most of aircraft handed over in 1918-9, this includes the railway truck number and works number for every engine. Sadly in most cases they ignored the aircraft constructors number.
The report on one train load states all the aircraft were in good condition but as the train pulled out of the station a Belgian civilian poked his umbrella into the fuselage of most of them, thu
Tony

TJon2: I would really appreciate a copy of the report on G.134, which was an Albatros D.V with serial number D.4422. My email is charles@aeroconservancy.com. This would be really, really helpful, I can't find this report anywhere.
Charley

[TJon2]

Will do Charles

Regards

Tony