ARMISTICE

I am curious about the procedure used by the allies during the collection process of German aircraft at the end of the war. What system was used to allow for orderly turn over of these aircraft? Also I would like to know what types were sent to the U.S. for testing. Thanks. :P

[Volker_Nemsch]

The alliied side had a commission (IAACC, International Alliied Aviation Control Commission) for collecting German aircraft and controlling and dismantling the German aircraft industry. Unfortunately I don´t know HOW they got the aircraft.

At least 142 confiscated Fokker D.VII were sent to the United States for tests (the Fokker D.VII was the only aircraft specifically mentioned in the armistice documents). I don´t have any information concerning other aircraft.

Not much information but I hope this helps ...

[leo]

The Allies were collecting and restriting German, Austrian and Hungarian aircraft production well into the 1920's.

[Droops]

On the last page of the introduction to Gray and Thetford's book on German aircraft, the last paragraph starts as follows:

"With the signing of the Armistice, the German Air Force was demobilised and 15,000 aircraft (plus 27,000 engines) were surrendered to the Allies. The Army was in a state of militant revolt, but better order existed in the Air Force, with a considerable degree of camaraderie between air-crews and ground staff. Most of the flying units, having acquitted themselves proudly, flew to the aerodromes as laid down to hand over their aircraft without undue loss of dignity but with considerable sadness."

I would conclude, on that basis, that various aerodromes were assigned as receiving depots, so to speak, and that the Germans had to fly to these aerodromes and hand over their aircraft at this time.

Can anyone add anything, confirm or deny the hypothesis?

VBR,

John

[Vigilant]

Bodenschatz tells how JG1, led by Göring, duly flew their planes to an allied receiving aerodrome - making sure to land them as heavily as they could!

Were most of the D.VII's scrapped or were they sold to other countries?

Vig.

[Volker_Nemsch]

According to my sources more than 700 Fokker D. VII were produced until EOW.

Belgium received 324 aircraft as war reparations.
The United States received 142 aircraft.
Others were sold to Switzerland, Poland, the Soviet Union, and Finland.

Having in mind that many were shot down or destroyed between April/May and November 1918 (how many exactly?) it seems *that the remaining aircraft of this type had a high value.

Maybe somene else knows more ...

[rammjaeger]

Volker,

I asked for the number of produced Fokker D.VII (In Germany until EOW) a longer time ago here. Dan-San counted 2800 or so in an article and his reply. The often quotated numbers like 700 or 800 are the numbers used at the front on a specific date! The average lifetime of WWI aircraft was (based on German sources) only two month - so you are needing many more aircraft production than 700.

VBR
Rammjaeger

Vigilant

Are you sure that all of JG1's aircraft were flown to the 'drome? I remember reading that a number of DVII, especially the later models, were run with no oil in their engines until they were no longer operational. I was sure these were JG1 aircraft. ???