ADF Serials-Albatros D.Va

Serial	Type	Aircraft History
D5359/17	Albatros D.Va	Captured along with several other aircraft at El Afule, Palestine by 1 Sqn, AFC,
D5390/17 G/101	Albatros D.Va	D.Va D5390/17 is believed to have been constructed in about August/September 1917. On the afternoon of 17 December 1917 several aircraft from 3 Squadron AFC were sent out on operational flights to take advantage of a period of fine weather. One of these machines was RE8 serial no. A3618, crewed by Lieutenant J L M Sandy (pilot) and Sergeant H F Hughes (observer). The machine climbed to its patrol height of 1,500 metres and began to range fire from an 8 in. howitzer battery, using its wireless transmitter to signal corrections to the fall of shot. The RE8 was attacked by six Albatros D.Va fighters, believed to be from Royal Prussian Jasta 29 based at Bellincamp. Sandy and Hughes successfully defended themselves for some minutes and shot down an Albatros piloted by Leutnant Rudolf Clausz. At this point another RE8 joined the action, and the two 3 Squadron machines then fought for a further 10 minutes. As a third RE8 flew to join the action, the German formation broke off combat. The third RE8 flew close to Sandy and Hughes, whose aircraft was flying normally and had apparently resumed its patrol. All appeared to be well. However, they did not return to base. Nothing was heard until the next day, when their machine was found over 80 km away. Both men had been killed by a single bullet, but their well trimmed and stable aircraft had flown unattended until fuel ran out and it landed with little damage. The entire battle was witnessed from the ground, and in their absence both Sandy and Hughes had been recommended for immediate awards (MM and DCM respectively). Leutnant Clausz, wounded in the upper thigh, crash landed in the lines of the 21st Battalion, 2nd Australian Division AIF and was taken prisoner. His aircraft, with bullet damage to the petrol tank, was recovered under heavy artillery fire by personnel of 3 Squadron AFC. After a brief examination the machine was taken to Repair Park, 1 ASD at St. Omer on 18 December 1917. It was then flown to Lympne in Kent in January 1918 and then to Aeroplane Experimental Station, RFC where it was given the identity G/101 and carefully examined. On 31 December 1917 Headquarters AIF London lodged a claim for the aircraft with the UK War Office as a war trophy. This was agreed 6 February 1918. During the early part of the year it was displayed at Australia House in London. On 22 May the aircraft was taken over by the AFC, and on the 25th the machine was dismantled and packed for shipping to Australia. After arrival D5390 was displayed in October 1920 in South Australia at an exhibition organised by the Motor Trades Association. It returned to Melbourne 30 November 1920, and was subsequently displayed by the AWM at the Melbourne and Sydney Exhibition Buildings. From 1941 the Albatros was displayed in Aircraft Hall, where it remained until the early 1960s when it was removed and stored at Duntroon. In the mid 1960s substantial reconstruction of this aircraft was undertaken. The work was commenced by the Australian Society of World War One Aviation Historians, and was completed by personnel from the Camden Museum of Aviation under the direction of Mr Harold Thomas. Large sections of the fabric have survived, and were used to guide the finish applied to the aircraft during major work completed in 2008.
7416/17	Albatros D.Va	Albatros Scout D VA Serial aircraft, serial 7416/17 with white-black-white fuselage stripes with '5' at nose, intermediate type national insignia which landed at Jenin after the town had been captured by Australians. The airmen were of the opinion that the town was still in Turkish hands. The aircraft came from Jasta 2 (F) otherwise known as Jasta 300 or more commonly know to the Germans as 'Jasta Felmy' named after their first commander the sportsman, (Oblt.) Gerhard Felmy.