Haumptmann Adolf Ritter von Tutschek's DrI 404/17 JG II
"Sone after the formation of JG II, a mechanic stands ready to swing the prop on Adolf von Tutschek's DrI 404/17 Toulis. Another crewman prepares to hold down the tail as the engine starts, while von Tutschek's chief mechanic Uffz Balzer stands by the cockpit. At this time the Jasta 12 unit marking of a white cowling has been effected, but the black tail colouration has been applied only to the tailplane and rear fuselage, All cross-fields and the rudder remain white in this photograph, but later they would be reduced with black paint to produce the regulation white border around the crosses. Note the leader's streamer trailing from the lower wing and the works number 1988 on both interplane struts. A Morell airspeed indicator is mounted on the port strut. Just visible is the white cloth von Tutschek used for wiping his goggles, tucked under his shoulder harness"
'Haumptmann Adolf von Tutschek, who was officially credited with 27 aerial victories, was the Kommandeur of Jagdgeschwader II and is seen here in his Fokker DrI triplane, 404/17,the machine in which he was killed on 15 March 1918. It is marked with the colours of his old unit Jagdstaffel 12 - white nose cowling and black tail unit - although later the white cross backgrounds on rudder and fuselage were painted black, leaving only the regulation 5cm wide white border. Note the anemometer-type airspeed indicator on the port wing interplane strut and the wing-tip streamers attached to the lower wing trailing edge."
"After graduating from the Royal Bavarian Cadet School, von Tutschek's joined the 3rd Bayerischen Infantry Regiment in 1910. During the war, he distinguished himself in combat while serving in France and on the Eastern Front. Severely wounded during a gas attack at Verdun (his second wound of the war), von Tutschek was ill for months. When he recovered, he transferred to the German Air Force and after pilot training, served as a two-seater pilot with FA 6. On 25 January 1917, he was assigned to Jasta Boelcke as a scout pilot. Having scored three victories with this unit, he was given command of Jasta 12 on 28 April 1917. On 11 August 1917, von Tutschek was badly wounded in the right shoulder when his black-tailed Albatros D.V was shot down by Charles Booker of 8 Naval Squadron. Out of action for six months, he wrote his memoirs while recovering: Sturme and Luftsiege (Attack and Air Victories). On 1 February 1918, von Tutschek assumed command of Jagdgeschwader II. Mid-morning on 15 March 1918, the triplanes of JG II tangled with the Royal Flying Corps near Brancourt. Tutscheck was killed when his green Fokker DR.I (404/17) was shot down by an S.E.5a flown by South African ace Harold Redler."
