AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

DFW C.V


The DFW C.V is covered in Datafile No.53, as well as articles by Dan-San Abbott in CCI 30/1 and 32/3 about the various camouflage patterns carried by the DFW C.V. All told 3095 DFW C.Vs were built by five manufacturers between August 1916 and November 1918. There was a peak of 1057 DFW C.Vs in frontline service on 31 August 1917. In August 1918, there were still 620 in service.
The early DFW C.Vs were equipped with 'ear' radiators. In January 1917, the fourth production batch (750-899/17) introduced the leading edge radiator. The first 30 or so C.Vs had a blunter nose which was changed at or shortly before C.3330/16 to a more streamlined cowl with a spinner added.
Finishes range from a single dark colour on upper surfaces (C.3300-3359/16, C.3400-3439/16, C.4578-4727/17), to sprayed two and three colour patterns. These patterns at various times consisted of either two browns and a green (ie: C.4800-5039/16, 750-190/17); two greens and a brown; mauve and green; or olive and green (790-899/17). Some DFW C.Vs built by Halberstadt carried the 'speckled' finish as seen on the Halberstadt CL.II. Undersurfaces could be light blue or light yellow.
The first runs carried white cross fields to their crosses, however in late October 1916, these were ordered to be reduced to 5cm outlines
DFW built C.3300-3359/16, C.3400-3439/16: Green upper surfaces, light yellow lower; White cross fields
DFW built C.4800-5039/16, C.750-789/17: Green, dark brown and light brown uppersurfaces; white cross fields on some within the C.4800-4900 range
DFW built C.790-899/17: Green and olive uppersurfaces, light yellow lower surfaces
Halberstadt C.2500-2524/17, 3378-3427/17: Speckled fuselage; 'undersurface' five-colour lozenge on upper surfaces; light yellow lower surfaces
DFW built C.4578-4727/17: Overall dark green or gray
Some differences between the various companies: Tail balkenkreuz crosses of DFW-built C.Vs extended beyond the area of the rudder; Aviatik had their transfer in the centre of the tail cross. LVG centered their wing cross on the aileron bellcrank at rib five from the tip, while DFW had theirs one rib inboard of this position. LVG used their typical banded camouflage pattern, DFW could use bands or an irregular mottle. Halberstadt usually left off all identifying serials.


DFW C.V 3300-3359/16, 3400-3439/16


DFW C.V C.4800-5039/16
C.750-789/17 similar, but with new radiator

 


DFW C.V 790-899/17


DFW C.V(LVG) 3-colour Pattern

 


DFW C.V(Halb) C.2500-2524/17, 3378-3427/17

 


DFW C.V(LVG) 2-colour Pattern

 



DFW C.V C.3300-3329/16
-
Kampfgeschwader 2
1916
Source: DFW C.V Datafile

DFW C.V C.799/17
Uffz Hahnell / Ltn Mann
Fl.Abt 7
July 1917
Source: C&C(INT) 32/3


DFW C.V (Halb)
-
Fl.Abt 44
-
Source: Datafile No.53

 


DFW C.V(LVG)

Fl.Abt(A)48
1917
Source: DFW C.V Datafile

DFW C.V

Fl.Abt(A)48

Source: DFW C.V Datafile


DFW C.V

Fl.Abt(A)239
Mid-1918
Source: DFW C.V Datafile

 


DFW C.V
Fldwbl Henkel / Ltn Hentschel
Fl.Abt(A)253

Source: C&C(USA)


DFW C.V

Fl.Abt(A)255

Source: DFW C.V Datafile

 


DFW C.V 4918/16
Uffz Decker/Ltn Hammer
Fl.Abt(A)276

Source: DFW C.V Datafile

DFW C.V (LVG)

-

Source: DFW C.V Datafile


DFW C.V 794/17

1.MFFA
Summer 1917
Source: DFW C.V Datafile

 


DFW C.V 794/17

1.MFFA
Summer 1917
Source: Alternate colours
Revised 2012

DFW C.V
Ltn Bastian
1.MFFA
1918
Source: DFW C.V Datafile


DFW C.V C.3xxx/16
Schusta 8
-
July 1917
Source: CCI 30/2

 


DFW C.V C.4800-5039/16
Schusta 8
-
July 1917
Source: Duiven/Abbott: Schlachtflieger
Alternate colours

DFW C.V C.4832/16
Schusta 29
-
Early 1917
Source: Duiven/Abbott: Schlachtflieger


DFW C.V(Av) 9034/16

-

Source: DFW C.V Datafile

 


DFW C.V(Av)
-
-
ca. 1918
Source: DFW C.V Datafile

DFW C.V(LVG) 2164/17
-
-
1917
Source: DFW C.V Datafile

Polish DFW