LFG Roland aircraft - complete ace list

[Knusel]

Good morning Gentlemen,

I would like to resume my gathering of Roland aces.
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=60614
I think, there have been but a handful of them:

LFG Roland C.II
- Wilhelm Fahlbusch and his observer Hans Rosencrantz 5 (5)
LFG Roland D.II/D.IIa
- Hans Pippart 6 (22)
- Reinhard Treptow 5 (6)
- possibly Leopold Anslinger 2-5 (10)
other LFG Roland types
- none

From John Snelling aka Max Schnell I learned how to tell a D.II from a D.IIa. Now I think that Jon Guttman has made a mistake in writing that Hans Pippart's 2876/16 was a D.IIa. It was rather a D.II as revealed by its engine vents. Also the serial is suggestive for a D.II as the D.IIa is clearly a 1917 machine.

I would be very grateful for any input regarding the Roland types flown by Treptow ans Anslinger.

Cheers,

Michael

[radio]

Hey Michael,
is there a photo, colour skin or serial and/or taktial sign about the C II. What colours had the C II?
Martin

[josef scott]

Hi Michael,

I, too, would be interested in more details about Fahlbusch and Rosencrantz. What unit were they with? What is a good source?

[Knusel]

Good evening Martin & Josef,

I'm afraid there is no good source about Fahlbusch and Rosencrantz.
I think, their categorization as Roland aces may base on Norman Franks' books ABOVE THE LINES (1993) & SHARKS AMONG MINNOWS (2001). The latter of which contains two kills that the former doesn't contain (9Jul1916 RE7 & 2/3Sep1916 one kill in a Roland C) plus 31Jul1916 Martinsyde.

I don't have Jon Guttman's RECONNAISSANCE AND BOMBER ACES OF WORLD WAR 1. Does it reveal more ?

Cheers,

Michael

[Pips]

The following information is taken from Jon Guttman's wonderful Aircraft Of The Aces 123 - Reconnaissance And Bomber Aces Of WWI.

Wilhelm Fahlbusch was born in Hanover on 8 February 1892, and after
serving in FFA 11 he transferred to a bombing unit, Kampfstaffel 1 of
Kampfgeschwader der Obersten der Heeresleitung (Kagohl) 1, on 19 May
1916. There, he and Hans Rosenkrantz, who was born in
Wollstein on 6 August 1890, were credited with five victories,
although details of only two are known. On 9 July they shot
down an RE 7 of No 21 Sqn over Marcoing, killing its Canadian
pilot, 2Lt Charles V Hewson. Their fifth success was one of four
Martinsyde G100s of No 27 Sqn slaughtered in a disastrous
bombing misson to Havricourt Wood on 31 August, the other
three falling victim to Halberstadt and Fokker fighters of newly
formed Jasta 1.

Both Walfisch crewmen were awarded the Iron Cross, but on
6 September American war correspondent Herbert Bayard
Swope reported to the New York Times that they ‘were killed
trying to stop an English raiding party of eight aeroplanes that
flew over the German lines and were bombarding railroad
stations. The flight was at 5.30 Wednesday afternoon and
showed the exceptional courage of the Germans in taking on
a fight with such superior force’.

Fahlbusch and Rosenkrantz had encountered Sopwith 1½
Strutters of No 70 Sqn over Malincourt. Credit for their deaths
was shared between three crews, namely Capt William D S
Sanday and Lt Clifford W Busk, Lts Bernard P G Beanlands and
C A Good and Lts Selby and Thomas.

[MASTIFF]

"Above The Lines" has the above info and notes that Fahlbusch was generally known as "Willi".

Also: "Their Roland CII fell in flames, being claimed by three British crews led by Captain WGS Sanday and Lieutenant Busk, in A3431, at 1845 hours."

There is an interesting anomaly with that a/c number being applied incorrectly. It seems that 2 Strutters, A2431 and A2432 were transferred from the RNAS and A2431 somehow became A3431. (This number is actually for an RE8 in a batch of 100 from A3405 to A3504 built by the Siddely-Deasy Motor Car Co., Ltd., Coventry.)

ATL has Rosencrantz (with a "C"), Ltn, KG1, first name Hans, also being recorded as Hermann and born 9 August 1890, not 6 Aug.


Tony

[josef scott]

Thanks Tony & Pips!

It would be interesting to know where the Roland C.II identification came from. No 70 Sqn combat reports? KG1 records? Was Kasta 1 fully equipped with Walfisch?

[Knusel]

Hello there gentlemen,

from Russ Gannon I learned, that the Roland identification is likely based on the 70 Sq combat record.
I also would be very intrested in any document/photo that reveals what aircraft Kampfstaffel 1 of Kagohl 1 was equipped with in the May-September 1916 period.

Michael

[James A. Pratt III]

Pippart's victories: From the Russian Military air fleet:

25.5.17 32 KAO Farman 30 2 KIA
20.6.17 Balloon 26th Army VO Observer OK
26.6.17 Balloon 33rd KVO
28.6.17 unconfirmed 1 artillery AO Farman FTL and Nieuport 21 2 KAO damaged FTL
25.8.17 balloon 16 KVO Observer KIA
4.10.17 Sopwith ?
23.10.17 balloon 33 KVO

Ansinger
6.5.17 6 Aritillery AO 2 KIA Antra Anade
17.5.17 2 artillery AO WIA and KIA Voisin
31.5.17 balloon 3rd Caucusus KVO observer KIA
29.6.17 7 FAO Nieuport FTL OK
30.6.17 7 FAO Nieiuport A. Orlov ace KIA

Tretow

26.6.17 ecs 503
2.7.17 esc 501 KIA
17.11.17 esc 505 KIA and Unk.

[josef scott]

Hi Michael,

One photo of Fahlbusch & Rosencrantz, presumably in Kasta1, shows them in front of an LVG CII:

Other Kasta 1 images from that general time show Rumpler CI's and more LVG's. Other units in KG1 were similarly equipped. Kastas 3 and 8 did have at least one Walfisch each, so it is entirely possible Kasta 1 did as well. Ferko's Fliegertruppe (Nr.1) has a photo of Hans von Keudall of KG1 standing in front of an early Roland CII, although I am not sure which Kasta he was in.