Pilot of Black and White Ringed Albatros

[MikeW]

On the 20th August 1917 Naval 6 were involved in a general engagement at 10.50 (British Time) between Westende and Schoore.

One of the enemy pilots flew an Albatros with its fuselage distinctively striped in black and white rings. He gave several of the "established" Naval 6 Camel pilots a very hard time and figured prominently in their combat reports -always reported as driving them off as soon as they got in a good position on another Albatros.

Sounds like an experienced flight leader who was practiced at looking after his team - ring any bells with anyone?

Mike

[R Pope]

I have a photo of that DV, captioned,"thought to be of Jasta 2 (Boelke)." That's all it says. There are three gentlemen in military dress standing in front of it, one leaning on the wing in a proprietary manner, I would assume he is the pilot. Sorry, no scanner.

[VtwinVince]

I also have a large poster from the 70's which shows three pilots in front of the ringed Albatros, and attributes this marking to Jasta Boelcke.

[Rick]

Mike, it's possible that this was Vallendor of Jasta B. They were in the right area (stationed at Ghistelles). But, V. was a relative rookie (joined Jasta B on 5Jul17). I was thinking more along the lines of Jasta 17. Guess this is a question for Greg. R.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Mike W:
I could have been an aircraft from Jasta 26. During this period Jasta 26 was stationed at Iseghem Airfield in the German 4.Armee. Also they were equipped with Alb.D.V.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[PFFF]

See OTF Vol 14 # 3 Fall 1999 p.260 of Black/white ringed Albatros flown by
Hauptman der Reserve Eberhard Von Seel of Jasta 17 KIA 12 June 1917
He had flown with JAsta Bloecke

[Rick]

P3F,

Exactly the aircraft and pilot that I was thinking of. The problem? As you state he was KIA in June 1917, and the combat reported by Mike occurred in August 1917 ! R.

[Cigogne]

PFFF,

The photo of von Seel in the striped Albatros D.V was taken when he was the Jastaführer of Jasta 17 shortly before his death.

There were many other Albatros D.III and D.V aircraft to wear these markings, including those flown by...

1. Ludwig Hanstein
2. Theodor Rumpel
3. Hermann Valendor
4. Assorted Jasta 26 pilots
5. Rudolf Windisch

Plus many others... hard to nail it down to just one pilot.

[MikeW]

If it helps any, this guy was good, he was making the camels work hard and not loosing his altitude during the combat. He didn't shoot anyone down but he put bullets in at least three Camels, two of which were flown by relatively experienced pilots who were skilled and aggressive.

I didn't realise the colour scheme was so popular!


Mike

[Cigogne]

There were a lot more painted like that than I mentioned!