Rumpler C.VIII - Dutch Rumpler C.VIIIs

During the summer of 1917 lt Duinker and Lt. Versteegh were travelling through Germany, looking for aircraft for the LVA.
Besides the fact that they had the opportunity to test the Fokker D.III, at Rumpler-Werke at Johannistal forty Rumpler C-VIII scouts were ordered. In March 1918 this aircraft was tested thoroughly by Versteegh, than the order was definite and the factory could start building the aircraft.
November 1918 because of possibility of sabotage it was forbidden to use the Rumplers.

May 1919 there was an air show at Copenhagen and two aircraft R4558 and R462 flew to Denmark. The R462, caught fire on the outward journey and crashed. The crew, lt Duinker and Perk, was unfortunately killed.
Some time later another Rumpler caught fire during an exercise near Ede. At the end of November 1919 Rumpler R452 caught fire during a flight above air base Soesterberg and crashed, killing the crew, lt. Land and lt. Van Dijk.
The result was that it was ordered not to fly with the Rumplers. A committee of the Government searched for the cause of these accidents. March 1921 a report stated that the engine used, was unreliable and might caught fire spontaneous.
Concluded was that the aircraft was in use in Germany and also thoroughly tested when it was bought. All Rumplers were written off during 1920 and some were used for taxiing exercises and these were re-registered R1, R2, etc.

Rumpler C.VIII, crashed at Soesterberg. This has to be Rumpler R418, which crash on October 4, 1918 after a collision with a mast. Lt  A.N.S.W.L. Coblijn (pupil) was severely wounded. Instructor was Lt. J.C.G. Duinker.
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Rumpler C.VIII serial R454 on its nose on the Sint Pietersberg (Maastricht) May 7, 1919. Crew sgt.maj. vl. W. van der Drift and lt.observer Van Driel.
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A Rumpler C.VIII visiting naval air station De Kooy.
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Rumpler C.VIII: observers cockpit with machine gun.
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Rumpler C.VIII R456 at Soesterberg. From left to right  Lt. Mulder, Lt. De Ruijter van Steveninck and Lt. J.T.H. van Weeren.
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Rumpler C.VIII and a Fokker D.III at Soesterberg.
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Rumpler C.VIII at Soesterberg. The generator under the fuselage is clearly visible.
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Rumpler C.VIII at Soesterberg.
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Rumpler C.VIII at the ELTA in 1919.
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One of the first Rumplers C.VIII at Soesterberg, possibly May 1918.
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Rumpler C.VIII taxi trainer serial 450.
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One of the first Rumplers C.VIII at Soesterberg, possibly May 1918.
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Rumpler C.VIII serial 471
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Rumpler C.VIII with crew.
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