Fritz Kempf

I wonder if anyone can give me info on Leutnant Fritz Kempf (jasta 2). He flew a Fokker Dr.1. On his upperwing he had painted "Kempf". On the "middlewings" he wrote "Kennscht mi noch?" ("Do you still know me?"). His last victory was on 8-5-1918. Thanks!!

Jos,

I had the good fortune of tracking down Fritz's grandson Fredrik a few months back. Im building a full size reproduction of his plane 495/17. He sent me a load of pictures of him and told me where the "kennscht mi noch" came from. It seems this was a saying that he used all through his life. As far as Fredrik has told me he only shot down four planes. He died in the late sixties. If you would like to see some really great pictures of him drop me a e-mail and I'll send some your way. Also the Ferko collection at the University of Dallas has a ton of pictures of Fritz and his freinds.

Mark

Hello Mark,
I was surprised that you gave a reply so soon. Of course I'm interested in the pictures. I'm looking forward to receive them. Thanks very much!!! My e-mail adress is Gelissen6@zonnet.nl
The only information I got on Kempf is from the book Fokker DR. 1 written by Jorg Armin Kranzhoff.
In this book are 2 pictures of his Kempf's Dreidecker.
You wrote you are building a full size reproduction of his plane 495/17. That is great. It must be a lot of work. I wish you succes!!!
However, in the book I mentioned Kranzhoff writes that Kempf flew in a Dreidecker DR 1. number 493/17!!!!! Is this correct???
If you have some more info on Fritz, please send it to me!!

Greetings, Jos.

Jos

Whoops! Your right 493/17 not 495/17! I just got a new ergonomic keyboard and I'm still getting use to it.

[Reinout]

Landgenoot,

In the book The Jasta Pilots, Fritz is credited with 4 confirmed victories. Fredrik Kempf came here once and claimed that Fritz should be listed under the aces section - maybe some unverified victories? There's more info in that book but I don't have it with me.

Other good pictures of Kempf's airplane are in Alex Imrie's "The Fokker Triplane" and possibly in Neal O'Connor's "Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany and the Men who earned them", Volume VI (Baden and other states). At least I think so as there's a colour profile painting on the back cover, which usually means that the flyer is detailed inside - surely his plane will be pictured.

Kind regards,

Reinout