Anyone know anything about this?

Greetings!
I have this Pfalz D-IIIa wall-paper (# 3143/17) and I'm sure it's a common picture, but I know nothing of the aircraft's history. Can anyone tell me anything about it?

[EdStevens]

I believe that it's actually 8143/17. The stencil design makes it confusing.

Armed with that information, Google yields this cryptic bit:

"...Starks D IIIa on p 9 of the datafile or Schueschke´s machine on p 5, also 8143/17 on p 7."

http://www.wwi-models.org/mail-archive/arc...chive.2000/2786

[Dan_San_Abbott]

JoeMcCarthy:
There are are three shots of Pfalz D.IIIa 8143/17, front,side and rear views. This bugged me for along while. I suspected the color were blue and aluminum. further I thought because of the over-painted wings, he was probably a Jastafûhrer.
The cross style told me the photo was probably taken between 17 March to 13 May 1918. I arbitrarily picked April 1918.
The next clue told me that it was a Bavarian Jasta. The sheds at this airfield were constructed by the Bayer. Flieger-Bau -Batl. Sheds with the truss on the front to support the roof and doors were built by these guys.
The plain front aircraft sheds were built by the Hallenbau Komp. Nr 1 or Nr.2.
Checking the unit markings of the Bavarian Jasta, left me with Jasta 77b. The blue painted tailplane was Jasta 77b unit marking. The Führer from 14 March to 25 April was Ltn. Otto Fuchs, This does not conform to his markings ,a Fox (Fuchs) was painted on the sides of his fuselage..The Führer from 25 April to 15 May 1918 was Oblt. Walter Ewers.(KIA). The airfield was Foucaucourt during this period.
So the answer is, Pfalz D.IIIa 8134/17 was flown by Oblt. Walter Fuchs in April 1918 while based at Foucaucourt Airfield.
It looks beautiful in BMW blue.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Dan-San, and everybody, thank you! So Herr Fuchs did not have a fox painted on the fuselage of this aircraft.
There's something just not right when such a beautiful aircraft was such an indifferent performer.

Joe