The End Of The Broken Bird

Dismantling the airfleet after the armistice

- Robert Blokker

Wingnut Wings 32006 Pfalz D.IIIA

Scale: 1/32 Aftermarket: HGW 132050 Update set for Pfalz DIII/DIIIA Aviattic ATT32134 Pfalz DIIIA 5 Color Lozenge with Linen ribtapes for Wingnut Wings Kit Figures: Copperstate Models

Brief History

When the great war broke out in 1914, Pfalz Flugzeugwerke, located in the city of Speyer in the Rheinland Pfalz were mainly producing licensed built aircraft. Starting out with the Morane Saulnier, then switching over to the LDG Roland D.I and D.II. All of which were pretty much obsolete the moment they rolled out of the factory, and proved no match for other, more competitive, fighters.

Instead of investing in new licenses for aircraft, they invested in the Wickelrumpf (wrapped fuselage) of the Roland firm and started producing their own aircraft. This resulted in the sleek, aerodynamic, and elegant Pfalz D.III single seat fighter, powered by the new 160 HP Mercedes D.III engine.

The reactions of the Jastas were mixed. It was incredibly manoeuvrable but lacked in other areas and again; Pfalz was outmatched by the aircraft of the likes of Albatross and Fokker. Small improvements were made, like mounting the machineguns higher, and adjustments to the size of the tail-plane which brought forth the Pfalz D.IIIA. Pfalz built a total of 750 D.IIIs and modified IIIAs, and the majority of those served till the Armistice, after which the German air fleet was broken down as a condition of the Armistice, which stated that apart from total surrender the Germans had to dismantle their air forces, navy, and military material.

The Start of a Diorama part 1