Tasmanian Halberstadt

[NeilE]

Hi Everybody;

Recently I purchased a book titled "War Trophies From The First World War", by a Maj. R.S. Billett. It sets out to catalogue all WWI war trophies taken by Australia after or during the war.

On page 18 of this interesting book I found the photograph below of a Halberstadt CL-11 (or III) 15342/17 captured by Lieutenants Armstrong and Mart of No. 3 Squadron AFC in June 1918. The caption states that it was later presented to the Tasmanian State Govt as a war trophy.

I have searched the Australian War Museum database and have found lots of photographs of it and confirming details of its capture, and also presentation to the Tasmanian Govt.

However, nowhere on the AWM site nor on any Tasmanian historical site can I find anything about its eventual fate.

My questions (three) are: Did the Halberstadt ever make it to Tasmania?;

If so, what has happened to it?;

Is it a Halberstadt CL-II or III? - The AWM strangely lists it as either, depending which photograph you are looking at.

And (well five questions then!) what German Unit was it from?, And what was its likely colour scheme?

Whether there are answers to these questions I don't know, but it seems an interesting and forgotten part of Australian (and Tasmanian) history that I would like to know more about.

All the Best

Neil

[Rick]

Halberstadt CL.II 15342/17 was flown by Gefr. Kuesler, P, and Vzfw. Müllenback, G, of Schlasta 13 and was captured at Villers Bocage on 9Jun18. R.

This airplane was thoroughly photograhed, and has been the subject of substantial artwork rendering. Its colors were the main display of the Profile Publications pamphlet on the type in the 1950s and 60s. A full color rendition appears as the cover art for the more recent Windsock Datafile on the Halb Cl.II.

According to the Ministry of Munitions report on this airplane the fuselage was the standard muticolor Halberstadt "scumble" spray described as "cloudy yellow, dark and light greens, brown, purple and a light blue. The belly of the fuselage is coloured yellow throughout." The tailfin and rudder were reported to be painted gray, with the horizontal stabilizer and elevator in black and white stripes. Five color lozenge fabric was carried on the wings and wheel discs. Photos do not clearly show whether the metal nose panels and spinner were painted, or were left in natural metal finish.

G'day Neil,

According to the book "Secrets Revealed" the Halberstadt was an exhibit in the Australian War Museum.

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I am positive that is what they called the Melbourne Exhibition Hall. If that is the case it was most likely lost in the fire there.

I have heard that the said fire did happen in Melbourne, but many of the aircraft were actually destroyed not in Melbourne, but by a bonfire at a local field close to the site of the AWM.

Andrew.

[NeilE]

G'day Andrew;

Thanks everyone for your typically informed comments re the Tassie Halberstadt.

So this Halberstadt is the one mentioned as being burned in the recent "AWM Pfalz D-XII" thread. How interesting, if very sad. I wonder if the AWM has photos of the other aircraft concerned? (I'll have a look and see).

Its interesting that these aircraft were allowed to be burned (if the bonfire story is true) as Australian State Govts, councils, etc. who wanted or were given war trophies were made to sign an agreement to display them in perpetuity, an agreement that most seem to have kept.

As you say Andrew, there seems to be conflicting stories re the fire. what evidence is there for the bonfire version? (Maybe I could check this through the newpaper archives here im Melbourne)

Also what is meant by "Scumble" camoflage? is it a form of mottling?

All the Best

Neil

[wingstrutdotcom]

Here is one of my color profiles of the Halb. I have two others on my site as well. My website, wingstrut.com

Todd was kind enough to do a profile of 1534/17 for the AFC site at,

http://www.australianflyingcorps.org...ile153417.html

It was Rod Armstrong and Frank Mart which brought the plane in. Frank Mart's middle name was Jelly according to the Nominal Roll.



cam

[Rick]

Nit-pic mode on: *A beautiful profile, but I think the S/N is 15342/17, not 1534/17. * R.

>but I think the S/N is 15342/17, not 1534/17


Doh! My fault. Thanks Rick.



cam

Another question, what is the expanded word for Gefr and Vzfw. Also does anyone have Kuesler and Mullenbach first and middle names?



cam