Friday, April 1, 2016

Fokker Dr.I of Otto Löffler


The Revell Fokker Dr.I is a delight to build. Details are exquisite, and construction is quite simple. However, there are several fragile parts that need to be handled carefully, both when removing from the sprue and attaching. Also, the plastic is red, which is a tad frustrating. Decals are provided for Lothar and Manfred von Richthofen, but I decided to go for a third option: Otto Löffler, an option that can be completed without resorting to other decals.

Leutnant der Reserve Otto Löffler started his career with the Grenadier Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm Nr. 10 before becoming a pilot. After training, he was assigned to the Boelcke Staffel in the fall of 1917, scoring his first victory in early December that year. His second victory was a D.H. 4, which may have been claimed while flying this Dr. I on February 3, 1918. Löffler saw quite a bit of action during the spring of 1918, and he was shot down twice while flying a Dr. I.  His scores increased over the course of the summer, and by the end of October Löffler had claimed 15 aircraft shot down, most of them while flying a Fokker D.VII. He was also the acting commander of the Boelcke Staffel between September 4 and September 18, 1918. During World War II, his son Kurt would score 26 victories and became an ace while serving with JG 51.

The lemon yellow band of Löffler’s Dr. I were the colors of his old regiment. The black and white colors found on the cowling and the tailplane represent the Royal Prussian colors.

























Date
Time
Unit
Aircraft
Opponent
Location
1
05 Dec 1917
1030
Jasta 2
 
Nieuport Scout
S of Houthulst Forest
2
03 Feb 1918
1040
Jasta 2
 
D.H.4
Ghent Mariakerke
3
09 Aug 1918
Jasta 2
 
A.W.F.K.8
Mericourt
4
21 Aug 1918
Jasta 2
 
Bréguet 14
W of Champs
5
02 Sep 1918
1300
Jasta 2
 
Sopwith Camel (E1471)
Beugnatre
6
02 Sep 1918
Jasta 2
 
Sopwith Camel
S of Pelves
7
02 Sep 1918
Jasta 2
 
Sopwith Camel
S of Palluel
8
03 Sep 1918
1625
Jasta 2
 
D.H.9
Epehy
9
06 Sep 1918
Jasta 2
 
Bristol F.2b
NW of Bourlon Wood
10
16 Sep 1918
Jasta 2
 
D.H.4
N of Aveluy
11
16 Sep 1918
Jasta 2
 
D.H.4
NE of Arras
12
24 Sep 1918
Jasta 2
 
D.H.9
W of Cambrai
13
28 Sep 1918
Jasta 2
 
S.E.5a
Epinoy-Marcoing
14
09 Oct 1918
1440
Jasta 2
 
D.H.9
Thulin
15
30 Oct 1918
Jasta 2
 
D.H.9
N of Quieverain

 

(source: theaerodrome.com)