21.04.1918 - No. of Fok. D.VII delivered to JG1?

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello!

First of all I hope you all had some wonderful and quiet Christmas days (and got some nice presents).


Here is my (silly) question:

Manfred von Richthofen was shot down on 21.04.1918. Around that day the first new Fokker D.VII´s were delivered to the frontline units.

Were there already some of the new fighters with JG1? Were they ready for service?

And if so, why did MvR decide to take a "second best" aircraft instead of the Fokker D.VII?

Were there not enough to form a flight out of them or other reasons?

I´m asking this because von Richthofen scored most of his victories while flying fighter aircraft with inline engines (Alb. D.I - D.Va, Halberstadt D.II (?)). In early 1918 the Fokker D.VII prototype was modified at Adlershof after he made his remarks about it and and so the modified machine would have had all those specifications of a fighter suitable for his "style of flying".

Any ideas?

Hi Volker,

According to Dan-San (in a previous post), there were only 19 Fokker D.VII at the Army Air Parks by April 30, 1918. Of these, none were issued to frontline Jastas. Deliveries to the front didn't proceed until May. If you do a search for 'Why was Richthofen in a Dr1 on April 21st?", you may find the previous thread. Also, not to be a nit-picker, but I don't believe that MvR ever flew the Albatros D.Va in combat (only the D.V).

regards

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello wingedwarrior!

Thank you for the fast reply.

This raises the question how much time did it take between the roll out of the completed aircraft (in Schwerin or elsewhere) and the delivery to a frontline unit?

Hi Volker,

I found the thread I mentioned earlier. I think that it has most of the information that you are looking for.

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/index.ph...pril+21st\?

regards

[Volker_Nemsch]

Thank you very much!

I´ll have a look into the other thread.