Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay a photograph of Albatros D.III (Oef) of Friedrich Navratil at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/C48-Flik-3J-...oAAOSwclFeTpP1


but which of the several aircraft flown by him? 253.06, 253.116 a.n.other?


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Clint

This is not a photo of Navratil. It has been misidentified so many times it has become close to Gospel!

The photo is of Albatros (Oeffag) D.III 253.116 after its pilot Adolf Blaha had flown it to Switzerland. Photo date is 22 Nov 1918 (Peter Schiemer statement, but I actually think the date is 22 Oct, see below).

Both Blaha and the aircraft had a very strange story.
On 22 Oct 1918 Blaha took off from his airfield to avoid this aircraft to be destroyed by Italian bombing. By mistake he landed in Switzerland and both he and the aircraft was interned.
On 28 Oct 1918 the state of Czeckoslovakia was proclaimed and by international law the Swiss had to release Blaha. It was also realised they could no longer keep his aircraft, which by then was now Czeck property.
It seems Blaha left for Prague sometime after the photo was taken, but returned in March 1919 to collect the aircraft again. However when he returned home he experienced both snow and fog and promptly crashed his aircraft when trying to land and wrecked it!

All this is verified from Czeckoslovakian sources

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello Stig,


Thanks for the response. Interesting biographical information.Totally accept your information on the pilot. However, a question. Given a number of other aircraft with very simialar personal markings, did the aircraft at sometime belong to Navratil before being flown to Switzerland by Blaha?



Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Indeed he did Clint

I just checked what Peter Schiemer wrote in his Albatros book which differs a bit datewise from the Czeck information.

According to Schiemer (his list is not 100% understandable by me mind you) the aircraft was delivered in Sep 1918 and assigned to Navratil Flik 3/J; 21 Nov 1918 Blaha used it to desert from Innsbruck to Schlieren, Switzerland; aircraft interned, 29 Oct 1919 aircraft collected by Blaha for the Czeck Government and on its transfer flight crashed at Prague-Kbely

With regard to aircraft 253.06 it was delivered in July 1918 to 11 Armee and assigned to Flik 3/J and was Navratil's aircraft until he crashed with it on 21 Oct 1918. No further records so probably never repaired.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello,


On 13.04.20 on ebay the following photos of Albatros D.III (Oef) can be seen:


Albatros D.III (Oef) 53.21



https://www.ebay.de/itm/M51-Oeffag-5...oAAOSwhzZelH~Y

Albatros D.III (Oef) 53.30



https://www.ebay.de/itm/M52-Albatros...IAAOSw8NNelIBK

Albatros D.III (Oef) 153.109 Waffenversuchsflik


https://www.ebay.de/itm/M53-Albatros...sAAOSwA9xelID5


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay there is a shot of Albatros D.III (Oef) 53.33 at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/OX7315-DOPPE...QAAOSw58ZeyBa-


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

A well known photo (which you most likely know)

Having said that, this time it is shown on e-bay in excellent quality contrary to many other books and articles.
It is a photo that really captures what aviation in a single-seater is all about, especially in the early days.

In spite of having the photo many times over, I downloaded it again due to its quality!

53.33 had a sad ending, being shot down 29 Nov 1917 when flown by Rittmeister Nikolaus von Hideghéty (Flik 24) on an escort mission for Brandenburg C.I 29.01. He remains missing ever since. Capt William Barker is possibly the "culprit" since he claimed an Albatros over South Tirol that day. Some dispute this and state Barker had a fight with Jasta 1 instead.

B Rgds
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hi Stig,


Yes I had seen previous examples of this shot. Do any of the ones you've seen narrow it down to a specific unit. As I'm sure you're aware there are three contenders. Any thoughts?


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Well Clint

Not sure what you mean with three alternatives, since I believe it served with Flik 24 all its life. It was delivered in (or at least about) June 1917 and beside a very short spell with Flik 48 (July-August) it was back again with Flik 24 late August 1917. Seems to me like it was on loan to Flik 48 and not really a true transfer as such.

None of the photos I could locate give any date and being over the southern Alpes I don't even want to make a guess which month we are talking about...

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello Stig,


Based on my excel document and I'd need to check the sources again, I also have 53.33 serving with Alarmbereitschaft Pergine and Flik 48/D.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

OK Clint

My source is Peter Schiemer's Albatros book.
As you can see from my initial answer I also have Flik 48 which I believe only was a short term loan. The aircraft was assigned to Flik 24. My interpretation of the data supplied by Schiemer.

I have never heard of any Alarmbereitschaft Pergine before. It does not sound like a true unit, but more like something of a detachment one or more units had to perform at Pergine. Schiemer never mentions it but state Pergine was an airfield in use by the Albatros units.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hi Stig,


For Alarmbereitschaft Pergine see https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...ergine&f=false


If the link works.


In any event I've now found the photo I posted the link to in Paolo Varriale Austro-Hungarian Aces of World War 1 P.43which states "According to some sources this photograph portrays StFw Kiss..."


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Sorry Clint

I don't have the book Google refers to and I don't find anything readily in the link you posted.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello Stig,


The book states Alarm-Bereitschaft Pergine was formed from Flik 48 along with Fliks 21 and 274 and was also known as Jagdstaffel Elssler in June 1917.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Thanks Clint

I have located the unit. It is mentioned in Grosz et al's book.
Seems to me to be an Austro-Hungarian answer to the German Jagdgeschwader.
Since a Flik was quite small, I suppose the number of aircraft was more corresponding to the German Staffel. Do you know who this chap Elssler was?
Could he be a German pilot seconded to the southern front to help the Austro-Hungarians?

Anyway, I am pretty certain it did not have any aircraft of its own. Those Fliks that were incorporated at Pergine kept their aircraft. From the title one may also deduce that they kept aircraft on constant alert for rapid take off and interception of Italian-British units.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello Stig,


I suspect your original answer was correct and that it was an ad hoc fighter unit formed by Oblt Wilhelm Elssler who flew with Flik 48 using aircraft from all three Fliks. He was later a (the ?) pilot of Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Thanks Clint

Yes he was Austrian. Interestingly enough he crashed the first Albatros built, 53.01, 27 June 1917 after being hit by enemy fire.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Right,


And 53.01 along with 53.02 and 53.09 as well as three Hansa Brandenburg D.I (Ph) 28.37,28.71 and a further machine I don't appear to have the id for, went on to form Alarm Bereitschaft Pergine.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello,


A line up of aircraft of Alarm Bereitschaft Pergine can be seen here:


http://www.webtob.com/flik24d.htm


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Nice shot (and site!)

Don't know if it is possible to say if Elssler had his own assigned D.III or not.
His log book obviously survived and it seems he flew an endless number of D.III. 53.51 was just one of them

Cheers
Stig

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hi Stig,


Agree with that. Seems most KuK flyers flew more than one machine, and I imagine that's no different in Elssler's case even if further reading seems to indicate that technically Alarmberetschaft Pergine lasted only between July and September 1917, I still wouldn't be surprised if he had more than one mount.


Regards,


Clint

Re: Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)
 

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a line up of Albatros D.III (oef) of Flik 51/J at:


https://www.ebay.de/itm/Portrait-kuk...MAAOSwe6dfeJDQ


Regards,


Clint