Pfaltz DIII 1306/18 interned

Regulus · 15 April 2002, 10:46 PM

Hi,

On the 12th june 1918 this Pfaltz DIIIa had to land at Schoondijke, Zeeuws Vlaanderen, the Netherlands were it was interned. The Dutch took it to Soesterberg, where it was redesignated PF225 in the LVA.

Does anyone know to which unit this plane belonged ?

Thanks and best from Regulus

Lyle · 16 April 2002, 08:30 AM

Greetings Regulus,
In the Datafile on the Pfalz D.IIIa, on pg. 21 there are three photos of 1306/18, two when captured and one in Dutch colors; the caption states that this plane was possibly from Jasta 20, but there is some doubt as to its origins. *Perhaps Greg or Dan-San have more information on this one.
VBR,
Lyle

JohnMacG · 16 April 2002, 11:13 AM

Just curious, but did any of the Pfalz DIII series - other than the Dutch machine mentioned above - serve in any other air forces? (Not counting captured Brit/French/US examples.)
I 've heard that the Turks had one, but I've never been able to track down photographic proof.

Regulus · 16 April 2002, 01:36 PM

Thanks Lyle ! Will get the Datafile as soon as possible.

John, as far as I know none were used in other air forces. There were about 600 constructed DIII types. Let's not forget that by the end of the war there was the excellent Pfalz DXII fighter. I think this last one served in a number of Kest's also.

Thanks and best from Regulus

Intrepid · 16 April 2002, 07:20 PM

I have a large collection of Dan-San Abbott drawings including this aircraft and Dan notes Jasta 7 with a question mark.

In answer to JohnMacG the Turks had a number of Pfalz D.IIIa
fighters in the early 1920's. The only photo I have seen was published in a "Windsock International" . I can't remember what issue though.

Intrepid · 16 April 2002, 07:36 PM

The issue of "Windsock International" with the Turkish D.IIIa is Vol 15 Number 3. *May/June 1999.

Ray's caption says this photo came from Yannis Trypitsis of Pefki,Greece and was photograpehed in Jan 1921. The crescent and star insignia is visible in the photo. The Turkish airforce website says they had 4 examples.

Dave_Watts · 16 April 2002, 08:10 PM

Hi Regulus,

To throw my two bits in, I have the plane as landing on June 11th, 1918.

The two Spandau machine guns were numbers, 1480a and 1489a from very late 1917 production.

At least this tells you the aircraft was accepted very, late 1917, or much more likely, very early 1918.

Very Best,
Dave W.

Regulus · 18 April 2002, 02:42 AM

Thanks Intrepid and Dave,

Much appreciate this !

Best from Regulus