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The Royal Flying Corps and the French Air
Service, on the other hand, favored the lighter
Lewis machine guns with drum magazines.
The Germans managed to keep the secrets of
their Fokkers well-guarded for quite a long time,
until April 1916. However, everything changed
in a matter of days. Firstly, one undamaged
machine fell into the hands of the RFC on April 8.
This occurred due to an inexperienced pilot who
was flying a brand new E.III 210/16 (c. n. 509) to
his unit. Accidentally flying to the enemy side of
the front, over surprised Australian soldiers and
flawlessly landed at a British airfield. Subsequent
comparative tests with the Morane Bullet
revealed the Fokker to be inferior to its opponent
in all parameters, and the myth of this German
bogeyman began to dissipate. Today, this aircraft
is on display at the Science Museum in London.
According to some authors, the German airman
in question should have been Gefr. Johann
(Hans) Hvüres from FFA 5 or from the Bavarian
aviation unit FFA 5b. However, no aviator by this
name is listed in the casualty summary in the
contemporary press. This is likely a mistake, as
a pilot with a similar name, Uffz. Hans Hviires,
was killed on April 26, 1916, along with his
observer Lt. Georg Jesko von Puttkamer. Their
aircraft, an LVG C from FA 5, was attacked by
a Nieuport 16 flown by test pilot and future fighter
ace Lt. W. J. C. Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick of
The British secured an undamaged Fokker E.III two days before the French. The
machine 210/16 (serial no. 509) landed on April 8, 1916, at the airfield near Renescure.
In this picture, it already bears British insignia. All other photographs in this article
depict machine 196/16 (serial no. 488). Photo: L'Argonnaute
Immediately after the emergency landing, monoplane 196/16 (registration No. 488)
garnered considerable interest from French soldiers. Photo: L'Argonnaute
The technical design of the rear-view mirror mounting is noteworthy in this photo.
Photo: L'Argonnaute
In this photo, the marking 196/16 (serial no. 488) can be seen on the left side of the
fuselage. Although this was a new machine when it fell into French hands, the marking
on the right side of the fuselage has been partially removed. Photo: L'Argonnaute
Photo: L'Argonnaute
Immediately after landing and capturing the pilot, French soldiers obscured the
markings on the upper surfaces of the Fokker with branches. In this photo, and the
next one, this can be seen on the left wing. Photo: L'Argonnaute
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INFO Eduard
15
May 2024