Albatros D.V – Jasta 23B, Freidrich Ritter von Roth 1918 1/48

Corgi Aviation Archive 1/48 scale aa37802: Albatros D.V of Luftstreitkrafte Jasta 23B, as flown by ace pilot Freidrich Ritter von Roth, Early 1918. Limited edition of 3,940 pieces.

Length  6 inches Wingspan 7.5 inches

Röth was badly wounded while serving with an artillery regiment. He transferred to the German Air Force after recovering from his wounds, but was injured in a flying accident during training. In and out of hospitals for nearly two years, Röth eventually scored his first three victories on January 25, 1918. On that day, he shot down three enemy balloons in less than ten minutes. On July 30, 1918, he scored his 17th victory, shooting down a Bristol Fighter flown by Irish ace John Cowell. Röth was wounded in action on October 14, 1918. By the end of the war, he was Germany’s highest-scoring balloon buster. Of his 28 confirmed victories, 20 of them were balloons. Extremely depressed that Germany had lost the war, Röth committed suicide. His Knight’s Cross of the Military Order of Max-Joseph was awarded posthumously in 1919. His Albatros DV was finished in yellow-varnished plywood, with all-metal cowling panels, wheel covers and struts being painted gray and spinner white.

Designed by Robert Thelen then refined and lightened, the Albatros D.V was the preeminent fighter during the period of German aerial dominance- first flown in 1917. Fundamental version improvements in wing design such as mounting the radiator in the center of the upper wing section, improved pilot visibility- critical in dog fighting tactics. The Albatros could now attain altitudes of over 3,000 feet in only five minutes and with improved stability and firepower and the Albatros system continued to dominate the skies. The Allies responded to the success of the Albatros series with new fighters including the SPAD VII, Sopwith Camel, S.E.5a, Bristol F2B, and others.