Olham

True, Rickitycrate - and similarly fragile they seemed.

1. I had written "von Bertrag" - sorry, it has to be "von Bertrab". 2. According to Greg Wyngard from The Aerodrome, Mannock gave this description: "...on 12 August 1917, Mannock actually DID bring down von Bertrab while the latter was on a balloon strafe, von Bertrab being taken prisoner. Von Bertrab was by this time flying an Albatros D.V ( I believe), and its fuselage and wings were brought to 40 Squadron for display; the wreckage was given the number G60. Mannock had a close-up look at the aircraft and wrote: "His machine - a beauty (*), just issued (June I/17) with a 220 h.p. Mercedes engine (sic), all black with crosses picked out in white lines- turned over on landing and was damnaged." * the man had taste! - Olham

Macklroy. I found that Albatros. It shows a red star with floating red ribbons attached to it. It was the craft of Joachim von Bertrab, Jasta 30 - 5 victories.

I replaced the pic by an S.E.5a frontal picture shot (but forgot how the one is named you'd have to change).

Okay, no problem - won't do it straight away. If I shouldn't get a copy: could you perhaps then report some of the most interesting reads?

If I find more about Dr.1 details, I'll post them here. Enjoy.

Thanks, Hasse Wind and Dej - I think I'll order one of them to see, if it's worth it.

When I was there in 1986, it was peaceful and quiet - no tourists at all. Great story, Widowmaker.

Hey, Widowmaker - I just wrote my ideas there. You had sent me a message, but sorry, I forgot yesterday.

Hi, Kelly Mo Widowmaker put my nose to this - hadn't been here since the contest. You could do this: take up the khaki with the pipette tool from an area where khaki is; then choose the area you want to change colour, then use the brush tool to overpaint it. The problem is, you will overpaint all structure and grain - it will be flat khaki in one shade. But if you want to change a certain skin, and can find that khaki tail in another, you could copy that tail out there and place it in your file. A third method may be, to choose and copy an area with that desired khaki plus grain, copy it, and insert it into the area you want. Hope I could help. Olham

Here's a congratulation telegram for Manfred von Richthiofen's 50. victory. The translation may read a bit bumpy to you - I did my best. 30. IV. 1917 4 Uhr 20 Rittm. Freih. von Richthofen Jagdstaffel Richthofen durch A.O.K.G. Es wird mir soeben gemeldet, dass Sie heute zum 50. Male als Sieger aus dem Luftkampf hervorgingen. Ich spreche Ihnen zu diesem glänzenden Erfolg meinen herzlichen Glück- wunsch und meine vollste Anerkennung aus. Mit Bewunderung und Dankbarkeit blickt das Vaterland auf seinen tapferen Flieger. Gott sei ferner mit Ihnen. Wilhelm J.R. (I am just reported, that today for the 50. time you came out of air combat as victor. For this brilliant success I express my congratulation and my utter recognition. With admiration and thankfulness the Fatherland is looking at it's brave aviator. May god be furthermore with you.)

(66. victory) Jagdgeschwader 1 . 18.3.1918 11.15 h AM at the road to Molain-Vaux Andigny, 600 m southwest Molain Sopwith - Camel-1 Englander Aircraft number: B 5243 Engine: Clerget 35751 Fok. Dr. 1; red upper wing, red cowling, red wheels and red tail 1 Canadian captured I started with 30 fighter craft of my squadron and flew tight, leading all 3 Staffeln, at an altitude of 5300 m against the enemy. When we approached the front, I saw several english squadrons, that just crossed our lines, ca. direction Le Chateau. The first squadron, that I met, was about an altitude of 5500 m. I shot down (together) with Lt. Gussmann, Jasta 11, the last opponent, a Bristol-fighter. It lost the wings and Lt. Gussmann brought him to crash. Thereafter I assembled my 30 aircraft, climbed to 5300 m and followed two squadrons that had broken through up to Le Chateau. When the opponent made the attempt to turn off and return to the front, I attacked. The aircraft flying next to me, possibly a Breguet or Bristol fighter, was shot by me and Lt. Loewenhardt, Jasta 10, whereafter the opponent's petrol tank was shot up and I saw, how the aircraft went down vertically. Lt. Loewenhardt brought it down to crash. Of two english fighter squadrons, I attacked one craft with streamers/burgees on and forced the opponent to land near Molain. Witnesses of air combat: see attachment Frh. v Richthofen Rittmeister und Geschwaderkommandeur [Richthofen seems to describe his own craft too, for eye witnesses confirmation I think. So here is a description of the clouring of his Dr.1 by the man himself]

Wait, 'till you enter April 1917, Jim - it will be "bloody", and you will wish you had a Brisfit. So, in case you get killed - think about that craft. It was superb!

Dej - I have a (fictional) relative in those days from Polperro, Cornwall, David Marlowe; flying with 10 RNAS, Droglandt, July 1917. Will fly him again soon, but after the holidays I was burning for my Albatros first. That's love - what can you do? (Lol!)

Mr. Lucky: He lists a Camel right at the beginning and the location. Right, Lucky - even I didn't read my own stuff properly... :blush2:

Yes, That is Mikael Carlson's Triplane - you can see it fly on YouTube here:

Mack, I could only hope to find that skin from post #520, if I knew the following: 1. type of Albatros 2. Jasta Otherwise I'd have to browse through all Alb skins. Best ask Paarma or OvS - they will surely know.

Tch!!! Meine schöne Albatross! Crumpet!!! Vait, untill I find you in ze blue!

One of the FE2b's had turned round to fire at me; hadn't noticed; hole in the tank. I turned round towards the front line - I was two or three miles in enemy terrain, east of Ypres. About one mile still to fly, my engine stopped running. Thank you! Now be cool, I thought, if you find the lowest degree of nose down, to keep up the glide without stalling, you can perhaps make it. Feels like lying on a huge ball, arms and legs stretched out, trying to hold the balance! Closer and closer came the lines - and the ground! When I got received by groundfire from some 20 guns, I knew: if I would get through that, I might have made it. But right after the trenches came lots of trees - I had to go more left, without causing her to stall. The last bit, the ground zoomed towards me, and I touched down hard and bumped and bounced, but then she rolled out. Had we really made it? Yes, just behind the lines - could have been the end for my best DiD pilot! Sailplaning in Flanders - not bad!

Here are some pics from OvS's incredible find, which I have reduced in resolution to fit them in here. We see the production of the Fokker Dr.1 - even the painting of the streak camouflage! Also the transportation on German railway is documented. To me, it suddenly crept closer - seeing the fuselage on the rail waggon looks so "almost today" to me; don't know, if anyone feels the same when looking at this?

OvS - read my translation, old chap - it's all in there! His 66. victory was Lt. W. G. Ivamy, 54 squadron, POW (Sopwith Camel); strange he doesn't name the aircraft type. Perhaps, cause he didn't shoot it down?

I don't know, if I EVER mentioned it: this sim is absolutely phantastic, and fullfilled a dream from the days of youth, I had never dared to dream - that I would ever fly an Albatros! Thank you devs!!! SGCSG1 - what the hell is this name? Impossible to remember or write (sorry). How long are you "over Flanders fields" already?

I've never been that far north there - only crossed that zebra crosswalk in the Abbey road. Studio's looking rather small from the outside - you wouldn't believe, that the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum and who knows who else recorded just there...

Just found and red-marked these three documents, in which we seem to find information about the bill and the transport of a Fokker E.V to Aspern b. Stadlau - whereever that is? We now know, that a high-tech fightercraft of those days, incl. spare parts, cost only 28.206,- Reichsmark. (maybe the money had a better value in those days). I should go to bed now (01:09 h) but I'm struck by sort of "History fever". Edit/PS: Aspern bei Stadlau is near Vienna - just googled it: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspern

Just typed in www.fokkerdr1.com, and got to another site - but I think, that had been mentioned before. They have a large data file about Dr.1 craft here: http://www.fokkerdr1.com/Fokker%20DR1%20Research.htm