Hello Jean & Stig,
First, thanks Jean for the correction on the location of Hagenau. Not sure how I came up with Hagenau being close to Hannover, but in any event wrongly. So I agree that the unit involved with the photo with Hagenau on the rear of the photo, is in fact much more likely FEA9 related. Also Jean thanks for the book suggestion, I have a few academic history books published by Ferdinand Schöninghand they are high quality products, but having looked at the contents of Die deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im ersten Weltkrieg I would have to say that it would appear unlikely it contains useful information on how aircraft were supplied to company flying schools, which I think is the area Stig and I would most like further information.
As I said thanks for the correction.However, I think I'd be correct in saying only the first 5 FEA were established at the start of the war.That said FEA 9 took over from FEA 3 at Darmstadt so still some link there perhaps.
Stig, I think you give me too much credit, if you believe I'm that secure in the functions of the Fliegerschulen
But I have a question, in any case. When you write about interaction between 'civil' and military schools and existing side by side I'm not 100 percent clear on your meaning. I came across this link though
www.frontflieger.de/3huglo0t.html with the pilot going from FEA 5 to the Fliegerschule der Halberstadt-Werke, also confusingly known as FEA 5. Does this help? Or were you specifically referring as I assume to the movement of aircraft? I believe I can however confirm company schools continued to use their own numbering systems until quite late in the war. My example here is AEG B.I which received the Bestellnummer B.100/17 and indeed the Fokker A.II machines with /16 serials.This showing that company schools coninued to use there own numbering well into the war time, though as you say witth crosses whereas the bulk of the aircraft in the links I provided are Kreuzfrei, if that's even a word.
Regards,
Clint