Turkey and Palistine air action Q

[Checkers67]

LF information about Ottoman Empire aircraft, pilots, photos, etc. I have  a old Cross and Cockade story and that's it.

Steve

[kornbeef]

I wish I could help, I really fancy doing the soon to be released WNW kker EII/III eindecker in Turkish Font Markings so I'll be watching to see if anyone posts info.

Good luck Keith

[GHE]

Some info comes with Osprey Elite #135
German Airforce 1914-1918

Mostly the not so well-known theatres of war will be found scattered in different books.
Definite volumes are sometimes not available. Nobody researched them up to now.


viele Gürße, Gunther

[Checkers67]

Years ago while learning how to print photographs 1981 I think. My instructor had a old mounted photo of a Albie D.III with two radiators. He told me the ac was from Syria or Palestine. Forward a few decades and I obtained a Cross and Cockade issue featuring a german pilot flying fokker E's. Hmmm. Sounds like something to explore.
Steve

[rhallinger]

Try this link to The Aerodrome for a great WNW Alb. DV build of a Turkish aircraft.  Very cool!

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/models/52121-1-32-albatros-dva-wingnut-wings.html

I've got this way down on my build list.  Some day.

Regards,

Bob

[GHE]

Messieurs !

The Middle East  and  Mediterraenian theatre of war was not only a German but also an Austrian theatre of war, since
the Austrian Kaisertum had strong religious bonds to Jerusalem.
Therefore one has to check Austrian aviation history, too .

The Middle East indeed was a very important region and a vast amount of British and Commonwealth troops was sent there
for the strategic reason  of getting the new raw material of world power - oil - under control.
The fight against the Ottoman Empire in itself was not the geopolitical main reason.

This important strategic theatre did not show those dreadful mass attacks and dramatic loss rates; therefore one almost forgets about it. Furthermore it seems that this theatre was kept below Radar on purpose during WW I .
But Oil-Geopolitics shaped our world since then.

viele Grüße, Gunther

[Checkers67]

Thanks for the link Bob. Stunning build. The wood effects WoW! This stokes the ole fire for a WnW Albie 5!
  Steve

[rhallinger]

Steve:

Glad the Turkish Albie had the same effect on you that it did on me!  It's actually a DVa (I mistakenly referred to it as a DV).  It's worth checking out the other links on that Aerodrome thread for other prototype photos and more information.

The wood fuselage is beautiful, and I also liked the muted fabric look of the lozenge.

Regards,

Bob

[rhallinger]

...oh, and the dual radiators on the top wing are a very interesting look! 

[GHE]

Hello Steve !

new book:

Desmond Seward
Wings over the Desert: In action with an RFC pilot in Palestine 1916-1918

maybe one finds additional info in this volume ?

viele Grüße, Gunther

[GHE]

Hello Steve !

German aircraft in the Sinai: always the latest types sent on purpose by High Command

Rumpler C.IV, Fokker E.III, Albatross D.III, Halberstadt D.II, CL IV, D IV (Turkey also flew this type

In the end one may send an e-mail to the Turkish Army Museum asking for help or about books on the story of the
Turkish Air Force in WW I  .


bizz bald, Gunther

[GHE]

Hello Steve !

Turkish Air Force:

- founded  1. July  1911  Yesilköy Airfield / Istanbul
 mostly Deperdussin and Bleriot XI aircraft (some only)

- called 9.Hava Isleri Subesi =  9.Departement for Aviation Affairs;

- up to 100 pilots trained until 1918 and 450 aircraft aquired until 1918
- 17 land based units and 3 naval units

- Albatross B1  , Gotha WD 1 (naval)   , Rumpler B 1;

of course, during the Sinai campaigne a lot of flying was done by German and Austrian units;

viele Grüße, Gunther

[Jasta300]

The Ottoman Airforce used the following Albatros types:

Albatros B.1  - 22 examples.

Albatros C.1   7 examples

Albatros C.III 71 examples 2 dual trainers

Albatros D.II   3 examples

Albatros D.III  31 examples -all built by OAW

Albatros D.Va  3 example

As far as German units, only in Palestine :

FA 300  Pascha I arriving 1916
The rest were Pascha II - arriving 1918
FA 301
FA302
FA303
FA304b
FA305

Jasta 300 - provisional unit formed with 2 Albatros D.III(OAW) fighters from each of the  units listed above . Know locally as Jasta Felmy , after it's leader, Oblt. Gerhard Felmy

Jasta 55 - renamed Jagdstaffel 1 of the Heeresgruppe F Yilderim  or abreviated Jasta 1F

The Ottoman Flying Section  14 operated in 1918 in Palestine. The German ace Hans Schuz was on their roster

The were no Austrian aviaition units on any of the "Turkish Fronts"         

Most of the fighter pilots , regardless of the aircraft markings were German aviators

[GHE]

Hello Jasta 300 !

That means Austrian pilots piloting German aircraft or Austrian officers only beeing liason personnel to the German units?
I drew some conclusion on texts under photos.
Austrian soldiers were sent to the Mediterranean Theatre ( a great uncle of mine fought as an artillery soldier at the
Dardanellen forts) but I still lack the knowledge whether the Austro-Hungarian side just gave technical help to the Turks
sendig some soldiers to fight side -by-side as advisors.
Information ( not from the archives ) on the Palestine front still  seems to me  a jigsaw puzzle.

viele Grüße, Gunther

[Checkers67]

This is great information men. Thank you so much! One more question though. What scources did you gleen from?
I will certainly contact the Turkish embassey to find out more info.

Steve