KITS 01/2021

Fokker D.VII Early, mil. No unknown, Hptm. Rudolf Berthold, CO of JG II, Le Mesnil-Nesle,

France, June 1918

The first D.VII of combative and patriotic 44 victories ace Rudolf Berthold was of early production batch and is well known thanks to the

photo, showing it in the colours of Jasta 15 (Berthold was leading it before promoted to the JG II command), i.e. red nose and middle blue

fuselage and upper surfaces of the wings. The abovementioned photo depicts the aircraft in unfinished state of paint job when part of the

fuselage was still left in original factory streaked painting. It was overpainted later as the reports state. You can choose which one scheme

You prefer. The bottom of the fuselage was neither left in original factory light blue colour, or also overpainted by middle blue. Regarding the

bottom side of the wings we tend to the „lozenge“ four colour light variant, but some sources are stating light blue overpaint of it.

Fokker D.VII Early, 365/18, Lt. Josef Carl Peter Jacobs, CO of Jasta 7, St Marguerite, France,

August 1918

Long serving commander of Jasta 7 (from August 2, 1917 till the end of the war), the 47 victory ace, was famous for his all black Fokkers Dr.I

and D.VII marked with the distinct flame-breathing devils´ head painted on both sides of the fuselage as his personal emblem. While the shape of the devil is well documented on the Dr.I, there is only one rather poor photo of Jacobs´ D.VII, so the shape of the devil depicted here

and in the decals is reconstruction based on visible details on the D.VII, but taking into consideration the shape used on Dr.I, where no other

clue exists. Jacobs´ D.VII was photographed with upper engine cowling removed, which was a common quick-fix to the overheating problems

following the self-ignition of phosphorous ammunition in several D.VIIs in mid-July.

INFO Eduard - January 2021

eduard

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