Austro-Hungarian pilot Josef Kiss, Flik 55J Pergine Italy

[Pearl Jam]

I am about to receive an Eduard kit of the Albatros DIII Oeffag and a Special Hobby kit of the Phonix DII. I will not use their decals because I would like to reproduce two aircraft flown by Josef Kiss, a pilot stationed at Flik 55J in Pergine, in north-east Italy, near where I live. However, not being an officer (he will become one upon his death, on May 24, 1918, flying a Phonix DIIA), it seems he did not have a personal Albatros Oeffag.
During the funeral commemoration at the Pergine airport, the allies awarded him the highest honors of the weapons and Italian, French and British planes dropped from the sky a commemorative wreath with the inscription: "Our last homage to our brave adversary". Josef Kiss was later buried in Pergine Valsugana, now rests in the Military Shrine of Castel Dante in Rovereto. Nicknamed "The Knight of the Sky" for his loyal and chivalrous behavior: he had 113 war missions under his belt with 19 victories, but despite this he always tried to spare the life of his opponent.
From what I read in Christopher Chant's book: "The Austro-Hungarian Aces of the Great War", he flew at least two Oeffag, no reference to the Phonix with which he died, even if I found some indications that they wanted it with a white stripe near the tail rudder.
Any advice will be appreciated.
Virgilio

[Malaula]

Hello Pearl Jam. Here is some information on Josef Kiss' Albatros D.III(Oef) 153.47 of Flik 55J at Pergine airfield in January 1918. Fuselage, tail, and rudder painted bluegreen. Spinner, nose and engine panels, wing fillets, fuselage louvres, access doors, footstep in natural metal. Fuselage underside is sky blue as is tailskid fillet. All struts black. White seven on fuselage sides shadowed in black located just behind cockpit opening. Narrow white band around rear fuselage just forward of tailplane. Black serial 153.47 on fuselage sides forward of white band. Top surfaces of all wings, tailplane, rudder and wheel covers are bluegreen. Undersurfaces of wings and tailplane are sky blue. All wing and rudder crosses are black with white outline. This information is based on illustration of Josef Kiss' Albatros D.III(Oef) 153.47, page 245, in book Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914-1918 by Dr. Martin O'Connor. A description of the color illustration is found on page 235. Next serial number 153.159. Best regards, Malaula.

[Malaula]

On to Albatros D.III (Oef) 153.159, Flik 55J, April 1918 at Pergine airfield flown by Josef Kiss. The nose metal panels, fuselage, tailplane, rudder, and tailskid fillet are heavily mottled dark green and dark brown. The mottle done by paint saturated cloth/sponges. White letter K marking aft of cockpit opening on fuselage sides. The white K is superimposed over a red and blue diagonal striped triangular medal ribbon having a large red circle medallion on fuselage sides. Wheel covers are mottled dark green and dark brown. All struts are sky blue . Underside of fuselage is sky blue nose to tail. Underside of all wings and tailplane are sky blue. Black crosses with white outline on all wings and rudder. Flare gun located on rear right side of fuselage cockpit opening. Information based on illustration of 153.159 found on page 248 of Dr. Martin O'Connor's book Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914-1918. A description of the illustrations colors is on page 237 with a photo of Josef Kiss in front of 153.159 found on page 45. Best regards, Malaula.

[Malaula]

Hello Pearl Jam. Lastly some information on Phoenix D.IIa 422.10, May 1918, Pergine airfield, flown by Josef Kiss. All upper wing surfaces, fuselage, tailplane, rudder and wheel covers are heavily mottled medium green utilizing paint saturated cloth/sponges. All struts black. Under wing surfaces and under tailplane surfaces are natural linen color. Single small white band around rear fuselage just forward of tailplane. Serial number 422.10 in black just aft of cockpit opening on fuselage sides. Black wing and rudder crosses outlined in white. This description based on illustration of Alexander Kasza's Phoenix DIIa 422.14 of Flik 55J, June 1918 on pages 251, 256 of Dr. Martin O'Connor's book Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914-1918. A description of the colors in the illustration is found on page 238. Josef Kiss, Stefan Kirjak, and Alexander Kasza often flew together in Flik 55J. Kiss' plane had one white fuselage stripe, Kirjak's aircraft two white fuselage stripes, and Kasza's aircraft three white stripes on fuselage. Hope this helps in your builds of Josef Kiss' aircraft. Best regards, Malaula.

[Malaula]

Hey Pearl Jam, forgot to state that a photo of Josef Kiss in front of Phoenix D.IIa 422.10 can be found on page 45 of Dr. Martin O'Connor's Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914-1918. Also search for this thread "Josef Kiss last dogfight" there is a color painting of 422.10 by Al Forbes in the thread. Best regards, Malaula.

[Pearl Jam]

Thank you so much Malaula, you helped me a lot!