Reinhold Platz

willycoppens · 18 January 2005, 11:44 AM

Hello,
Did Reinhold Platz exert a great influence with Anthony Fokker and the designing of Fokker aircraft? As far as I can tell, he received little credit for his work. Thanks.
Willy

Colin A Owers · 20 January 2005, 08:21 PM

According to Pete Grosz, Weyl used Platz to denigrate Fokker. Platz was just a good welder and foreman. He was not an aircraft designer.

Colin A Owers

Dan_San_Abbott · 21 January 2005, 06:10 PM

willycoppens:
I have the Fok.Dr.I production wing drawings. In the title block Platz's name is not listed. If he was the designer, his signature would be there. There are two names, Pelz and Daum. I think Pelz is the draftsman and Daum is the Designer/Engineer. Fokker was an astute businessman, I am most sure that concepts originated with Fokker and the execution of the concept was in the hands of an graduate engineer, in Germany, Diploma Engineer. Idflieg would expect this as a minimum requirement to head an engineering department in a major supplier of fighter aircraft.
Platz was not accredited, and was initially hired as a welder. Later he was promoted to head the testing Laboratory. He had no influence in the design of any aircraft. This was all part of A.R.Weyl's effort to discredit Anthony Fokker.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

willycoppens · 22 January 2005, 12:14 PM

Gentlemen,
Thanks for your replies. Apparently, I was misinformed. Thanks for setting me straight.
Willy

Roundel · 4 February 2005, 09:36 PM

"He had no influence in the design of any aircraft. This was all part of A.R.Weyl's effort to discredit Anthony Fokker."

If so, then it must be one of the most successful works of disinformation in aviation history. I've seen more than a few references to Platz as the real genius or unsung hero behind Fokker's WWI planes.

A mid-1960's issue of Jane's All the World's Aircraft reported that Peter M. Bowers was in contact with Platz about building a D.VII replica. I wonder how that turned out.

karrart · 4 February 2005, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roundel

"He had no influence in the design of any aircraft. This was all part of A.R.Weyl's effort to discredit Anthony Fokker."

If so, then it must be one of the most successful works of disinformation in aviation history. I've seen more than a few references to Platz as the real genius or unsung hero behind Fokker's WWI planes.

A mid-1960's issue of Jane's All the World's Aircraft reported that Peter M. Bowers was in contact with Platz about building a D.VII replica. I wonder how that turned out.

It's not difficult to understand since it's a case of a small poison creek tainting a large river. Just about all references to Platz as a "designer" ultimately stem from from Weyl's novel. Book after book, generation after generation of bibliographies and it all traces back to this one tome.That book came out over 40 yeas ago, and it's taken this long for Weyl's fiction to start being recognized for what it is. Weird, but tonight I was reading an ancient issue of the American Aviation Historical Society Journal, the very one in which Bowers reviewed the Weyl book. He gives it a generally ok review, but even then he questioned the vehemence and bile directed at Fokker.
Was it Swearingin(?) who bult the D.VIII in the late 50s/mid 60s? He mentioned getting in touch with Platz about this airplane, and noticed that Platz was fuzzy and unclear about a lot of things.
Anyway, through th efforts of Peter Grosz and others, some of the darker scenes in Weyl's mind can be glimpsed.
Robert Karr
karrart.com

Dan_San_Abbott · 5 February 2005, 01:51 PM

Gentlemen:
A.R.Weyl had worked in Idflieg at aldershof near Berlin. Weyl accumulated a tremendous amount of data while there. Weyl, while writing the book the "FOKKER" book, was despondent and committed suicide before the book was finished. Putnam, London, the publisher had asked J.M.Bruce to edit and finish the book. Jack rewrote and edited book reducing the size of the manuscript, and cutting a great deal of the attack on Fokker. ( It would have twice the size according to Jack.) Jack said he was not pleased with the result, but Putnam was, and the book was published. After Weyl's death, Peter Grosz purchased the Weyl Collection from the family. This collection is what opened the door to WW1 German aviation to all of us. Further it gave insights to A.R.Weyl the man. Before Weyl had committed suicide, Peter told me that he had conversations with Weyl. If anyone would know the truth, it would be Peter M. Grosz.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Barrett · 5 February 2005, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roundel

"He had no influence in the design of any aircraft. This was all part of A.R.Weyl's effort to discredit Anthony Fokker."

A mid-1960's issue of Jane's All the World's Aircraft reported that Peter M. Bowers was in contact with Platz about building a D.VII replica. I wonder how that turned out.

I knew Pete pretty well and don't recall that he ever attempted a D.VII. He was plenty busy with his original homebuilt design (Fly Baby), his Pietenpol air camper, and his marvelous Curtiss Pusher.