Two Early German Floatplanes- Photos

musec · 9 May 2013, 02:08 PM

Hello All,

Currently on ebay two interesting photos of early German floatplanes
.

At Foto Flieger ALBATROS # Wasser FLUGZEUG 1914 # INTERESSANT !! ! | eBay an aircraft described as an Albatros. It's listed at Albatros seaplane as an Albatros Tractor Seaplane.

and at Foto Marine TORPEDOBOOT II. FLOTTILLE OESEL FLUGZEUG Flieger SMS S.M.S. AK Photo | eBay
If I read the serial number correctly (and it is bleary) a Friedrichshafen FF 19 serial number 80.

Any comments?

Regards,

Clint

richard B · 10 May 2013, 01:06 AM

Bonjour

The first photo depicts the ALBATROS WDE "Land-wasserdoppeldeckert" amphibious floatplane built for the 1913 "Bodensee" competition .

musec · 10 May 2013, 02:23 AM

Hello Richard,

Thanks for your reply. Do you know if the WDE was impressed by the Navy following the outbreak of WW.I?

Regards,

Clint

richard B · 10 May 2013, 03:02 AM

Sorry , I don't know more .

Cheers

richard

Tork1945 · 10 May 2013, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musec

Hello All,

Currently on ebay two interesting photos of early German floatplanes
.

At Foto Flieger ALBATROS # Wasser FLUGZEUG 1914 # INTERESSANT !! ! | eBay an aircraft described as an Albatros. It's listed at Albatros seaplane as an Albatros Tractor Seaplane.

and at Foto Marine TORPEDOBOOT II. FLOTTILLE OESEL FLUGZEUG Flieger SMS S.M.S. AK Photo | eBay
If I read the serial number correctly (and it is bleary) a Friedrichshafen FF 19 serial number 80.

Any comments?

Regards,

Clint

The second picture shows the rare A.E.G. "Z5" or "S 1" with German Marinenummer "63". I remembered that I had seen the picture earlier on Flickr when the machine was identified by expert Yavor Dinkov (well known on this forum too). Remarkable is the marking on the rudder, which was probably used in the early months only by the German Marine forces.

Tork1945

musec · 10 May 2013, 06:55 AM

Hello Tork,

Thanks for the correct id. Any idea why both the AEG S 1 and the Oertz W.4 both allocated Naval Serial 63?

Regards,

Clint

Tork1945 · 10 May 2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musec

Hello Tork,

Thanks for the correct id. Any idea why both the AEG S 1 and the Oertz W.4 both allocated Naval Serial 63?

Regards,

Clint

I have never seen any explanation for the reason of the duplication Marinenummer '63' (and incidentally '64'), but the easy way out is 'bureaucratic error'. Remarkably few duplication is known of the Marinenummer, just 63, 64, 117 and 841. Not bad for a few thousand used Marinenummer.

Tork1945

musec · 10 May 2013, 11:57 AM

Hi Tork 1945,

Another duplicate? Gotha, WD-2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
This Gotha WD.2 276 appears to duplicate the Oertz W.5.

Regards,

Clint

musec · 10 May 2013, 11:59 AM

Hi Tork 1945,

Another duplicate? Gotha, WD-2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
This Gotha WD.2 276 appears to duplicate the Oertz W.5.

Regards,

Clint

Tork1945 · 10 May 2013, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musec

Hi Tork 1945,

Another duplicate? Gotha, WD-2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
This Gotha WD.2 276 appears to duplicate the Oertz W.5.

Regards,

Clint

The picture on Flickr does not show the Gotha WD 2, but the Gotha WD 8 with its typical three rudder construction at the tail. Only one example of this type was procured by the German marine, which got the Marinenummer 476. As can be clearly seen on this picture it was incorrectly marked with the Marinenummer 276, at least when this picture was taken. Another picture of this machine I have seen gives a view right on, where the Marinenummer is not visible. IMO the bureaucrats allotted the right (unique) Marinenummer, but the actual painter of the numbers painted the wrong number for one reason or other.

I think they made this numbering mistake then to fox aviation historians in the next century

This sort of mistake sometimes comes up. I remember having seen a picture of an English WW1 machine (forgot which) which was accidentally marked with the wrong serial number.

Tork1945