13 replies to this topic

[RAF_Louvert]

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Greetings All,

Haven't been by for quite a while, but I ran across this item the other day and thought folks here might appreciate it. While I have seen this particular photo many times over the years, I've never seen an example of it as large as this one or with as much detail.



If anyone can provide information on where and when this photo was taken and which jasta the plane might have belonged to please share it here.  Thanks.

Cheers!

Lou

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[Dolphin]

Lou

The photograph of the captured Pfalz D.IIIa 4022/17 of Jasta 29 was taken at No 9 Sqn RFC's base at Montigny Farm on 1 January 1918.  The Pfalz was brought down near Le Transloy by anti-aircraft fire on 28 December 1917 and the pilot, Vzfw Max Brandenburg, was taken Prisoner of War.  The captured aeroplane was allotted the British serial number G116.

I hope this helps you.

Gareth

[RAF_Louvert]

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I knew one of the enlightened here would have the answer.  Many thanks Gareth, much appreciated Sir.  Small note: you missed typing the RFC squadron number, but as it is at Montigny Farm I will assume you are referring to 9 Sqn as it was the only RFC unit to be based there IIRC.

Cheers!

Lou

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[Dolphin]

Lou

Correct.  It was No 9 Sqn, and I'll amend the original post to reflect this.

Cheers


Gareth

[RAF_Louvert]

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Gareth, might you also know if this kite was ever made airworthy again, or was it only assigned the cited British serial number for inventory purposes?  Thanks again.

Cheers!

Lou

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[Dolphin]

Lou

I very much doubt that the British would have restored it to flying condition.  As you suggest, 'G' series numbers were sometimes allocated to wrecked aeroplanes just to keep track of them.  Also, there were other Pfalz D.IIIs in British hands, eg 1370/17 was captured intact in December 1917 and allocated the serial G.110.

Cheers

Gareth

[David Filsell]

Great picture - and is there a story about its capture? I'd love to know

[Dolphin]

David

All I can add to the information in post No 2 is that Vzfw Max Brandenburg joined Jasta 29 from Jastachule II on 8 December 1917; he was shot down on 28 December, so his career as a fighter pilot was a very short one.

I hope this is interesting.

Gareth

[David Filsell]

Gareth
Thanks, a question of tracking down losses and claims  for the day then I guess.
David

[Dolphin]

<sub>David

I don't know how to trace the anti-aircraft battery that brought down the Pfalz - I suppose you you would have to go through the War Diaries.

Cheers

Gareth</sub>

[David Filsell]

Ah - I missed the fact that it was brought down by Archie

[RAF_Louvert]

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Jim Miller offered a correction on the ID of the plane in the photo I posted.  Here is his information and additional shot of the same plane from a different view:

Quote

Just as an FYI, that top photo is not 4022/17. It is actually 8282/17, a Jasta 35b Pfalz DIIIa shot down 25 April 1918 and assigned Brigade No. G/3Bde/4. In the photo below of the same plane, you can see its serial began with "82."

An outstanding photo I must say, and many thanks to Jim for sharing this one with us all.

Cheers!

Lou

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[nils d]

a rare case of a British photo  of a German plane being better than a German one!
Lou -  did von Zeppelin REALLY say that?

[Dolphin]

I originally thought that the aeroplane was 8282/17, but it was identified as 4022/17 in a Cross & Cockade (US) Journal and I bowed to what I thought was superior knowledge.

8282/17 was flown by Flg Andreas Köhler, who was shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Vimy-Combles while on a test flight.  The Jasta Pilots has the serial number as 8284/17.

Gareth