KITS 03/2021

Fokker D.VII (O.A.W.), 20xx/18, Jasta 4, Airfield “La Ferme Puisieux” near Laon, France, August 1918

The photographs documenting the appearance of this aircraft were taken between late July and mid-August 1918. Like “Du doch nicht!!”

one, it was an early production O.A.W. -built example, powered by a Mercedes engine and fitted with an Axial propeller. By this time, Udet

very much preferred flying his Fokker-built D.VII F powered by the BMW IIIa engine, as the power of the unit was substantially higher. Most

likely, this was the reserve plane he flew the day after "Du doch nicht!!" was lost and kept it as a backup plane in case his D.VII F was undergoing maintenance, so it was not ready for immediate use. The fuselage and wings were covered with the four-colour variant of the aircraft

fabric (Flugzeugstoff) that is usually called "Lozenge”. The wing rib tapes of early production O.A.W.-built D.VIIs were supposedly of natural

linen fabric to use up existing stock of unprinted linen material.

Fokker D.VII F, 4253/18, Oblt. Ernst Udet, Jasta 4, Beugneux, France, July 1918

The all-red BMW powered Fokker-built mount of Ernst Udet reached Jasta 4 in late July 1918. Udet flew this plane with great success in

August 1918, being credited with 20 victories in just 20 days. Due to unknown reasons the upper wing of his mount was changed for one

taken from an O.A.W.-built D.VII. Udet flew this D.VII F without the upper cowling to improve the cooling of the engine and ammunition. The

Lo! painting on the fuselage was there. like with all his other planes, to honour his fiancée Eleonor Zink, which he married in 1920.

The famous “Du doch nicht!!” inscription was not present on this aircraft.

36 eduard

INFO Eduard - March 2021