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Albatros D.V, Ltn. Kurt Monnington, Jasta 18, early 1918
This aircraft is a bit of mystery, as it is not clear,
which pilot was flying it. It was assigned to Georg
von Hantelmann for some time due to one mistake
in a famous publication. Legendary German
historian, late Alex Imrie believed this was the
personal mount of Ltn. Otto Brandes, some other
sources insist on Ltn. Kurt Monnington as the
pilot of this one. Both are possible, as they both
served with Jasta 18 at around the same time. Kurt
Monnington, after his transfer from German army
(Deutsches Heer) to air force (Luftstreitkräfte),
served with FA62 before he was posted to Jasta
15 in 1917. After the „great swap“ of the personnell
with Jasta 15 orchestrated by Rudolf Berthold
in March 1918, he became member of Jasta 18.
There he scored his first victory on May 18, 1918,
downing an SE.5a. He added six more to his
fighter pilot account. The aircraft was painted in
typical colours of the „new“ Jasta 18, i.e. red nose
and blue fuselage. The aircraft had probably the
upper wing changed from another aircraft, which
was painted in camouflage colors instead of the
printed Flugzeugstoff (so called Lozenge). Also,
the rudder was changed after some damage.
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