AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

Schusta / Schlasta 27b


Schusta 27b was formed from Kasta 36 in January 1917 and continued to use its originating unit's aircraft - Roland C.II - and marking of a black chevron. This was later changed to white with the arrival of the Halberstadt CL.II. It would appear that Schusta 27b also used a cross field long after they were officially discontinued. Later a white rudder was added and then the white/black/white band, striped tailplane and the two white bands on the wings. Their CL.IIs feature in a series of photographs showing Brunhilde and Thea. At one time their Halberstadt and Hannovers also carried large demons on the forward fuselage as seen below on 'Anni'.
There are two versions of Anni below to reflect conflicting information. Dan-San Abbott has it listed as an early production aircraft with the light lozenge on the upper surfaces and CDL on the lower. The Mirage instructions agree that this early production aircraft, but was given replacement wings with dark upper and light lower lozenge. The possibility exists that both are right and it is seen at different periods, and that it was also the CL.II initially flown by Redenbach/Kreitmair in September 1917.
In the AEG Datafile, 6674/16 is attributed to Fl.Abt(A)224, however the chevron shows it to be at Schusta 27b. The reason its aircraft are often confused with those of (A) 224 is that they both occupied the same airfield, and photos of Schusta 27b a/c appeared in albums from the Fl. Abt. There are several classic photos of Albatros C.VII of Schusta 27b which have been frequently misidentified.

 


Halberstadt CL.II with 1918 unit markings

 


LFG Roland C.II

Winter 1916/17
Source: Roland C.II Datafile


LFG Roland C.II

January 1917
Source: Duiven/Abbott: Schlachtflieger!

 


Albatros C.VII

Spring 1917
Source: Albatros C.VII Datafile (No.77)

AEG C.IV C.6674/16

May 1917
Source: AEG C.IV Datafile


Halberstadt CL.II
Uffz F. Redenbach/Oblt S Kreitmair
September 1917
Source: Duiven/Abbott:Schlachtflieger!

 


Halberstadt CL.II "ANNI"
Uffz F. Redenbach/Oblt S Kreitmair
Oct-Nov 1917
Source: Duiven/Abbott:Schlachtflieger!
Mirage 1/48 Halb CL.II Kit

Halberstadt CL.II "ANNI"
Uffz F. Redenbach/Oblt S Kreitmair
Winter 1917/18
Source: Alternate scheme


Halberstadt CL.II "Brunhilde"

April 1918
Source: Halberstadt CL.II Datafile

 


Halberstadt CL.II "THEA"

May 1918
Source: Warplanes and Airbattles of WWI

Halberstadt CL.IV "Brunhilde"
-
September 1918
Source: Duiven/Abbott:Schlachtflieger!