Erich Loewenhardt's Albatros

[Albatroid]

I'm starting another Albatros project and I wasn't sure whether I should post this in 'Art' or 'Aircraft', but I want to depict Erich Loewenhardt's Albatros as Mr. Anderson has rendered it in his painting. It is posted here in the member galleries.

My decals from Eagle Strike show a J.10 D-III with the white squiggles and a yellow nose without any further unit markings; Mr. Anderson's painting however shows a yellow tail and struts and I think I prefer that look.

I haven't been able to dig up much on these aircraft and I can't tell whether the subject of the painting is a late-production OAW D.III or a D.V; perhaps the Eagle Strike plane and the one in the painting were different airframes? Been going nuts looking through my Albatros references and searching several forums to no avail. Does anyone have specifics on this plane? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Brotrob]

Hallo Albatroid,

I know only this foto of the particular DIII:



and it shows no tail. But other DIIIs of the same Unit bore as unitmarkings only a yellow nose, not a yellow tail, as this one:



So, allthough it looks quite qool, I fear the yellow tail version is pure fiction.

Also my Information says that Heinz Naworra stated this Alb is the one of Löwenhard. And he is not a very credible persan at all

best Greetings,

Robert

[Albatroid]

Thanks, when you refer to Nowarra's statement I presume that you mean the Albatros in the top photo of your post- not "8" with the white dumbbell marking? I don't have the Nowarra book.

[JoernL]

"8" was the personal mount of Vfw. Adam Barth, and Nowarra correctly identified it as such in "Eisernes Kreuz und Balkenkreuz". Nowarra´s identifications of WWI airplanes are sometimes doubtful, he really was more of an expert on WWI aviation.
But in the case of the Jasta 10 Albatros planes published in his book the identifations he mentioned seem to be correct, at least I haven´t heard otherwise yet.
I don´t know his source, maybe he got the info from Xaver Leinmüller, one of the Jasta 10 mechanics who appears in at least two Jasta 10 photos from the Nowarra collection?

Best regards,

Joern

[Gregvan]

Hi,

I agree with Joern. Let's not forget that dear old Heinz Nowarra was a real pioneer in the field of WWI aviation research, and in obtaining and preserving aviation photos especially. Yes, some of his works (especially the Fokker Dr.I Squadron "In Action" book) contain some errors, but he was responsible for preserving a great deal of material. My own photo collection (and that of many others) would be far poorer were it not for Heinz Nowarra.

Heinz corresponded with Jasta 10 mechanic Georg Junginger, and another mechanic from the same Staffel, Xaver Leinmüller. A short article based on this correspondence appeared in C & C (US) Vol. 3, No. 3, Autumn 1962. I believe Heinz obtained both of the photos seen in this thread (and other Jasta 10 photos now familiar to us all) from Leinmüller, and it was Leinmüller who provided the identifications of the various Albatros fighters in the famous line-up shot. I have no reason to doubt these identifications, and the OAW-built Albatros D.III with the white wavy line on the fuselage and on the top surface of the upper wing was attributed to Löwenhardt. It definitely had the unit's yellow nose and was number '15' in the Staffel numbering system. As Joern has said, No. 8 was certainly Adam Barth's machine.

I think Mr. Anderson took some (permissible) artistic license in changing the D.III to a D.V, and adding the yellow tail - but there is no photo of such an aircraft that I know of.

Greg

[baldeagle]

Greg,
How is it known that the wavy white line was on the top of the top wing also, from Leinmüller?

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Baldeagle:
I did my original 3 view drawing of this machine in August 1976, When I did my Alb.D.III, D.V and D.Va drawings, they were made from over 1800 photographs that Peter M. Grosz loaned to me. There were several photos of the Jasta 10 line-up from several views. One the photo presented and another from behind Löwenhardt's D.III. This photo showed the form of the squiggle on the of the wing as well as the camouflage pattern on the wings and tailplane. This is Cat.Js10-16. The drawing was redone in in May of 85.
At some later date I gave Greg a complete set of my drawings.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Albatroid]

Hello Dan San,

I still have your 2001 catalog. Are the address and pricing still good? I would like to send for the Loewenhardt drawing #JS10-16. Perhaps a few others as well. Thanks again for the information!

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Albatroid:
Current prices are $4.00 for line drawings and $10.00 for colored drawings.
Postage and handling $1.50 US and $3.50 international.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Albatroid]

I'll try to get an order sent out today, Dan San. Thanks!