KITS 01/2021
Fokker D.VII Early, mil. No unknown, Oblt z. S. Gotthard Sachsenberg, CO of MFJ 1,
Coolkerke, Belgium, September 1918
The second highest scoring ace of all the German marine pilots in WWI, Gotthard Sachsenberg (second only to Theo Osterkamp), achieved
31 victories and was decorated with Pour le Mérite on August 5, 1918. From October 1918 Sachsenberg led the first naval air wing, the
Marine Jagdgruppe 1. After the War he formed the Jagdgeschwader Sachsenberg, providing the aerial support to Freikorps units fighting
on Baltic borders of Germany. His aircraft from the time of leading the MFJ1 unit sported diagonal black checkerboard painted over yellow
fuselage. Eight partly worn black stripes on the upper side of top wing are considered to be kind of reinforcement tape, as the linen cover of
upper wing centre section had a tendency to part company with the airframe during the fierce combat manoeuvres. The black stripes on the
elevator were in contrary the identification marks of MFJ 1. Sachsenberg used an Oigee gunsight on his D.VII.
Fokker D.VII Mid, 505/18, 2592, OStv. Friedrich Wilhelm Hippert, Grenzschutz-Ost,
East Prussia, 1919
One of the most colourful D.VIIs used to be the mount of Wilhelm Hippert, the WWI ace with eight victories. Hippert was fighting with the
Mimmi, the pet name of his belowed fiancée Wilhelmine Bückert, painted on the upper side of the top wing. Willi served with FA(A) 227
during 1917 and achieved one aerial victory shared with his observer. Transferred to Jasta 39 he scored for the first time as a fighter pilot on
October 2, 1917. He moved again on March 5, 1918, joining Jasta 74. It was long believed, this checkerboard D.VII was operated by this unit,
but latest findings revealed the D.VII in this particular appearance is a post war marking, when serving with Grenzschutz-Ost, helping the
Freikorps to fight in the eastern regions of Germany. The top engine cowlings were field-modified for better engine and ammunition cooling.
48 eduard
INFO Eduard - January 2021