HISTORY

Photo: SDASM

Gotthard Sachsenberg in front of his Fokker D.VII with distinctive yellow-black marking.

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. Note the

Oigee gunsight.

Photo: Eddy Lambrecht

Photo of taking-off naval fighters from MFJ I at the Aertrycke base in early 1918. In the

foreground is Albatros D.Va with black and white checkered band piloted by Lt. z. S.

Gotthard Sachsenberg. To his right is Flgmstr. Hans Goerth whose Albatros has

a light band on the fuselage and the letters LU. Both pilots served together in 1919

in the Baltics.

The famous celebration of Sachsenberg's Pour le Mérite at Pélichy castle on August 12, 1918. The picture was taken later in the evening, but none of the participants are lying down

yet. Several photos were taken. Role of a photographer in such an event was probably not easy. Sitting far left is Lt. z. S. Betram Heinrich. In the middle of the second row with

Pour le Mérite on his neck is the commander of the Marine Jagdgruppe Gotthard Sachsenberg. The third standing officer on the right is Lt. s. S. Phillip Becht. At the top left hangs

on the painting very tired Theo Osterkamp. "Uncle" Theo became the most successful naval fighter, in the interwar period he was a well-known sports pilot and during World War

II he was commander of JG 51 among other assignments. Heinrich achieved twelve victories and fell on August 31, 1918 in combat with No. 210 Sq Camels. Becht achieved four

victories and in World War II was a technical officer of JG 51.

INFO Eduard - April 2021

eduard

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