Photo Albatros D.III (Oef)

[Stig Jarlevik]

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

[musec04]

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

[Stig Jarlevik]

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

[musec04]

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

[Stig Jarlevik]

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

[musec04]

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

[Stig Jarlevik]

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

[musec04]

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

[musec04]

Hello,


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


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


Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

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