| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Corbie Albert Area, Corbie |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/00920.001 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Aircraft component |
| Maker |
Fokker Aeroplanbau |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | 1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Piece of fabric from Fokker DR1 aircraft : Baron Manfred von Richthofen, Geschwader 1, German Air Service
Description
An approximately rectangular section of fabric, finished with two layers; a light blue/grey layer underneath and a red layer on top. The fabric is marked on the reverse with a circular ink stamp 47mm in diameter stating '3RD AUST. DIV. ARTY. HQ (unreadable)' Handwritten in ink, also on the reverse is 'Piece of fuselage of Triplane flown by Captain Von Richthofen brought down at 11.15 am 21/4/18 near CORBY Sur SOMME Certificate of guarantee. W A Nicholls Maj RA. BM 3rd D.A.' Thread count: 22 threads/cm x 22 threads/cm, 1:1 plain weave. The red paint equivalence in the Munsell system is close to 7.5R/3/6 or 5R/3.5/4. The blue-grey colour approximates to a touch lighter in value than Munsell 7.5B/5/2.
History / Summary
This piece of fabric is from the Fokker Triplane flown by the leading ace of the First World War, Baron Manfred von Richthofen. It was recovered from the aircraft immediately after the crash. The pale blue paint underlying the red probably indicates that it was from the undersurface of von Richthofen's aircraft.