by George Grasse

EDUARD 1:48 SCALE MULTI-MEDIA KIT BUILT FROM EU8005 PFALZ D.III

EDUARD EU8005 PFALZ D.III BOX ART

FOKKER D.VI 3-VIEW

This 3-view drawing taken from Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War compiled by O. G. Thetford and E. J. Riding, Harleyford Publications, 1954.  The Pfalz D.III is obviously a pleasant looking aircraft but did not measure up to an improvement over the Albatros D.V series.  This model D.III was characterized by its Spandau machine guns advanced into the fuselage out of reach of the pilot, a remarkably  serious flaw ehcoed by Jasta pilots.  Allied fighter aircraft development was beginning to surpass the ability of the Albatros D.V/D.Va and German aviation casualties increased.  An attempt was made to improve the D.III which led to the D.IIIa in which the Spandau machine guns were moved to with pilot reach but it mattered not.  Jastas were variously equipped completely with the Pfalz D.III/IIIa or a mix of Pfalz and Alabtros products.

THE MODEL TO BE BUILT

This Pfalz D.III of an unknown serial number was flown by Ltn Hans Klein of Jasta 10.  The aluminum-powered finish of Pfalz D.III/IIIa is a significant feature of this aircraft type.  Ltn Hans Klein as Staffelfuhrer of Jasta 10 was a high-scoring ace and holder of the Pour le Merite.  Yellow was the staffel color of Jasta 10 applied to the nose, struts, and wheel covers of its aircraft.  Additionally, for in flight recognition, Klein also adorned the complete tail unit in yellow and a near fuselage length broad red stripe.

This photo of Ltn Hans Klein is taken from Pfalz Aircraft of WW1 (Aeronaut) page 91. Wearing an overcoat, Klein was probably photographed in the fall or winter of 1917 and is leaning against his personal Pfalz D.III aircraft.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No.1

Scheduled for a future start . . . . . . . . . . .

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Bibliography:

Bar, Ronny.  German Fighters of the Great War, Volume 2.  Horncastle, UK: Tempest an imprint of Morton's Books. 

Franks, Norman and Frank Bailey & Russell Guest. Above the Lines - A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces of the German Air Service, Naval air Service, and Flanders Marine Corps 1914-1918.  London, UK: Grub Street, 1993.

Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford.  German Aircraft of the First World War.  London: Putnam & Company Limited, 1960.

Lamberton, W. M., Compiler, and E. F. Cheesman, Editor.  Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War.   Los Angeles, CA: Aero Publishers, 1962.

Grosz, Peter.  Fokker D.VI.  Berkhampstead, UK: Albatros Productions, 2000.

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4 April 2026