ACE-35B Fokker DVII (OAW), Jasta 4, Beugneux, June 1918, Ltn. Ernst Udet, Black and White Top Wing

$258.00

SKU: ACE-35B Category:

Description

Ernst Udet (26 April 1896 – 17 November 1941) was the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I. He was one of the youngest aces and was the highest scoring German ace to survive the war (at the age of 22).
His 62 confirmed victories were second only to Manfred von Richthofen, his commander in the Flying Circus. Udet rose to become a squadron commander under Richthofen, and later under Hermann Göring.
The D-VII entered squadron service about the time Udet took over Jasta 4. It was easier to handle than contemporary enemy aircraft and performed well compared to them, and it did not have the Albatros’ tendency to have the wings rip off in a hard dive.

During the spring and early summer of early 1918, Udet’s score rose to 35. The charmed life of this German Ace was again apparent when he took off on the morning of June 29 to intercept a French Bréguet two-seater, which was directing artillery fire over the lines. A few days before, in a fit of arrogance and impertinence, Udet had had his Fokker painted with a candy-striped upper wing and a red fuselage with ‘Lo’–the nickname of his girlfriend Lola Zink–written on it in big white letters. On the tail was the phrase, ‘Du doch nicht!‘ (‘Certainly not you!’), a taunt and challenge to Allied pilots.
There is some controversy as to exactly how Udets “Candy Striped” D.VII was painted. This stems from the fact that only one photo is known of this specific plane and it doesn’t show the whole aircraft.
The wing stripes are traditionally depicted as red and white, but black and white stripes are also depicted, believed to have been inspired by Udet’s earlier experiences with Kirschtein’s simularily striped DR1.
Therefore 2 versions of this iconic plane have been produced.