Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello



Currently on ebay at :


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Deutsch...AAAOSwRfNeKWIT


is a photo of an Albatros B.II B.883/??



Given the early style fuselage cross I am tempted to assume that it is B.883/14. Also noteworthy is the unusual style of marking on the tailplane.


Finally, also unusual is the serial itself as the nearest known serial number is B.882/14 of the LFG Roland built batch B.870/14 to B.882/14 or B.872/14 to B.882/14 according to source. Would anyone have seen any other source for the existance of B.883/14 or indeed B.884/14 as I've seen no assignment for that serial either.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Today on ebay a photo of Albatros B.IIa B.3141/17 note the interesting sytle of serial number B2a at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-AK-Dopp...kAAOSwxfhegMrY


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay there is a photo of Albatros B.II B.79/14 of FEA 6 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/SUPERSELTEN-...0AAOSwLu5enFxJ


This is a significant find as B.79/14 is a previously unpublished photo.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay a photo of the remains of Albatros B.IIa (Rol) B.2530/17 (I think) at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/RPPC-Jasta-D...oAAOSwOU1esDHf


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay there is a photo of what appears to be an Albatros B.II in Naval service at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/X4345-Foto-W...MAAOSwT-Net9eZ


Can anyone with photo editing skills read the numbers on the fuselage just above the lower wing?


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay there is a photo of Albatros B.II B.352/15 of FEA 10 resting on a house roof at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-PK-Dopp...0AAOSwW69e0Yaw


The incident has appeared in photographs previously, but this is I think, a diferent angle.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.II (Kon) B.261/17 floowing a crash at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/PORTRAIT-WK-...oAAOSwAaFfPBf3


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,




Currently on ebay is a photo of an Albatros B.II of FEA 4 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/FOTO-FLUGZEU...gAAOSwQPdffahW


Possibly this aircraft is Albatros B.II (Refla) B.350/16


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of an Albatros B.II, possibly B.II (Rol) B.879/14 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Orig-Foto-So...wAAOSwNM1fnG8g


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.II B.1124/15 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-PK-Flie...8AAOSwAnJf97rb


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.II (?) B.1129/15 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Abgestu...kAAOSw0XBf8FxC


Albatros B.1129/15 is usually recorded as a B.II. Is it just me or does the rudder look a little like a B.III? It could however just be due to the manner is which the rudder is hanging, but it looks smaller thana B.II rudder.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.95/15 of FEA 2 at Köslin :


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Militar...4AAOSwfjRgBM11


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.II (Kon) B.429/16 of FEA 13 resting on a roof at :


https://www.ebay.de/itm/T44-Polen-Fl...UAAOSwlYtgF8-P


This incident has been seen before elsewhere.


There are also two photos of a festively attired Albatros B.II at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/T24-POlen-Fl...EAAOSwVnxgF8jL


https://www.ebay.de/itm/T25-Polen-Fl...QAAOSwfH9gF8lk


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Showing a serial not recorded in the published sources is Albatros B.II B.798/15 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-WKI-Flu...wAAOSwGm1gKo~I


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Clint

How do you nail this one as an Albatros B.II?
To me it is just a lump of scrap wood.....just a little bit more "refined" then the forrest around it.... :)

From an old list I have B.832/15 given as an Alb B.I (not so in Herris)

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hi Stig,


I take it that you do accept we're looking at an Albatros, just asking because I can explain that too if there are any doubts with regard to the manufacturer.


Now I have an ebay photo of B.I B.832/15 and it is indeed three bay and therefore a B.I. However, the nearest adjacent serial I have for a B.I is B.166/15 and that based on a photo from Peter Grosz's WDF 87. Even here you can't see the serial but given the source I think we can accept that the serial is probably correct. What I'd like to suggest is B.I 832/15 is a misapplied /14, because that serial is right in the middle of a very large B.I batch. There are in fact very few known /15 Albatros B.I at all, and the relevant Aeronaut publication has B.I production ending no later than the start of June 1915.A further possibility is, naturally one of the Prussian style serials applied to a Bavarian machine, so, if you will, a false B.832/15.



In addition to the above I have a good number serials between B.798/15 and B.489/15 with photos to match, other than B.848/15 a Halberstadt B.I,which I suspect is a misnumbered B.648/15, all are Albatros B.II. Thus my thinking on the subject. As ever, I try to maintain an open mind and will change my opinion if the evidence changes.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

No worries Clint

So what you are saying is you nail it because of the serial number rather than a visual ID?

I buy that.

However since you claim to have a fair number of photos of Albatros B.II in the range B.798/15 to B.849/15 (I take it B.489 is a finger hick-up?)
I can't say I have any myself.
Care to mail me privately one? I would also like to see the B.832/15.

I wonder if the Germans ever ordered mixed batches?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello Stig,


Yes, I'll forward you the necessary.


In essence yes, for me the serial nuimber is key.I believe that the significant part in my previous post is the end production date for the B.I and that they are all B.II aircraft for the range of aircraft mentioned other than B.832/15 (if its not really B.832/14 or Bavarian).


As for mixed batches definitely. But see my comment about the end of B.I production. If we see a mixed batch by this stage its going to be B.II/B.III.
B.849/15 (as you correctly deduce is a B.II. The next serial I have is the first of a B.III batch, or B.II (Rol) or both B.864/15. The next desired photo from ebay for myself would be a machine from between B.849/15 and B.864/15.Though it might be a gap or possibly the product of another manufacturer.




Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Thanks Clint

They are showing a Champions League game in 15 minutes, so no rush.... :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hi Stig,


Ok, but when you've finished with the football also checkout the following links, I think they're still good, but a bit rushed myself:




sammlung-merschroth.de/html/flieger_in_griesheim.html


which has B.842/15


and:


http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/image/tid/93



which has B.844/15

Regards,

Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Thanks, just did.

Wish the photos had been bigger and scanned a bit better though, but a couple
were very interesting!!

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.II (Kon) 1074/17 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/224586572812...gAAOSwTEVhJ5ag


A further Albatros B.II is at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/224586574490...YAAOSwafZhJ5b0


Further photos of Central Powers ww.i era aircraft from the same seller are at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/224586578148...wAAOSwQlthJ5fI


https://www.ebay.de/itm/224586576839...QAAOSwbkRhJ5dn


https://www.ebay.de/itm/224586567336...wAAOSwz5lhJ5Y7


https://www.ebay.de/itm/224586565465...4AAOSwnxNhJ5XU


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a copy of a photo of an Albatros B.1117 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/124877130461...8AAOSw7zZhLNNW


Although a copy this is an interesting photo for those interested in German WW.I aircraft serials (just me then!) as there is no reference to an Albatros B.1117 in any of the usual sources. Jack Herris has B.1117/14 listed as a LVG machine in the Aeronaut LVG Vol.1,so there is some possibility that the aircraft shown is B.1117/15. As the nearest batch is usually given as beginning with B.1121/15 a possibility exists that the batch of Albatros B.II concerned begins no later than B.1117/15 and may reach as far back as B.1100/15.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.II (Bay) B.559/16 of bMFS 5 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/353727557334...wAAOSw0q5havg1


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.352/15,probably taken while with FEA 10 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/133917368452...sAAOSwFo9herIC


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Albatros B.II (Bay) 273/16 or less likely B.II (Kon) 273/17



https://www.ebay.de/itm/145501416169...AAAOSwLkxlfGkX


A further Albatros B type named Eva is at


https://www.ebay.de/itm/296110065872...QAAOSwisllfDVQ


The seller has this as being at the Fokker factory at Schwerin


Is it though perhaps at a flying school as likely indicated by the following photo from the same seller with DFW C.V (LVG) 2160/17 'Nimrod' in the foreground,but also captioned as Fokker Schwerin


https://www.ebay.de/itm/296110052550...sAAOSwi-RlfDPx



Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Looks very much like B.II 273/16 to me Clint
The back side is tricky for me to read, but it looks like one person in the photo
was killed 27.10.1917 so the photo must have been taken before that date.

The next Albatros seems to me to say B.II 77 (and the rest covered by the tail).

Finally, did Fokker have any repair/overhaul facility in Schwerin? If yes did they only take on their
own types or other aircraft as well?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Thanks Stig. I assumed that the first photo was B.273/16 as it has the older style radiator,whereas the Kondor built machines I've seen from 1917 don't have the old style radiator and the serials have the B of the serial in a style charecteristic of that company.Just covering my bases when contemplating the possibility of a Kondor built machine for B.273.


Also a helpful response for the second photo. Based on its appearence I was thinking probably B77*/14. The only photo I've seen in that range is of a B.I,so the fact that you are able to read the B.II shows it must be a different machine.


I don't have an answer as to whether Fokker had a repair facility at Schwerin.There was,as you'll know however a Fliegerbeobachterschule there.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Not saying it is a fact Clint! :)
When blowing up the picture I think I can feel (well you know what I mean) what is visible
is a bit too thick to really say B.I and B.II (again) feels better.
I have been wrong too may times before, so no fact, just a feeling.... :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Currently on ebay is a photo of an Albatros B.II with B2 on the Rudder. The style of marking is rather unusual.


https://www.ebay.de/itm/226152399071...Bk9SR7q67qLyYw

A registration for the Prinz Heinrich Flug perhaps?


http://www.frontflieger.de/3prinzheinrichflug.html


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Clint

A very interesting find indeed!

Not sure however this is actually a Military B.II
Whenever I am uncertain I just call these prewar civil Albatros types 'B-types'

The marking B2 is not military and the individuals (even if the old man is called a Ltn)
looks very civilian to me.

My guess is that the B2 belongs to the rather obscure pre-war German way of marking civil aircraft.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Stig,


Indeed not necessarily a military B.II. In which case according to Kroschel & Stützer the company designation was a rather unoriginal DD. Yavor Dinkov has a photo captioned as DD at



https://www.flickr.com/photos/33497395@N08/8474802781


The same photo is in the relevant Aeronaut volume captioned as an early B.II! This volune also has a Sanke Card with the caption Albatros Militar-Doppeldecker. So not really helpfull?


I no longer think that the photo I linked to shows the machine as part of the Prinz-Heinrich-Flug as Zwickau was not a destination.


As For the B2, on a purely speculative basis could this be applied just for a competion and indicate a certain class of aircraft be it weight class,engine power or even as a biplane?,with the machine in the photo being the second entrant of the B 'Class' in the competion?


Incidently while searching I found this link to a crashed Taube from the 1914 Prinz-Heinrich-Flug


https://m.facebook.com/landesarchiv....690539/?type=3


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Nice Taube Clint

A.52/13 unknown to me....

Cheers
Stig

PS: I don't like the title DD since it could be anything with two pair of wings :)

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

Stig,


PM Grosz in WDF 93 also has DD (but it's complicated!),so while I understand your reservations with the obvious abbreviation for Doppeldecker,either DD 1 or DD 2,based on the fuselage length appeared a good possibility at the time he wrote. Possibly more has emerged since (?).


I have tentatively identified the Taube as a Rumpler 3 C, but this is tentative as based on the identity of A.50/13,so if that is incorrect both are wrong. Ibelieve the upper tail is distinctive,but with Taubes, well it's not easy identifying is it?


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros B.II
 

In 1913 Rumpler was the main supplier of military Tauben, so I have also listed A.52/13
as a Rumpler.

Cheers
Stig