U-10 film reel

[CjBobrow]

Posted on Roads to the Great War by Michael Hanlon

http://roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogsp...ibrary-of.html

Probably a well known reel at NARA available for online viewing of Fokker "U.10" and other well known captured machines is available at:
https://d3hg138m6n7vnh.cloudfront.ne...8-r2_5Mbps.mp4

[Maxim08]

That’s great, Carl. Thank you.

Regards
John

[VtwinVince]

I haven't seen some of this footage, very interesting. Can anyone identify which unit 'U10' belonged to? That scene with the guy pick-axing the Mercedes engine is particularly shocking.

[Gregvan]

VtwinVince,

The famous Fokker D.VII (OAW) 4635/18 was flown by Ltn. Heinz Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay of Jasta 65. On 9 November 1918, he landed his Fokker on the advance airfield of the 95th Aero Squadron near Verdun and gave himself up. He claimed to have become lost and run out of fuel, but most of the 95th guys believed he was simply deserting. The film, interestingly, shows the D.VII before the 95th Aero painted their Kicking Mule insignia on the right side of the fuselage.

The "'U.10' on the fuselage represented the pilot's regiment 'Ulanen-Regiment Prinz August von Württemberg (Posensches) Nr. 10', or the 10th Uhlans. It's believed that the unit's horses received a 'U10" branding mark.

This Fokker D.VII (OAW) 4635/18 was selected for preservation by the American authorities and it exists in great shape today in the collection of the NASM.

Heinz' brother, the much more famous Oliver Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay, had been mortally wounded in October 1918 and died on 26 October. He had scored 25 victories and had hurriedly been awarded the PLM on his deathbed. He had always used a similar personal marking on his aircraft - a "4D' insignia representing the 4th Dragoons.

Some have speculated that his brother's death was one of the reasons Heinz decided to get 'lost' on 9 November.

[Gregvan]

Here is "U.10" with its original fuselage cross, and the 95th's Kicking Mule painted on the left side. Both the original cross and the Kicking Mule would be souvenired and patched over at some point, and a smaller cross was re-painted on the aft fuselage.


Here it is with the Kicking Mule and original cross gone, and a new smaller cross painted on the patched fabric.








The Kicking Mule and a detailed inscription in white was painted on the right side, and remained intact all the way to the USA.


Here it is in storage at Romorantin, awaiting shipment to the USA.


Here it is as it was first displayed in the USA.

[Gregvan]

At the beginning of the film clip, we see the wreckage of a DFW C.V C.7888/17. This aircraft was shot down on by French AA guns 5 July 1918, falling at La Chapelle in the sector occupied by the US 77th Division. The crew would seem to have been Ltn. Hans Albrecht Freiherr Digeon von Monteton (observer) and Ltn. Hans Beiche (pilot) both KIA. There were a number of superb still photos taken of the wreckage as well; the DFW was decorated with a four-leaf clover emblem on each side of the fuselage.

[VtwinVince]

Thanks for the detailed clarification Greg, and I'm glad to hear that that particular aircraft survived.

[CjBobrow]

https://airandspace.si.edu/collectio...m_A19500008000[QUOTE=Gregvan;765041]Here is "U.10" with its original fuselage cross, and the 95th's Kicking Mule painted on the left side. Both the original cross and the Kicking Mule would be souvenired and patched over at some point, and a smaller cross was re-painted on the aft fuselage.



Greg great synopsis... thought some of you might be interested that an example of the 95th's "Kicking Mule" survives...


Link to NASM page about object...
https://airandspace.si.edu/collectio...m_A19500008000

[Gregvan]

Hi Carl,
Here is a photo of the 95th's Kicking Mule on the fuselage of "U.10", together with the inscription, prior to the restoration in the 1970's. Hopefully, this section of fabric was selected for preservation and rests securely in the Museum's vaults somewhere?



Here is the other side of the fuselage at the same time.