AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

Albatros D.III(OEF)


Unlike its German cousins, the D.III(OEF) had a proper two spar lower wing which solved the wing shedding problem which plagued the German D.III and D.V/Va. Built in three main variants with ever increasing horsepower, the series 253 was the epitomy of the entire Albatros line when it was fitted with a 220hp Daimler engine.

Most D.IIIs were delivered in a plain finish with varnished fuselage and CDL fabric. To this was often added what the late Martin O'Connor called 'Brumowski Distribution' camouflage. This was named after the top A-H ace and was originally worn by the fighters in his Flik. Brumowski Distribution consisted of a base coat of dark green with small sworls of a mustard yellow ochre over it.

Later D.IIIs had an overall pattern of green or olive added by rag or sponge which resulted in a splotchy appearance.

An excellent reference is the German language "Die Albatros(OEF)-Jagdflugzeuge der KuK Luftfahrtruppen" by Peter Schiemer. This is a complete record of the Austrian Albatros D.III(OEF). It includes a listing of each aircraft built along with its service history. There is also a Datafile on the type.


 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.95
-
Flik 2
-
Source: Die Albatros(OEF)


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.xx
-
Flik 2
May 1918
Source: Die Albatros (OEF)

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.167
-
Flik 2
May 1918
Source: Die Albatros (OEF)

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 253.04
Oblt Franz Peter
Flik 3/J
August 1918
Source: Air Aces of A-H Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 253.117
Oblt Stefan Stec
Flik 3/J
August 1918
Source: Air Aces of A-H Empire

 

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 253.116
Oblt Friedrich Navratil
Flik 3/J
August 1918
Source: Air Aces of A-H Empire
Revised 2009

Albatros D.III(OEF) 53.90
Julius Arigi
Flik 6
Summer 1917
Source: Air Aces of A-H Empire


Albatros D.III (OEF) 153.108
-
Flik 15
1918
Source: Die Albatros (OEF)

 

 


Albatros D.III (OEF) 53.31
-
Flik 21
August 1917
Source: C&C(INT) 19/4


Albatros D.III(OEF) 53.33
StabsFeldwebel Josef Kiss
Flik 24
July 1917
Source: C&C(GB) 18/1

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 53.46
Hptm Johann Frint
Flik 27
February 1918
Source: Air Aces of A-H Empire

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.12
Off.Stv Kurt Gruber
Flik 41/J
Summer 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

Albatros D.III(OEF) 53.60
Off.Stv. Kurt Gruber
Flik 41/J
Summer 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.06
Hptm Godwin Brumowski
Flik 41/J
August 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire



Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.11
Oblt Frank Linke-Crawford
Flik 41/J
Oct 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.54
Ltn Rudolf Szepessy-Sokol
Flik 41/J
November 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.45
Hptm Godwin Brumowski
Flik 41/J
November 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.93
Oblt Gustav von Salmon
Flik 41/J
December 1917
Source: C&C(GB) 19/1

Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.16
Oblt Frank Linke-Crawford
Flik 41/J
December 1917
Source:Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.137
Stbsfeldw. Josef Novak
Flik 41/J
January 1918
Source: Die Albatros (OEFFAG)



Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.10
Hptm Godwin Brumowski
Flik 41/J
February/March 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire
Revised 2009

Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.37
-
Flik 41/J
May 1918
Source: Die Albatros (OEFFAG)


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.209
Hptm Godwin Brumowski
Flik 41/J
June 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

 

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.38
-
Flik 42/J
October 1917
Source: C&C(GB) 19/4

Albatros D.III(OEF) 53.27
Ltn Franz Graser
Flik 42/J
Oct 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.03
-
Flik 42/J
Autumn 1917
Source: Die Albatros (OEFFAG)



Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.09
-
Flik 42/J
October 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.42
Ferdinand Udvardy
Flik 42/J
October 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.44
Ltn Franz Graser
Flik 42/J
November 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire



Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.109
Off.Stv. Friedrich Hefty
Flik 42/J
June 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

Albatros D.III(OEF) 253.64
Korporal Geza Keisz
Flik 42/J
August 1918
Source: FMP - AH Army Aircraft


Albatros D.III(OEF) 53.37
-
Flik 45
October 1917
Source: C&C(GB) 19/4

 

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 253.31
Feldwebel Eugen Bonsch
Flik 51/J
September 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.46
Feldwebel Eugen Bonsch
Flik 51/J
February 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.xx
-
Flik 51/J
-
Source: Die Albatros (OEFFAG)



Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.xx
Stbsfldwbl Stefan Fejes
Flik 51/J
-
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III (OEF) 153.140
Zugfuhrer Eugen Bonsch
Flik 51/J
Spring 1918
Source: FMP AH Army Aircraft


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.266
Ltn Sigmund von Josipovich
Flik 51/J
June 1918
Source: C&C(GB) 19/4




Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.141
Oblt Franz Rudorfer
Flik 51/J
Summer 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.15
Off.Stv Julius Arigi
Flik 55/J
September 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.08
Off.Stv. Julius Arigi
Flik 55/J
December 1917
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire



Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.27
Oblt Georg Kenzian
Flik 55/J
January 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III (OEF) 153.159
Off.Stv. Josef Kiss
Flik 55/J
April 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.185
Hauptmann Josef von Maier
Flik 55/J
May 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire



Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.xx
Ltn Otto Schrimpl
Flik 61/J
March 1918
Source: C&C(GB)19/1

Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.119
Oblt Ernest Strohschneider
Flik 61/J
March 1918
Source: C&C(GB) 19/1


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.106
Ltn Franz Gräser
Flik 61/J
March 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

 

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.32
Zgsfhr Adolf Reinl
Flik 61/J
April 1918
Source: Air Aces of AH Empire

Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.145
Oblt Ludwig Hautzmayer
Flik 61/J
April 1918
Source: Air Aces of the AH Empire


Albatros D.II(OEF) 53.56
Ltn Edgar Mörath
Flik 63/J
March 1918
Source:

 

 


Albatros D.III(OEF) 153.255
-
Flik 63/J
May 1918
Source: FMP A-H book

Polish Albatrosse