Albatros D.III of Leutnant Karl Emil Schäfer

This Revell kit is from 1965, and not a reissue. The parts are crisp and molded , and to my surprise, the decals were in remarkable shape. The kit has some shape issues, especially the sides of the fuselage, which are supposed to be flat. The struts are also way too thick, and the radiator on the top wing is a crude representation. However, I am not going to address these issues, since this is a bit of a nostalgia/fun build, as my models often are. The instructions did not include any painting instructions, so I assume that the builder is supposed to follow the illustration on the box, which would indicate that we're dealing with Manfred von Richthofen - and an airship.

However, this seemed a bit dull, especially since I finished a Richthofen Fokker Triplane less than a year ago . So, after some research, I came to the conclusion that this particular Albatros would be painted as the mount of Leutnant Karl Schäfer, one of the aces of "Bloody April" 1917 that flew for Jasta 11.

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww1/f/415/59/4

Leutnant Karl Emil Schäfer

The build is pretty straightforward. The pilot and seat fits on pegs, and there's no other interior. The overall fit is good, with some minimal sanding required. Most of the painting was done before attaching the top wing, and Vallejo colors were used. The wood grain was simulated by painting the fuselage tan and dry-brushing long streaks of red brown and burn umber, and then the decals were applied. I did have to omit the lettering below the cockpit, since I didn't have any decent decals for that. Rigging was done with stretched sprue, and finally the model was varnished with dull and gloss coats, depending on if the surface was supposed to be varnished wood, linen or painted wood.

Leutnant Karl Schäfer was one of the Grosskanone of "Bloody April" 1917, although he had quite a short career as an ace. He was born in Krefeld in 1891, and he joined the Jäger Regiment zu Pferd Nr. 10 of the Prussian Army for his obligatory national service before the war, and when the war broke out. Schäfer was an engineering student in Paris, speaking both German and French and being a good draughtsman. He returned to Germany when war broke out, and was assigned to the Reserve Jäger Bataillon 7. Schäfer was promoted to Vizefeldwebel and decorated with the Iron Cross, Second Class in September 1914 before being wounded and hospitalized for six months. 

After recuperation, Schäfer requested flying duty, and he was transferred to the Eastern Front and Kampfgeschwader 2 in July 1916. Eventually he was transferred to the Western Front and Kampfstaffel 11 of KG2. He gained his first victory flying for this unit, and when he heard of Manfred von Richthofen assembling select combat aviators (Kanone) in Jasta 11, Schäfer impudiently telegraphed von Richthofen and asked to join: "Can you use me?" Richthofen replied, "You have already been requested."

Schäfer joined Jasta 11 on February 21, 1917, and he succeeded in shooting down 21 aircraft, most during "Bloody April" of 1917. He was known affectionately known as Karlchen and apparently became the prankster of Jasta 11. He managed to write an autobiography during his short career, Vom Jaeger zum Flieger, which contains many of his exploits in the air and on the ground. He was awarded the Pour le Merite and several other decorations while serving with Jasta 11. 

On April 26, Schäfer was given command of Jasta 28, and he added another nine victories, bringin his total to 30. On June 5, 1917, Schäfer was shot down and killed when his plane probably broke apart in mid-air following combat with Lieutenants Harold Satchell and Thomas Lewis of No. 20 Squadron, RFC, flying an F.E.2d. Schäfer is today commemorated in name of the Bundeswehr barracks at Achum airport, as well as a street in Krefeld and a plaque by the house where Schäfer was born on Uerdinger Straße 231. 

 

Some links:

https://modelingmadness.com/review/w1/ger/fosd3.htm

http://wwi-cookup.com/albatros/diii/kitreview_earlyalb.html

Victories (Wikipedia)

No.	Date/time	Unit	Aircraft	Foe	Location
1	22 January 1917	Kasta 11	Albatros D.II	Caudron	West of Pont-à-Mousson
2	4 March 1917 @ 1150	Jasta 11	Albatros D.III	Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A1109)	South-west of Haisnes
u/c	4 March 1917	Jasta 11		D.H.2 or F.E.8	Near Lens
u/c	4 March 1917	Jasta 11		D.H.2 or F.E.8	Near Béthune
3	6 March 1917 @ 1145	Jasta 11		Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A978)	Lens
4	6 March 1917 @ 1155	Jasta 11		Sopwith 1½ Strutter	Lens
5	9 March 1917 @ 1120	Jasta 11		F.E.8 (6397)	Faschoda
6	9 March 1917 @ 1122	Jasta 11		F.E.8 (4874)	Pont-à-Vendin
7	11 March 1917 @ 1120	Jasta 11		B.E.2c (6232)	Loosbogen
8	24 March 1917 @ 0900	Jasta 11		Sopwith 1½ Strutter	Anzin, near Arras
9	3 April 1917 @ 1620	Jasta 11		F.E.2d (6371)	South of Lens
10	6 April 1917 @ 1020	Jasta 11		B.E.2	Givenchy
11	6 April 1917 @ 1037	Jasta 11		B.E.2	West of Vimy
12	7 April 1917 @ 1745	Jasta 11		Nieuport 23	Mecatal
13	8 April 1917 @ 1440	Jasta 11		D.H.4	Épinoy
14	9 April 1917 @ 1900	Jasta 11		B.E.2d (5742)	Aise Roulette
15	11 April 1917 @ 0910	Jasta 11		Bristol F.2A (A3318)	Fampoux
16	11 April 1917 @ 1250	Jasta 11		B.E.2e	Arras
17	13 April 1917 @ 1830	Jasta 11		F.E.2b (A6372)	Le Point du Jour
18	14 April 1917 @ 1705	Jasta 11		F.E.2b (4877)	Lievin-Eleu
19	14 April 1917 @ 1720	Jasta 11		B.E or Bristol F.2a	La Coulette
20	21 April 1917 @ 1745	Jasta 11		Nieuport Scout (A6797)	East of Fresnes
21	22 April 1917 @ 2020	Jasta 11		F.E.2b	North-west of Moncy-Tilloy
22	25 April 1917 @ 1040	Jasta 11		F.E.2b (A837)	Bailleul
23	25 April 1917 @ 2030	Jasta 11		Bristol F.2a (A3352)	Bahnhoff Roeux
24	1 May 1917 @ 1240	Jasta 28		Farman	Dixmude
25	1 May 1917 @ 1300	Jasta 28		Nieuport Scout	East of Poperinghe
26	9 May 1917 @ 1900	Jasta 28		Sopwith 1½ Strutter	Warneton
27	18 May 1917 @ 1110	Jasta 28		F.E.2d	Hollebeke
28	23 May 1917 @ 1615	Jasta 28		F.E.2d	Warenton
29	23 May 1917 @ 1845	Jasta 28		Sopwith Pup	Wytschaetebogen
30	4 June 1917 @ 1410	Jasta 28		D.H.4 (A7420)	Moorslede