Hangars or tents for aircraft in WW1

[Volker_Nemsch]

It´s a modellers question. I intend to build the diorama (1:72) of a German aerodrome in summer 1917.

Here are my questions:

1.)
How many planes had the average Jasta at this time? Did they own their own 2-seaters (for example for transport duties)?

2.)
Was it a common practice that two or more Jastas shared airfields or that one Jasta was stationed on two nearby airfields?

3.)
When exactly did the Germans start with the Lozenge camouflage on Pfalz and Albatros aircraft?

4.)
Can anyone give me dimensions, plans, drawings, or photos of hangars or tents for aircraft? Had all the aircraft their ´own´ hangar? Especially in Germany almost everything is somehow described or regulated.

5.)
Did the Germans use corrugated iron for the hangars or wood? Had these hangars doors? How did repair facilities look like?

6.)
Had the aerodromes their own AA guns or did they only use machineguns (in trenches)?

OK, many questions but maybe someone can help me.


Thanks in advance!
Volker Nemsch

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Volker Nemsch:
I wil try to answe all your questions.
1. In the summer of 1917 each Jasta had 14 machines assigned plus 4 spares. It was not until the fall when new Jastas were formed when they started coming up short, by the end of 1917 the average strength was 12 machines and no spares with the Jasta.
2. Jasta were never split on two different airfields. It was not uncommon for 2 or 3 Jastas to be on the same airfield late in 1917. These were generally formed into a Jadgruppe.
3. Albatros Werke was first with the 5 color lozenge fabric on their Alb. D.V machines beginning with serial number D.2150/17 range in about July 1917. The Pfalz Werke began using 5 color lozenge fabric on Pfalz D.IIIa in January 1918 in the D.8050/17 range. The 5 color fabric was uesed only on the top surfaces of the wings and rudder and plain un-printed fabric under the wings.
4. I have a drawing of the aircraft tent, holds 3 fighters. price is $4.00 US plus $2.00 postage and handling.
5. The german hangars were made of wood. They did have doors and sometimes wood floors, often dirt floors. They did repair work in the hangar or the mobile repair shop, a truck (lorry) or a shop wagon.
6. Each airfield had gun pits with a Parabellum or Maxim machine gun which was manned by the ground crew.
I hopes this helps.
blauer himmel
Dan-San Abbott

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Volker Nemsch;
I missed one of your questions. Each Jasta had on their strength one C type aircraft, i.e Jasta 12 had a AEG. C.IV Jasta 37 had a Halb. Cl.II, Jasta 30 had a DFW C.V. It was also the Jasta practice to paint the Jasta hack airplane in the Jasta markings.
Blauer himmeln
Dan-San