Photos Freikorps Aircraft

[musec04]

Hello,

Currently on ebay is a photo of a Fokker D.VII with an unusual marking. Captioned as belonging to a Freikorps unit. This looks like a two-seat conversion?

https://www.ebay.de/itm/316011202496...Bk9SR56Xw5bvZA

The seller has a photo of another machine with the same marking, a Friedrichshafen G type.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/276757627639...Bk9SR56Xw5bvZA

Regards,

Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Nice photos Clint

Döberitz (outside Berlin) was one of the eight interior stations the Germans tried to keep
open in 1920, so Döberitz Freikorps sounds pretty much OK with me.

The Friedrichshafen looks like the single G.V built.

Cheers
Stig

[Buckeye30]

Hi Stig. The Doberitz formation was Freikorps-Brigade Ehrhardt, ordered to be disbanded in March 1920 ( the date on the photos); maybe explains the caption on the Fokker - "the last cough" referring to the engine running. Presumably the insignia is the aviation section.


Regards
Nick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Nick

I have very little Army (ground forces) military details as such and German Freikorps in particular

Andersson/Sanger say that the aviation units in 1919 were designated FA 400 - 433 (not counting the
artillery observation units)

Not sure how that fits into the ground units such as your Birgade Ehrhardt.

Any ideas?

Cheers
Stig

[Buckeye30]

To the best of my knowledge the FA (Freikorps) were formed Dec. 1918 and numbered FA400-433, disbanded in Sept. 1919; air stations, police flying units (Politzei-Staffeln) and remaining air components were ordered to be disbanded by Army Command on April 9 1920, confirmed May 6 and effective May 8. The Ehrhardt Brigade was demobilsed May 31, presumably the flying section also at Doberitz at the same time. This was the big training and evaluation station.



The emblem, a propeller on a shield seems to reflect their defence of German territory especially in the east; eg. FA418 was in Silesia. Another Fokker D.VII with this insignia was illustrated in an old Aviation News with serial 7656/18 but with tail crosses. I seem to remember an LVG there at this time, I don't think they were a full Staffel as such.
Nick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Nick

I am waiting to see if Clint has any updates as well since he has just bought a book about these
Aviation Freikorps.

He is probably busy right now reading it....

Cheers
Stig

[musec04]

Hi Both,


As Stig mentioned Richard Bennett's 'Last Gathering of Eagles' arrived today. Obviously I've not yet had time to read it thoroughly,but can make some comments with regard to the photo links I posted and subsequent posts by Nick & Stig.


1. The easy bit.The Flieger Abteilungen in the 400-435 range were all Prussian units and although staffed by volunteers though with more 'official' War Ministry support than the Freikorps units.


2. With regard to the identity of the aircraft in my photo links identified by Nick as belonging to the Ehrhardt Brigade,the book has no information.Nor are there any photos or illustrations of aircraft bearing the markings shown.


3. In fact the only reference to any of the three Freikorps Marine-Brigaden operating aircraft is to Loewenfeld's 3rd Marine-Brigade.


4. The book has no mention I've seen so far of any Friedrichshafen G type in use by a Freikorps unit. So definitely an unusual photo.


5. Edit. Truppen-Fliegerstaffel 37 was disbanded at Döberitz March 1920. It operated among other aircraft Fokker D.VII and a Friedrichshafen G.IIIa. See the Letzte Musterung on the back of the Fokker photo. Now if,the Friedrichshafen was a G.V rather than a G.IIIa,much of the circumstantial evidence fits. Not saying it is definitely the case,but certainly suggestive.



Regards,


Clint

[Buckeye30]

Sorry Clint I didn't mean to imply that the air unit at Doberitz was affiliated to Brigade Ehrhardt, they were stationed there at the same time but they would no doubt have supported the Marines if necessary.
Nick

[musec04]

Nick,


My attribution of the aircraft to Truppen-Fliegerstaffel 37 is not valid.There is information elsewhere in the book that the unit which was a succsessor to FA424 existed largely on paper. FA 424 was a unit operating in the Baltic,subsequently going on to serve with Bermondt-Awaloff's Westrussischen Befeiungsarmee and Truppen-Fliegerstaffel 37 was the German identity for the 'Russian' 3rd Plastun following the transfer of FA 424 to Bermondt-Awaloff's command.


Once again FA 424's Friedrichshafen is described as a G.IIIa.Unlike the machine in the photo. Also most of the machines flown by units in the Baltic appear to have worn standard Balkenkreuze until transferred to 'Russian' command.


If the machines are ex-FA 424,they only returned to Döberitz to disband,or so it appears at least.That is there are previous disbandments at earlier dates at other locations.


I am beginning to wonder if the machines in the photo did not belong to a police unit. Police aircraft did fly in support of the Kapp-Putsch and 20.03.1920 again ties in nicely with end of the Putsch following negotiations between goverment representatives and the remanants of the Putschists on 17.03.20. That is as you say,among others, in support of the Ehrhardt Brigade. Unfortunately it is not clear to me where the police units were bombing strikers. Berlin or elsewhere in the Reich?



Regards,


Clint