History

The DFW CV, a two seat explorer, was the successor of the DFW C.IV.
It was by far the most German-built aircraft during the first world war, there were approximately 2000 examples built by DFW themselves plus an approximately 1250 units licensed by Aviatik as Aviatik C.VI, by Halberstadt, by LVG and also by Schütte-Lanz. The aircraft was also built in Bulgaria as Uzunov-1.

The DFW CV was a composite construction, the hull was made of wood, the wings consisted of two wooden beams and were covered with linen.
The upper wing had a larger wingspan, especially by the ailerons, which stuck out.
The exhaust pipes pointed upwards like chimney, however, the machines built by LVG had a horizontally positioned exhaust. The radiator was split and positioned on both sides of the hull, later models had a radiator in front of the wing.
The wooden propeller had a diameter of 2.80 m.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 7,87. m Wingspan: 13,27 m
Height: 3,25 Wing area: 41,52 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 970 kg Max. start weight: 1430 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 155 km/hr Rate of climb: 4 min to 1000 m
Range: 3,5 hours Service ceiling: 5000 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: One Benz Bz. IV rated 200 hp
Crew: Two men: one aviator plus one observer
Armament: One fixed forward firing 7.9 mm Spandau LMG 08/15 machine gun plus one movable 7,9 mm Parabellum MG 13 machine gun.

 


On June 4, 1917 the first DFW C.V made an emergency landing near Axel and entered Dutch service at the end of July as LA43. Early 1918 it received the new registration D405.

On July 20, 1917 a second DFW landed near Aardenburg and received the Dutch serial LA46. Early 1918 it received (probably) the new registration D407.

The third DFW landed on June 29, 1917 near Oostburg and entered service as LA47.

The fourth DFW landed on August 14, 1917 also near Oostburg and entered service as LA44.

A fifth exampled landed on April 11, 1918 near Zaamslag and was serialled D426.

A sixth DFW landed near Ossendrecht and entered service with the Dutch registration D436.

A seventh aircraft made an emergency landing near Overasselt on September 22, 1918. It entered Dutch service with registration D445.

The eighth DFW landed near Rilland-bath and received the Dutch serial D479.

D.F.W. C.V (LVG) 5287/17 te Oostburg. Internering 34, 29 juli 1917. Werd LA47.
D.F.W. C.V (LVG) 5287/17 at Oostburg. Interned on July 29, 1917 and became LA47.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Duitse D.F.W. C.V met registratienummer 9057/17 te Oostburg op 12 augustus 1917. Het toestel kreeg als interneringsnummer 35 en werd in Nederlandse dienst gesteld en geregistreerd als LA44.
Duitse D.F.W. C.V (German) serial 9057/17 at Oostburg on August 12, 1917.
It entered Dutch service as  LA44.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Links achter D.F.W. C.V LA46, ex 4982/17.
D.F.W. C.V LA46, ex 4982/17.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
D.F.W. C.V (LVG) ex-LA47 met kpt.vl. Van Heijst en Prins Hendrik, 5 juni 1918. Rechts sgt. Need.
.F.W. C.V (LVG) ex-LA47 with kpt.vl. Van Heijst and HRH Prince Hendrik, June 5, 1918. At the right sgt. Need.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Rechterkant van D.F.W. C.V LA46, ex 4982/17.
D.F.W. C.V LA46, ex 4982/17.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
D.F.W. C.V (LVG) ex-LA47 met kpt.vl. Van Heijst en Min. van Oorlog, 9 maart 1918.
D.F.W. C.V (LVG) ex-LA47 with kpt.vl. Van Heijst and the Dutch Minister of War  on March 9, 1918.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Neus D.F.W. C.V LA46, ex 4982/17. Benz 200 pk nr. 30551.
D.F.W. C.V LA46, ex 4982/17; engine Benz 200 pk nr. 30551.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Neus van de D.F.W. C.V LA43 te Hilversum. Noodlanding na propellerbreuk, 2 aug. 1917.
D.F.W. C.V LA43 after an emergency landing at  Hilversum on August 2, 1917.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


 

Serial2nd SerialConstruction nr.Date in serviceDate out of serviceNotes
D426   6902/17 13-05-1918   The aircraft was captured undamaged and it was still in use on July 1, 1918;
D436   7928/17 11-04-1918    
D445   6767/18 22-09-1918    
D479   4375/18 12-10-1918    
LA43 D405 5928/16 14-06-1917    
LA44 D406 9057/16 12-08-1917   It is uncertain whether the LA44 really became D406. The regulations for the renumbering were lost.
LA46 D407 4982/16 20-07-1917   It is uncertain whether the LA46 really became D407. The regulations for the renumbering were lost.
LA47 D408 5287/16 20-07-1917   It is uncertain whether the LA47 really became D408. The regulations for the renumbering were lost.

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Classic Plane
    • Kit 11: a vacu formed scale model

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Kit --: --.

Decals

  • --
    • Kit --: ---.

1/48th Scale

Kits

  • Karaya
    • Kit 48010: a resin kit of ther fiorst production version.
    • Kit 48007: a resin kit.
    • Kit 48005: a resin kit of an early produciton version.

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Kit --: --.

Decals

  • --
    • Kit --: ---.

 


SchemeColour nameFS-nummerBS-nummerHumbrolXtraColorVallejo Model ColorVallejo Model Air
Standard #1Fuselage Wood with varnish     100      
Linen parts Cellite     121 X105 70.819 71.028

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

 


Literature.

KLu Vliegtuigen: De vliegtuigen van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht vanaf 1913 Wim Schoenmaker & Thijs Postma Pag. 14 1987 Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar
Aircraft Archive Aircraft of World War One; Volume 2. &nbp; Pag. 71- 74 1989 Uitgever: Argus Books, Hempsted
Vintage Aviation fotofax German Bombers of World War One Alex Imrie Pag. 42 1990 Uitgever: Arms and Armour Press, Poole, Dorset
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
Air Enthusiast no.80 The Historical Aviation Journal: Unexpected Windfalls Bart van der Klaauw Pag. 54 - 59 1999 Uitgever: Key Publishing, Stamford

 

Websites.

Special thanks to F. Gerdessen for information about the Dutch serials.