AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

Halberstadt D.III


The D.III differed from the D.II in its choice of powerplant, the D.III used the Argus 120hp engine and can usually be picked out by its upright exhaust. However, having said that, some D.IIIs were fitted with the Mercedes 120hp.A total of 50 D.IIIs were produced with a maximum of 32 at the front in October 1916. As late as August 1918, two were still in service as trainers.

The Halberstadt D.III was usually seen in one of four basic finishes:. Plain, with the metal and ply painted to match the fabric; sky or off-white overall; green/red-brown camouflaged and feldgrau overall. One was photographed in a pattern similar to that used on Fokker aircraft, the colours of this streaked pattern are unknown. Most were seen with no personal or unit markings as they were withdrawn from frontline service at about the time that colourful markings began to be used.

The Halberstadt D.I-V is featured in the Halberstadt Fighters Special by PM Grosz. There is also a page of line drawings showing the individual markings carried by the Halberstadts of Jasta 5 in the Jasta 5 Special.


 


Halberstadt D.III
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Jasta 5
Winter 1916-17
Source: Halberstadt Fighters DF


Halberstadt D.III D.129/16
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Winter 1916-17
Source: Halberstadt Fighters DF


Halberstadt D.III
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Source: Halberstadt Fighters DF