The Scheissehaus
Scourge
After the success of the
Fokker Dr.1 triplane, Fokker chief designer Reinhold Platz naturally
wondered what the capabilities of an even more improved aircraft in the
same vein might be. Such it was that in the early autumn of 1917, a five
winged version was rolled out for testing at Johannistahl. Idflieg was
curious at what the new Fokker Funf Decker had to offer but first they had
to find a test pilot. The test-pilot had to have many superior qualities.
He had to be skilled enough, adventurous enough, but most importantly dumb
enough to take the unwieldy looking bird into the air. Fortunately for
Reinhold Platz, Idflieg and the entire Imperial German Air Service,
Hauptmann Fritz von Scheissehaus of Jasta B-M (Bayerische-Munchen) 2
posessed all the necessary qualities and stepped in to fill the void.
Von
Scheissehaus put the new aircraft through its paces and after landing and
attending to some "personal business" in a small one-room office
with a moon cut in the door, emerged to extol the virtues of the new bird.
While Idflieg and the Imperial Air Service's Inspector General were not
entirely convinced, the good Hauptmann requested and was granted
permission to test the new Funf Decker under battlefield conditions and
thus, a legend, and the Scheissehaus Scourge were born...
Click on
images below to see larger images
Starting in late Septemeber 1917,
the skitterish Hauptmann von Scheissehaus, aided by his crew-chief Unteroffizier
Erich Hardtstuhl, began a string of victories against Allied observation
aircraft that earned him the much-feared monniker of the Brown Baron. Hauptmann
von Scheissehaus downed no less than 13 opponents in the five weeks ending
October 31st, 1917. Unfortunately, the Brown Baron was grounded by a breakfast
of extremely thick porridge and a shortage of "personal" stationery on
November 1st, 1917. The Brown Baron was obligated to sit out the rest of the war
in a rear area until his ailment healed. He greeted the Armistice (and a cod
liver oil treatment) with great relief. Baron Fritz von Scheissehaus' exploits
are still discussed today in the men's room of the German Air Staff
college.
Brian
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