This is a side project that I have been wanting to get to for several months now. This painting will depict Fokker triplane 450/17, one of several flown by Ltn. Josef Jacobs, Staffelführer of Jasta 7. Jacobs was perhaps the biggest proponent of the Fokker triplane, and he flew it operationally longer than any other pilot, including Manfred von Richthofen. Although he is known to have flown at least two, and perhaps three black triplanes while serving with Jasta 7, 450/17 is his best known due to the description given in his wartime diary.
My inspiration behind this painting began back in Oct. of 2012 with a visit to the Vintage Aero Flying Museum in Colorado. In his later years Josef Jacobs became good friends with the museum's founder, James Parks. He bequeathed many of his personal wartime artifacts to the museum prior to his death, including his personal wartime diary and 2 of his Pour le Merite ("Blue Max") medals. During my visit, I had the great opportunity to browse through Jacobs' diary. Here is a page from the diary. He even included photos.
I also was given the opportunity to hold both of Blue Max medals. Here are two of Jacobs' Pour le Merite (Blue Max) awards. The one in my right hand was Josef Jacobs' "wearer's copy". The one in my left hand was a commemorative medal presented to Jacobs' on the 50th anniversary of his award.
This photo shows Jacobs' wearing his Pour le Merite "wearer's copy" while standing in front of his black Fokker triplane.
For months after my visit I pondered over ideas for a Josef Jacobs painting. I knew that whatever I did, I wanted to depict 450/17 with its colorful personal markings. In his journal Jacobs described this aircraft as a "black triplane with a devil's head on both sides of the fuselage behind the pilot's seat." 450/17 also carried additional wing crosses on the upper surfaces of the lower wings. According to Jacobs, this was so that over-eager German pilots would not mistake his aircraft for a Sopwith triplane. A couple of photos are know to exist of this aircraft, but this is by far the best. Unfortunately, even this photo doesn't give a clear view of the Devil's Head, which Jacobs also sometimes described as the God of the North Wind. The best color interpretations for the marking came from a description which Jacobs gave to historian Neil O'Connor in his later years.
My first step in this project was to choose an event to depict. Fortunately I had an english translation of Jacobs' war diary on hand. Jacobs was relatively thorough in his descriptions of events and aircraft that he flew, but he only definitively attached 450/17 to one event - a balloon claim for May 14,1918. His combat report for that day reads as follows:
Fok. Dr I 450/17: black triplane with a devil's head on both sides of the fuselage behind the pilot's seat.
At 0410 hours I started with my Staffel for a patrol to the front - because there was little aerial activity, and I noticed some English balloons through the clouds,I decided for a balloon attack. With my whole Staffel I raced down through the clouds, immediately opening fire at the first which ignited at once, burning fiercely.
The next step is to choose a good composition. After several thumbnail sketches I came up with a composition which would highlight the three wing design of the Fokker Dr. I as well as the beautiful semicircular cowling, would give us a view of Jacobs' head, and would give us a glimpse os the devil's head. The scene I have in mind depicts Jacobs in 450/17 leading his Staffel on patrol. As they descend through a layer of clouds Jacobs spots a balloon back on his right and indicates it to the rest of the Staffel. I chose a sun angle coming in from Jacobs' 7 o'clock high position. This would give an interesting mix of shadow and sunlight on the triplane. Even better, the sun coming from this position would wash out enough of the devil's head so that I wouldn't have to worry about being too detailed with markings which are speculative at best. In other words, I could reasonably indicate the devil's head without having to detail it too much.
The perspective drawing for 450/17.
I finished the pencil study for this morning. I may adjust the position of the balloon slightly, but overall I'm pretty pleased with it. I'll try to get a color study done for it in a few weeks.
pencil study for unnamed Josef Jacobs painting
16" x 10"
pencil on bristol paper
