Loewenhardt's D.VII

josef scott · 10 February 2005, 10:29 AM

This question is more or less directed to Greg VanWyngarden, but any info is appreciated.

I could have sworn that I saw a discussion that included a post of the "distant in-flight photo" of Loewenhardt's D.VII (referred to in "Fokker D VII Aces of WW1 pt1"). I cannot find it now, but perhaps it was only wishful thinking on my part. Was I dreaming?

11 February 2005, 04:15 PM

Hi Josef,

I found a picture of what is believed to be Löwenhardt's Fokker D.VII in German Fighter Units, June 1917-1918 (Osprey/Airwar 17) by Alex Imrie. Granted, the quality isn't there, but the leader streamers and under-wing crosses are remotely visible.

regards,

Darren

josef scott · 11 February 2005, 04:56 PM

Darren,

THANKS SO MUCH!!

It certainly fits Greg's description ("distant in-flight photo").

Do you think Loewnhardt was superstitious about having photos taken of his machines? There certainly is a lack of them.

11 February 2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josef scott

Do you think Loewnhardt was superstitious about having photos taken of his machines?

I don't know how superstitious he was, but he certainly didn't mind being photographed with an enemy machine!

regards,

Darren

Dan_San_Abbott · 11 February 2005, 10:24 PM

Josef Scott:
During July 1918, Loewenhardt received a Fok.D.VIIF 42xx/18 with a BMW IIIa engine. The fuselage, tailplane forward fin half, struts and wheel covers were painted yellow. That is all we have. The wings were probably four color fabric. Being Fokker built it had cut strips of printed fabric.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

josef scott · 12 February 2005, 01:19 AM

wingedwarrior

Any idea whose SPAD that is? or the identity of his companion?

Dan-San

Thanks for the info. Do we know if this was his only DVII? If he received it in July and it was a 42xx/18 machine, which configuration of forward panels would it probably have had? no triangular panel? closed-in saxaphone exhaust? early vents?

Jos · 12 February 2005, 04:52 AM

Hello Josef,

I think the other person is Fritz Friedrichs. In Above The Lines you can see another picture of both men in front of the Spad.
Both were killed due to parachute failure. Friedrichs died 15 July and Löwenhardt 10 August 1918.

Jos

Dan_San_Abbott · 12 February 2005, 10:11 AM

Josef Scott:
Jasta 10 was the first to receive the Fokker D.VII. These machines were in the 231/19 to 3120 /18 range of serial numbers. These had the streaked fuselage and tailplane and and the underside of the fuselage, tailplanes and axle wing were painted sky blue and varnished.
The Fok.D.VIIF and the D.VII in the D.4250/18 to D.4449/18 did not have the rear side panels. It had the three louvers on the side panels and six on the upper side cowlings. The exhaust exited above the side panel and at the rear of the top cowling. The entire aircraft was covered with printed fabric, most with the four color day pattern, dark on the top and sides, and the light pattern on the bottom.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

12 February 2005, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josef scott

Any idea whose SPAD that is? or the identity of his companion?

Hi Josef,

I really cannot identify the Spad XIII. It does have a distinctive pattern on the cowling, as well as the number '4' (maybe half the number?) on the vertical stabilizer. Anyone have any ideas? Jos is absolutely right about the identity of the other fellow. Fritz Friedrichs scored 21 victories (11 of them observation balloons). He died when his Fokker D.VII caught fire after the Phu-Munition it was carrying ignited do to excessive heat. He bailed out, but his parachute ripped when it snagged on the tail of his Fokker, and he fell to his death. What a way to go.....

regards,
Darren

regards,

Darren

josef scott · 13 February 2005, 04:54 PM

After perusing my (rather limited) collection of pics, I would deduce that Loewenhardt's D.VIIf would have been very similar to Udet/Goering's 4253/18. I would assume that he probably would have been flying it sans nose cowling panels as well.

Which brings me to a bit of frustration I've had with Osprey's Aces series. I've been picking up these lovely little books and been dazzled by Harry Dempsey's gorgeous profile art, only to be disappointed by the lack of attention to details obvious in the photos of the same aircraft in the same book. 4253/18 would be a case in point. Both profiles in "Fokker DVII Aces...pt1" depict it with the triangular rear nose panel when the photos of this aircraft on pages 15 & 16 (& all other pics I've seen of it) clearly show it without. Other examples I've come across would be Rumey's DV in "Albatros Aces..." (stripes aren't even close) and Fonck's SPAD XII in "SPAD XII/XIII Aces..." (cowling panels are definitely a light colour, not camo). These are the only ones I've really scrutinized. I guess it's difficult when producing 30-odd pieces of art under a deadline, but when you're using these profiles as references or inspiration, it's very dissappointing and discrediting. Here's hoping the quality (detail) control will improve as the series stretches out.