ACE-07 Knights Of The Skies - ALBATROS DIII O.A.W - Jasta 10 (Lowenhardt)

The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte) and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service(Luftfahrtruppen) during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer. It was the pre-eminent fighter during the period of German aerial dominance known as "Bloody April"1917.

Albatros built approximately 500 D.III aircraft at its Johannisthal factory.

In the spring of 1917, D.III production shifted to Albatros' subsidiary, Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke (OAW), to permit Albatros to concentrate on development and production of the D.V.

Between April and August 1917, Idflieg issued five separate orders for a total of 840 D.IIIs. The OAW variant underwent its Typenprüfung in June 1916. Production commenced at the Schneidemühl factory in June and continued through December 1917.

The OAW product were often distinguished by the wings being camouflaged in lilacand green, and by their larger, rounded rudders. Peak service was in November 1917, with 446 aircraft on the Western Front. The D.III did not disappear with the end of production, however. It remained in frontline service well into 1918.

As of 31 August 1918, 54 D.III aircraft remained on the Western Front.

This aircraft has been identified as the machine flown by Ltn. Erich Lowenhardt of Jasta 10. This DIII had a white wavy “snake –line” applied to the fuselage sides and top surface of the upper wing. The standard yellow Jasta10 nose colour was also applied, as well as a small personal number “15”.

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