The Last Flight of Werner Voss - German Planes

There has been much talk and controversy about the colors on Werner Voss's Fokker during his last combat. Author Barry Diggens gives some consideration in one of the appendixes in his book September Evening: The Life and Final Combat of the German World War One Ace Werner Voss. When studying Great War airplane colors, one has to consider what type of film was being used during the Great War.  in which many colors that appear dark were actually light. When looking at Jasta 10's various aircraft pictured during the war, the chrome yellow noses appear black. This is evidenced in this poor quality picture:

The nose looks black, or some other very dark color. But an R. A. F. expert, who worked with aircraft and film from the Great War, clearly identified Jasta 10's noses as chrome yellow from the various pictures he had seen. If Alex Imrie, the most noted expert of Great War aircraft from the 1960s, accepted Voss's Fokker with a yellow nose based on the R. A. F. expert, then there was a very good chance it was. Knowing this, let's look at a picture of Voss's Fokker:

The metal engine cowling looks black, but as the Jasta carried chrome yellow noses on their other aircraft, and film showing light colors as dark, there is a very good chance Voss' Fokker did sport a chrome yellow engine cowling.

What of the rest of the plane? Factory light blue painted over with streaks of olive green. There was more green towards the front of the plane, allowing more of the light blue to be more clearly seen towards the rear of the aircraft. The comments of some of the 56 Squadron pilots of a silvery blue Fokker indicate that the blue was noticed. 

As for the two pilots of Jasta 10 who left with Voss that day Friedrch Rudenberg's Pfalz D.III carried the Jasta's chrome yellow nose, struts, and wheel covers. Rudenberg also had alternating red stripes on the tail and a black band angled around the fuselage. Gustav Bellen's Pfalz was painted in a green and purple scheme, no distinctive chrome yellow to be found. Another pilot, Alois Heldmann, who took off later, sported a similar Pfalz.

Rudenberg's Pfalz D.III by Russell Smith

Bellen's Pfalz

Fortunately before Shapeways went tits up I was able to procure Voss, Rudenberg, and Heldmann, the latter will stand in for Bellen.

The Voss Effect

Transitioning some of my blog posts from over at the Wings of War Aerodrome to the blog so that others might enjoy!

Last Dance of the Hussar by Russell Smith

I have been working a bit with camelbeagle (Dan) on a Voss Wings of Glory scenario. Well, Dan has been doing most of the work, but I have been making a few suggestions about setup, aircraft, using more accurate climb rates, that sort of thing. For those who do not know, I have a side business - I give tours and talks related to the Civil War - American that is. So, historical accuracy is fairly important to me. Dan has planned a four on four fight, simply to keep the amount of players around the table at a reasonable number, with four SE.5s against Voss in his triplane, with a couple of Pfalz D.IIIs and an Albatros D.V making a late arriving appearance. 

In reading accounts of the action (September Evening: The Life and Final Combat of the German World War One Ace Werner Voss by Barry Diggens and Lt. Werner Voss: Germany's Greatest Teenage Ace by Walter Musciano) it is apparent that Voss cannot be given too many ace abilities. I have an Ares Voss Pfalz on its way, mostly for the ace ability cards, and a couple of Pfalz D.IIIs offered by Reduced Aircraft Factory of a couple of the German pilots involved. Dan has 56 Squadron in hand. 

Looking forward to testing this scenario and then hosting for the Wright Flight in the future. When we do, we'll be certain to post an after action report!

By the way, the Musciano book was written in the 1960s, and the colors given for Voss's various planes are questionable at best...stating that his Fokker and Pfalz has red noses...Rudolph would be proud.