Identity of a German WWI fighter squadron

[peter monahan]

After some not very flattering remarks about an upcoming flyinf flick - (see "Flyboys" under New Posts) I posed the following question. I wonder if this is the right place to repeat it?

Question: which German staffel, if any, used crossed scimitars or falchions as a squadron marking?

On further examination, the planes - Fokker Tripes and Biplanes, painted all red - appear to bear this insignia below the cockpits:

Two black falchions (swords with blades wider at the point) crossed, hilts down, on a wide circle and between the sowrd tips the Roman numerals "XXI" . Not 100% sure on the numerals - stop action on a downloaded film clip.

Suggestions?

[peter monahan]

"Too soon old, too late smart!"

When I googled "red Fokkers" I hit the discussion on "Flyboys" own website, on which the director, producer, camera man... and all their descendants are damned to the 7th ring of the Inferno for messing with history!

I though I knew that there were no red squadrons. Apparently one of von Richtoffen's many aircraft was all red and scarlet at that.

Also, the air buffs said: Jasta 9 used crossed swords, Jasta 11 used a "XI", so this film combines the two. Oh, well, another period massacred by Hollywood "dumbing down". In fact, one of the film's creators responds to the "all red BAD" comments by saying that (I paraphrase) "we were surprised but people couldn't tell the planes apart till we painted the Germans all red" and "Kurasaw did it with a [red army and a blue army] too." Shame!

peter