LVG C.V with the emblem

[dwojkarz]

I bought a photo about a month ago, LVG C.V, no annotations, an interesting emblem - a moon smoking a cigar. Can you identify the crew, unit, something? I have dozens of such anonymous photos. I've stopped counting on a miracle. I assume they will remain anonymous forever.

[Lasttime]

AnNight Fighter aircraft?

[Wiking]

Hello Dwojkarz,

Unfortunately I can't add anything on the crew or the unit,and I'd like to know myself,but the aircraft serial if you're not aware of it, is C.14412/17.

Regards,

Wiking

[dwojkarz]

Hello, yes, I know the number - 14412/ 17 or 14472/ 17 (I believe 14472/ 17) - I have to do a scan because I can't see well. I bought the photo on eBay for EUR 58, there was one more, another shot of this plane, but without the number, close-up on the emblem, etc. I was giving 148.5 EUR. And it wasn't enough.

[Gregvan]

Hello Dwojkarz,
So YOU were the one who bought that close-up photo of this interesting machine.!! I tried for it but you outbid me.

As for the man-in-the-crescent-moon smoking a cigar, I cannot identify this LVG or its crew or unit. But, the motif of the man-in-the-moon smoking (usually a pipe) is a very common one on German aircraft of WWI. It must have come from some well-known story, commercial emblem, or something like that. I've seen it on many aircraft.

What is just as interesting as the emblem is the fact that the fuselage was painted over in a light color, with the top surface slightly darker. That's fairly unusual.

As you say, the broader view of this plane, showing the serial number, has also been offered on ebay - twice, from different sellers! I didn't get either one. This one was on ebay in November 2017:


The reverse was also posted, and it supplies a bit of info; maybe this will help.


I, too have dozens of photos (hundreds) of unidentified German aircraft like this. It's a fascinating search for information and answers.

[Soderbaum]

Interesting motif indeed

I am only aware of two German units who were located at Stenay in July 1918.

First FA 44 which was an AOK unit. An AOK unit had specialized duties for example in long recce flights. Around 1 October 1918 it became an Armee Flieger Abteilung with more then 20 a/c included an Nachtstaffel (night).

The second unit at probably at Stenay around this time was FAA 274 (former FFA 25). It was an unique unit which was located at Stenay basically from the start of the War until the very end.

So other photos from these two units might give an answer via the unit marking ?

Gunnar

[dwojkarz]

Hello Gregvan,

There were two of them in the crew - so (at least) two sets had to be created. Ha, it is unusual that they survived and appeared at the auction soon after all.

Someone really wanted to buy the second photo. He tested my maxima, bounced and ... hit hard. I was ready for EUR 200, but I thought (naive!) That my EUR 148.5 would be enough. For this sum you can buy ten photos, even an album with a dozen or so photos! Well ... the photo was beautiful! If I had known that it was Poles in the German aviation, the merchant would have bounced back. I have a separate account for Poles. Then there is no maximum, every sum goes to the table.

Thanks for the description of the photo on the back. I will try to figure out something else with this.

I don't know much about painting airplanes. I consider the war in the air historically. Polish context. Wide shot. For me, the text and history are important, and if there is any nice general picture, like the moon and cigar, ok - we add to the book the chapter on German aviation in general. I am not interested in German aviation as such. Poles in it yes.

In order to put Poles into context, I need to know everything. From general history to detailed shots. The Germans, you know, did not want Poles in technical weapons. The Poles were to serve only as doctors (because they would heal the Germans) and as simple soldiers. Only at the turn of 1917/1918 does "something" begin to change. Losses are rising. And then Poles, officers of lower ranks begin to appear. They are also included in technical weapons, aviation, etc. Okay, enough here, because it is completely outside the topic.

BTW, we wrote several letters to each other 25-27 years ago. Now I got it. I did not turn gray, but a long time has passed. Regards : )

Hello Soderbaum,

Thank you very much. I am very interested in the units subordinate to the Supreme Command (OHL) and the army commands (AOK). Planning, intelligence, what the commander knew, that's it. It is true that I focus primarily on the Russian Front, primarily the German Army South (Armee Sued) and its intelligence service (here also aviation) (1915-1918). There were many Poles there (translators from Russian, Germans always had a problem with it, many Nicolai and Gempp write about it). In the case of this army, missing documents, burned in 1945, can be supplemented with Austro-Hungarian documents. They are almost complete. We also have a very large collection of documents in Poland. Also aviation, more unknown and unused. Ok, back off topic, sorry for the delay.

[dwojkarz]

I can see "my" photo (Gregvan's collection) in LVG Aircraft of WWI, Vol. 2 by Jack Herris. Indeed, it must be unique, the other great photos of my beloved LVG are wearing "plain" camouflage.

I have a series of these books and I don't even have time to review them... waiting for retirement : )

[Lasttime]

One Polish ace in World War I
http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/garsztka.php

By the way what does the handwriting say?

On the internet search engine moon smoking a cigar art from the turn of the century....
https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...t=0&ajaxserp=0

[RHWinter]

Originally Posted by Lasttime

By the way what does the handwriting say?

It says:

„To my dear Jutta, a remedy against total forgetting (amnesia). Fred
Stenay 22. VII.18“