Ernst Udet Fokker D.VII "Jasta 4"

New for Warbirds in 2008

Fokker D.VII Projects by Arthur Flores

Skin by Art Flores, Spring 2008

Work in Progress for

Notes:

Most people can tell you that the number one fighter pilot of "The Great War" was Baron Manfred von Richthofen. But who was number two will probably elicit shrugs and wrong answers from most individuals. His name was Ernst Udet and he earned 62 victories against the allied forces, second to only Richthofen.

I'm not too anxious to start any controversy, but there are those that question the colors of Udet's planes. Some say this Fokker D.VII has red stripes, others black. If there were 4 Fokker D.VII planes Udet flew, this must have been one of the most elegant.

From Intternet Modeler web page and others:

The Fokker D.VII was arguably the best aircraft of the First World War ... it has been said it made a mediocre pilot good, and a good pilot great. While this may be an exaggeration, the D.VII was the only German aircraft specifically mentioned in the terms of the Armistice that ended WW1, with all examples to be turned over to the Allies.

Fokker D.VII (early production)
Ltn Ernst Udet
JAFU, Jasta 4
June 1918

If von Richthofen's red triplane is the most modelled WW1 aircraft, Udet's candy-striped D.VII would have to be in the running for second. However much is still unknown about this aircraft, including just which aircraft it is. The next point of contention is are the stripes red or black? I have chosen red, but black is also a valid option.

Despite being the best known of Udet's D.VIIs, "Du Doch Nicht" (loosely translated as "certainly not you", "surely not you" or "oh no you don't"), had a brief service life with Udet being shot down in it on 29 June 1918 by the rear gunner of a French Breguet 14. Udet was more fortunate than Friedrichs with his parachute - although it was a near thing as he jumped from 500 metres. Udet's later D.VIIs (and SSW D.III) bore the red fuselage and Lo! markings, but none were as elaborate as this one.

NOTE: these first screens are my beginning stages, do NOT click to enlarge these unless you want
to be disappointed. They are still rough. Wait for the photos at the bottom of this page ...

Gotta have an action shot!

More white stripes are coming soon, on top of fuse and the thin stripes on the sides.
This is gonna be one version, another version will be with standard camo on top of the wings.

The discussion about colors on the D.VII continue. But this is from the book, "Fokker D VII Aces of World War I" by Osprey:

"The diagonal striping on the top wing was certainly inspired by Udet's experiences with the black/white striped Dr I of Kirschstein, thus many feel these stripes were black and white instead of red and white. This was probably the first D VII flown by Udet, and there is no primary evidence that he was yet using the red colour scheme so associated with his later aircraft -- the tailplane, and nose, may in fact have been Jasta 4 black. " -- Greg VanWyngarden