German East & West Africa Aircraft

[mortarion]

Does anyone know what aircraft were used by germany in their african colonies during WWI, I know they had a few aircraft but not sure what types they were. If anyone knows of a book or 2 on tyhe subject that would be great.

[lonestarson]

The only German aircraft in Africa I can remember ever reading about was an Otto pusher biplane, but I'm not sure if it was during the war or pre-war. Sorry, that's all I got.

[SCMc]

See this thread for a previous discussion about the Otto pusher.

Steve

[rammjaeger]

Mortarion,

there are many threads with info about German airplanes in Africa in the archives. Use the search function behind Search to find them with some fitting words like German aircraft africa 1914 etc.

There were 5 aircraft in Africa in 1914:
1 in East Africa
2 in South West Africa
and another 2 in crates in Cameroon
see: http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/ot...frica-ww1.html

[Aquilius]

Hi Mortarion,

There were 4 aircraft send to the "Schutztruppe" sponsored by money out of the "Nationalflugspende 1912"

This were 2 Jeannin Stahltaube Typ B from 1914 - captured by the British stil in their transport boxes in Cameroun. (most likely never flown)

And an Aviatik Pfeil-Doppeldecker (P 14) and a LFG Pfeil-Doppeldecker (both 1913 types) that saw some service in "Deutsch-Südwest-Afrika" (Namibia).

Büchner with his Pfalz/Otto biplane went for advertising and exhibition flights first to "Deutsch-Südwest" then to "Deutsch-Ost-Afrika" (Tanganyika/Tanzania), where the plane in WW1 was taken over by the army and converted to a floatplane.



The best exploration of that matter was done by Karl-Dieter Seifert.
Especially for the african aviation adventures!
Maybe you should get his book by VDM Verlag:

for example here: Sound Bücher Modellbau

(I got it once in a second-hand bookshop for about 10,- €, I think. )


Edit:

There is also a chapter of Günther Plüschow and the Rumpler Tauben used in Tsingtau, Kiautschou (China).

Maybe someone can tell me what aircraft were used by the japanese then that attacked the germans?

Cheers

Aquilius

[mortarion]

thanks for the info, I will look around for a copy

[Aaronw]

If you just want a decent book covering the overall subject I read "The Great War in Africa 1914-1918" a few years ago. It gives a pretty good overall view of all the campaigns in Africa, obviously not in exacting detail since it covers a lot of ground, in a relatively small book (300 or so pages). I found it a very easy read, almost novel like in its writing. I do recall a little discussion of aircraft, but obviously seeing the post that the German's had 5 planes aircraft didn't play the same kind of role as in Europe. There was also a zeppelin or two that made supply runs to the german forces.


Amazon.com: The Great War in Africa: 1914-1918 (9780393305647): Byron Farwell: Books

[Lawrence Milner]

Originally Posted by Aquilius

Hi Mortarion,

There were 4 aircraft send to the "Schutztruppe" sponsored by money out of the "Nationalflugspende 1912"

This were 2 Jeannin Stahltaube Typ B from 1914 - captured by the British stil in their transport boxes in Cameroun. (most likely never flown)

And an Aviatik Pfeil-Doppeldecker (P 14) and a LFG Pfeil-Doppeldecker (both 1913 types) that saw some service in "Deutsch-Südwest-Afrika" (Namibia).

Büchner with his Pfalz/Otto biplane went for advertising and exhibition flights first to "Deutsch-Südwest" then to "Deutsch-Ost-Afrika" (Tanganyika/Tanzania), where the plane in WW1 was taken over by the army and converted to a floatplane.



The best exploration of that matter was done by Karl-Dieter Seifert.
Especially for the african aviation adventures!
Maybe you should get his book by VDM Verlag:

for example here: Sound Bücher Modellbau

(I got it once in a second-hand bookshop for about 10,- €, I think. )


Edit:




Cheers

Aquilius

I can confirm this info. from pictures of the Bruno Buchner Pfalz Biplane with the name 'Rudolph Hertzog' German Clothing factory sponsoring Buchner's expedition to Africa under the wings. This aircraft was requisitioned by the military and after crashing it was rebuilt on floats. The Aviatik P14 first arrived in South West Africa on 19th May, 1914 and taken over by the military in August, 1914. It was repaired after a crash and sent into action against the South African invasion force at Luderitz. After being captured by the South African troops, the pilot Lt. Von Scheele spent the rest of the war in a P.O.W. camp. The LFG Roland was also used to bomb South African troops and was wrecked in April 1915 severely injuring Lt. Fiedler. The wreckage was burnt at Tsumeb to prevent its capture. Lt. Fiedler, an Austrian pilot was of royal descent. (In Southern Skies by J. Illsley)
Regards Lawrence Milner

[James A. Pratt III]

More info can be found in the "Axis History Forum" section that deals with German Colonies and overseas exploration: Airpower in the colonies.

[Willi Von Klugerman]

According to a scene in the film Running Free,a group of S.E.5's attack a German occupied South African desert town