Author Topic: Josef Mai. What markings?  (Read 1544 times)

Offline Tony Haycock

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Josef Mai. What markings?
« on: March 03, 2020, 09:20:10 AM »
I have just found out that the uncle of a vintage car guy I have know for every was Josef Mai's first victory. He still has his medals, RFC spoon and a lot of photos (which i an hoping to be able to scan!).

I have volunteered to make a WNW kit of the Albatros, but I have two questions - was it a DV or DVa, and if it was a DV, what markings? I'm hoping someone with more knowledge than I can assist!
« Last Edit: March 03, 2020, 12:32:53 PM by Tony Haycock »

Offline lcarroll

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2020, 02:04:39 PM »
Tony,
    According to "Above the Lines" by Franks,Bailey, and Guest Josef Mai's first victory was a Sopwith Camel B3876 of 70 Sqn over Rumaucourt on 20 August 1917 at 0905 (German Time) He scored his first 11 victories flying an Albatros DV carrying his personal "Bone" marking. I'm pretty sure I have a profile of that Aircraft and will do a quick search for it tomorrow to get you a reference.
Cheers,
Lance

Offline Tony Haycock

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2020, 02:29:57 PM »
Tony,
    According to "Above the Lines" by Franks,Bailey, and Guest Josef Mai's first victory was a Sopwith Camel B3876 of 70 Sqn over Rumaucourt on 20 August 1917 at 0905 (German Time) He scored his first 11 victories flying an Albatros DV carrying his personal "Bone" marking. I'm pretty sure I have a profile of that Aircraft and will do a quick search for it tomorrow to get you a reference.
Cheers,
Lance

Thanks Lance! The Camel was flown by Bill's uncle, who is on a Memorial in Arras. All I need to do is find a WNW DV - which is easy, and the correct markings for it... which may not be

Offline Vickers

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2020, 11:18:41 PM »
It appears that Pheon still has their 1/32nd 'Albatros DV Vol. 1' in stock. Mai's aircraft is option 1:

https://www.pheondecals.com/32017-albatros-dv-vol1-lozenge-camo.html
Bruno: "How many rules are there?"

Willi: "I don't know... none of zem have ever been written down."

Offline lcarroll

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2020, 11:37:50 PM »
    The Profile for Mai's aircraft on the Pheon Sheet is a DVa, not a DV so there's some mystery there. It does have the "Bone" motif though so should suffice. Perhaps the Instruction Sheet with the decal set has info on the research that led to this conclusion, Pheon's research is excellent IMHO. The statement regarding the DV for his first 11 victories is direct from the 'Above the Lines" write-up on Mai. Neat stuff!
Cheers,
Lance

Offline macsporran

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2020, 12:14:53 AM »
Not trying to be funny, Tony and please don't take offence, but wouldn't he rather have a model of his uncle's plane rather than the bar steward who killed him?

Offline Tony Haycock

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2020, 06:48:53 AM »
Not trying to be funny, Tony and please don't take offence, but wouldn't he rather have a model of his uncle's plane rather than the bar steward who killed him?

He has a Camel... which it looks like I'll be building, but we have no real idea of the markings his uncle had on it. As least with the Mai aircraft we should be able to make something very close to the actual one

Offline macsporran

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2020, 08:40:05 AM »
Ah, yes I see. So you'd have the two of them together. Thanks.
When I get back home I'll look up the Camel File and see if there is any info on B3876 that might help.
Cheers
S

Offline Tony Haycock

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2020, 09:14:08 AM »
Ah, yes I see. So you'd have the two of them together. Thanks.
When I get back home I'll look up the Camel File and see if there is any info on B3876 that might help.
Cheers
S

That would be great! Thanks

Offline Jamo

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2020, 09:48:13 AM »
#1 on the Pheon sheet dates from Feb-18. Mai's first victory was in Aug-17, 6 months earlier. Mai's crescent moon & star Albatros 5284/17 was used in late 1917 so is probably more likely
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Offline macsporran

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2020, 06:37:29 PM »
The Camel File doesn't add much about B3876 I'm afraid.
Delivered to 70Sqdn 7/8/17 (7 Aug). Left on operational patrol 06.50, combat near Rumaucourt, last seen diving on hostile aircraft Douai 20/8/17. 2/Lt HD Turner killed, credited OffStv J Mai Jasta 5 SE of Rumaucourt 09.05 German time. Aircraft struck off charge 20/8/17.

By 26/8/17 70Sqdn identification markings were a horizontal white zigzag behind fuselage roundels.
S

Offline Tony Haycock

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Re: Josef Mai. What markings?
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2020, 09:57:18 AM »
The Camel File doesn't add much about B3876 I'm afraid.
Delivered to 70Sqdn 7/8/17 (7 Aug). Left on operational patrol 06.50, combat near Rumaucourt, last seen diving on hostile aircraft Douai 20/8/17. 2/Lt HD Turner killed, credited OffStv J Mai Jasta 5 SE of Rumaucourt 09.05 German time. Aircraft struck off charge 20/8/17.

By 26/8/17 70Sqdn identification markings were a horizontal white zigzag behind fuselage roundels.
S

Thanks!