O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Albatros C XIV
   Designed in 1917, the C XIV first flew in the spring of 1918. It marked a return by Albatros to a lighter, smaller type of standard two-seater from the earlier C X and C XII types; it was also the first Albatros C type to employ staggered wings. No more than one was built before it was modified into the C XV, which was scheduled for series production. Engine, 220 h.p. Benz IVa. Span, 10.4 m. (34 ft. 1 1/2 in.). Length, 6.9 m. (22 ft. 7 3/4 in.). Weights: Empty, 950 kg. (2,090 lb.). Loaded, 1,385 kg. (3,047 lb.). Duration, 3.5 hr. Armament, one Spandau and one Parabellum machine-gun.


Albatros C XV
   Although it entered production, the end of the war prevented the appearance of the C XV in any quantity, as relatively few had been completed by the Armistice. Developed from the C XIV, it differed mainly in having overhung balanced ailerons and an angular cut-out in the centre-section; it was also slightly larger in overall dimensions. Standard Albatros fuselage construction was followed, with ply covering upon multi-ply formers. Engine, 220 h.p. Benz Bz IVa. Span, 11.8 m. (38 ft. 5 5/8 in.). Length, 7.47 m. (24 ft. 6 1/8 in.). Height, 3.33 m. (10 ft. 11 1/8 in.). Weights: Empty, 859 kg. (1,890 lb.). Loaded, 1,320kg.(2,904 lb.). Speed, 165km.hr. (103.12m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 3.4 min., 6,000 m. (19,680 ft.) in 47 min. Duration, 3 hr. Armament, one Spandau and one Parabellum machine-gun.

J.Herris Albatros Aircraft of WWI. Vol 2: Late Two-Seaters (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 25)

Albatros C.XIV

   After the relative failure of the large, elegant C.XII Albatros reconsidered their design direction for two-seat reconnaissance planes. The compact C.XIV was the result.
   Powered by a 220 hp Benz Bz.IVa engine, the C.XIV had little of the elegance of the larger C.XII and was the first Albatros aircraft with staggered wings, a feature intended to improve the field of view for the crew.
   The C.XIV remained a prototype but had sufficient promise that it was developed into the C.XV reconnaissance aircraft, the last Albatros wartime two-seater to reach production.


Albatros C.XV

   A redesign of the compact C.XIV prototype led to the production C.XV. Like the C.XIV, the C.XV was powered by a 220 hp Benz Bz.IVa engine. The C.XV closely followed the overall design of the C.XIV; however, a number of improvements were made to the design to improve performance and handling.
   The C.XV was slightly larger than the C.XIV, but despite that was lighter, upgrading performance and maneuverability. To further improve handling and maneuverability, the ailerons were aerodynamically balanced, which reduced the force the pilot need to exert on the ailerons.
   The crew members were placed close together to enable them to better coordinate during flight. To improve the pilot's field of view the upper wing cutout for the C.XV was enlarged compared to that of the C.XIV. These refinements of the basic C.XIV design created a fine, general-purpose reconnaissance aircraft that became the last Albatros wartime two-seater to reach production.
   Few C.XV aircraft had reached the front before the Armistice, but the type went on to a successful post-war career both in civil and military use. Poland received 18, mostly new, Albatros C.XV biplanes obtained by Capt. William's mission in Gdansk. The aircraft were collected at Poznan-Lawica airfield and delivered to CWL and CSL for assembly. The first (CWL refurbished 23.1) was delivered to the 16th EW but crashed on 12 August 1920, soon after leaving the Warszawa-Mokotow airfield. It went into a spin from about 100 m and did not recover, the crew being killed in the crash. Two were reported to have served with the 12 EW against actions against Budyonny's cavalry. The type also served with the 8, 14, and 16 EW and the 21 EN, participating in the Battle of Niemen, actions in Groodno and Lida. After the war they were quickly dropped from frontline service and used mainly for training. The last C.XV was in service at Grudziadz until November 1921. One, marked D.414, served with the 21st Assault Squadron. The C.XV remained in service till at least 1926.
   Lithuania operated one, serial N8, until at least 1927, when it appeared in a fish scale finish.
   The German forces retreating from the Baltic in 1918 left behind a number of aircraft. From these Latvia acquired C.XV 7818/18, however it was considered too badly damaged to repair.
   In 1922, the Nationalist Forces in Turkey sent Saffet Arikan and Nuri Conker to Germany to purchase military aircraft. 21 Albatros C.XV biplanes were obtained, however it was difficult to ship them to Turkey due to the opposition and the Allied occupying forces. The aircraft were shipped via train to Russia and from thereby ship to Samsun, a Nationalist Turkish harbour on the Black Sea. On 29 July 1922, Capt. Sadettin was sent with a pilot, technician, and a mechanic to prepare as many aircraft as possible and get them to Ankara. Only two Albatros C.XV machines were able to be erected from the remains of those shipped.
   These two Albatros reconnaissance machines took part in the Turkish Great Offensive that commenced on 26 August 1922. Their service life was brief, being struck off in 1923.
   A photograph shows the wreck of a crashed C.XV in the markings of the Count Keller Air Detachment of the Western White Russian Army. The aircraft is thought to have served in the Riga, Latvia, theatre, circa 1919.
   The Kingdom of Albania apparently received five Albatros L.45, the C.XV civilian conversion. A number of C.XV biplanes entered the German civil register as Albatros L.47 civil conversions. There was also an L.47b, but the difference in this sub-type is unknown. D-109, D-140, D-179 , D-185, D-186, D-300, D-407 and D-586 are recorded as C.XV biplanes in different references. (Ries gives D-109 as a Rumpler D.I and D-140 as an Alb. C.III. D-179 is also recorded as Fokker D.VII 7609/18 used by the DLR company. D-185 is also recorded as a Sablatnig type and D-407 as a DFLW D VIIIa.)
   Lt. G. Koppen of the Netherlands obtained Albatros C.XV 7838/18 as a civil aircraft with German registration D-407. He intended to fly this machine to the Netherlands East Indies in February 1920, but bureaucratic hurdles could not be surmounted and the flight was not attempted. In 1927 Koppen finally made a flight to Batavia as copilot to KLM pilot G. Frijns in a Fokker VIIa.3m.


Albatros C-Type Specifications
Albatros C.XII Albatros C.XII(OAW) Albatros C.XIII Albatros C.XIV Albatros C.XV
Engine 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa 160 hp Mercedes D.III 220 hp Benz Bz.IVa 220 hp Benz Bz.IVa
Span, Upper 14.37 m 14.24 m 10.00 m 10.4 m 11.8 m
Span, Lower 13.01 m 12.92 m - - -
Chord, Upper 1.8 m 1.8 m - - -
Chord, Lower 1.6 m 1.6 m - - -
Gap 1.73 m (inboard) 1.80 m (outboard) 1.73 m (inboard) 1.80 m (outboard) - - -
Wing Area 42.7 m2 42.7 m2 - - -
Wing Dihedral 3° (upper), 2.5° (lower) 3° (upper), 2.5° (lower) - - -
Length 8.85 m 8.85 m 7.8 m 6.9 m 7.47 m
Height 3.40 m 3.40 m 2.71 m - 3.33 m
Empty Weight 1,020-1,115 kg 1,040-1,115 kg 700 kg 950 kg 859 kg
Loaded Weight 1,638-1,733 kg 1,658-1,733 kg 1,060 kg 1,385 kg 1,320 kg
Maximum Speed 175 km/h 175-180 km/h 165 km/h - 165 km/h
Climb to 1,000m 5 minutes 5 minutes 4 minutes - 3.4 minutes
Climb to 2,000m 11 minutes 11 minutes - - -
Climb to 3,000m 19 minutes 19 minutes - - -
Climb to 4,000m 30 minutes 30 minutes - - -
Climb to 5,000m 45 minutes 45 minutes 47 minutes - -
Climb to 6,000m - - - - 47 minutes
Duration 314 hours - 2.5 hours 3.5 hours 3 hours

M.Kabatek, Fr.R.Kulczynski German Aircraft in Polish Service. Volume 2

Chapter 2: The Albatros C.XV

  The disappointing performance of the large and elegant C.XII prompted Albatros Gesellschaft fur Flugzeugunternehmungen mbH to change its approach to designing two-seat reconnaissance aircraft. The result was the compact Albatros C.XIV, whose prototype was completed in the spring of 1918. Compared to the C.XII, the new aircraft was much smaller and reflected a more practical design philosophy that prioritized simplicity and crew ergonomics over outward elegance. The refined geometry and complex airframe construction of its predecessor were abandoned in favor of a significantly lighter structure - thanks largely to the installation of a 220 hp Benz Bz.IVa engine. Notably, the C.XIV was the first Albatros design to feature a 20-degree wing stagger, reducing aerodynamic interference. Although it remained a prototype, the C.XIV showed considerable promise and became the basis for the Albatros C.XV, the company's final wartime reconnaissance aircraft to reach production.
  The C.XV retained the key features of its predecessor while incorporating a number of refinements in line with the same practical design philosophy. Like the C.XIV, it abandoned the oval fuselage cross-section in favor of a conventional slab-sided layout, which simplified construction and eased production. The observer's cockpit was raised to improve visibility and expand the field of fire for the flexible machine gun, while an enlarged cutout in the upper wing gave the pilot a better upward view. The crew positions were placed close together to facilitate effective communication an important factor in combat coordination. To further improve flight characteristics, all controls were aerodynamically balanced, enhancing both maneuverability and handling. Despite being roughly 10 percent larger than the C.XIV, the C.XV was actually lighter - its empty weight reduced from 950 to just 859 kg - resulting in noticeably better overall performance.
  Thanks to these refinements, the Albatros C.XV proved to be a reliable short-range reconnaissance aircraft, well suited for aerial photography, artillery spotting, and light ground-attack missions. While it was outperformed by the LVG C.VI and Halberstadt C.V, its initial evaluations were promising. A production order was likely placed in the summer of 1918, but only a small number of aircraft were completed before the end of the war. Although few C.XVs reached frontline units before the Armistice, the design went on to have a successful postwar career in both military and civilian aviation. After November 1918, production continued to fulfill existing contracts, and completed aircraft were delivered to German volunteer squadrons, police units, and aviation companies. Some were also sold to foreign customers.
  The Polish air service acquired 15 Albatros C.XV aircraft, all purchased in Danzig (now Gdansk) in July 1920, shortly before the city officially became a Free City under a League of Nations mandate. Although the Polish acceptance commission reported them as factory-new, at least some had previously seen service in either military or civilian aviation. At the time of purchase, they were still listed in the German aircraft register and retained their Balkenkreuz markings. The aircraft were delivered in batches between August and October 1920. Because their original serial numbers were unknown - or possibly never assigned - Polish records identified them by their German civil registration numbers. Only three aircraft received additional Polish serials (23.1, 23.2, 23.3), which were painted on their fuselages at Centralne Warsztaty Lotnicze.
  The primary combat user of the Albatros C.XV in Poland was 21. Eskadra Niszczycielska (21st Bombardment Squadron), which received six aircraft that supported cavalry raids during the final weeks of the Polish-Soviet War. The C.XV proved well suited to close air support, which became its main role, much like the Cl-type biplanes. Surviving records - both documents and photographs - confirm that these aircraft were armed solely with flexible Lewis machine guns during combat missions and were not fitted with forward-firing LMG 08/15s.
  Other units that operated the C.XV included 4., 8., 12., 14., and 16. Eskadra Wywiadowcza (4th, 8th, 12th, 14th, and 16th Reconnaissance Squadrons), 11. (4.) Eskadra Niszczycielska (11th/4th Bombardment Squadron), Wyzsza Szkola Pilotažu (Advanced Pilot School) in Grudziadz, and 3. Pulk Lotniczy (3rd Air Regiment) in Lawica. Most aircraft were withdrawn from use between late 1921 and early 1922, as part of a broader effort to retire outdated and nonstandard types. However, at least one Albatros C.XV remained in service with 3. Pulk Lotniczy as late as 1926, where it was used for training purposes.


Albatros C.XV (“249"; 23.3)

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.249. In the first half of September 1920, it was delivered to Torun and shortly afterward entered service with 12. EW. Prior to the armistice, the aircraft flew two combat missions:
- 1 October 1920 - Takeoff: 14:20, landing: 17:15. Crew: pchor. pil. Kazimierz Burzynski and ppor. obs. Adam Karpinski. Summary: reconnaissance mission to locate the forward line of own troops and deliver new orders. After successfully dropping the message, the crew descended to 100 m to identify the troops occupying the next trench line. It quickly became clear that the position was already under Soviet control, as the aircraft came under heavy fire. One round struck the spar of the lower wing. The observer returned fire with a machine gun, forcing the enemy infantry to take cover in the trenches and giving the pilot a chance to escape the danger zone. After an extended search for friendly positions, the aircraft ran out of fuel and was forced to land about 24 km from the airfield in Grodno.
- 8 October 1920 - Takeoff: 12:45, landing: 15:30. Crew: ppor. pil. Franciszek Jach and pchor. obs. Leonard Hudzicki. Summary: reconnaissance mission over the Salos-Danyushava-Zhodzishki-Hiry area. During the flight, the crew experienced a serious engine failure, forcing them to land about 3 km north of Salos, between the forward positions of Polish patrols. Ultimately, the airmen managed to repair the aircraft and return to Lida.
  On 31 October 1920, after the armistice had been declared, the aircraft joined the Air Squadron of Central Lithuania, the air arm of a short-lived quasi-state based in Vilnius, formed under Polish military and political influence and unrecognized by the international community. In the following weeks, it took part in combat operations against units of the Republic of Lithuania:
- 5 November 1920 - Takeoff: 11:15, landing: 13:00. Crew: kpt. pil. Waclaw Iwaszkiewicz and pchor. obs. Franciszek Suchos. Summary: reconnaissance mission.
- 6 November 1920 - Takeoff: 12:50, landing: 14:45. Crew: kpt. pil. Waclaw Iwaszkiewicz and sierz. pil. Antoni Wolniczek. Summary: reconnaissance mission over the Vilnius-Kaunas area.
- 13 November 1920 - Takeoff: 11:40, landing: 12:30. Crew: kpt. pil. Waclaw Iwaszkiewicz and ppor. obs. Zenon Romanowski. Summary: reconnaissance mission. The mission was aborted due to dense fog.
- 19 November 1920 - Crew: kpt. pil. Waclaw Iwaszkiewicz and ppor. obs. Michal Blaicher. Summary: reconnaissance and bombing mission. Flight time: 2 hours 10 minutes.
- 20 November 1920 - Takeoff: 11:00, landing: 13:00. Crew: kpt. pil. Waclaw Iwaszkiewicz and pchor. obs. Franciszek Suchos. Summary: reconnaissance mission.
- 21 November 1920 - Takeoff: 11:15, landing: 13:30. Crew: kpt. pil.Waclaw Iwaszkiewicz and ppor. obs. Michal Blaicher. Summary: reconnaissance mission to locate the Wilenska Brygada Jazdy (Wilno Cavalry Brigade) and drop orders; the crew was unable to find the unit's position.
- 22 November 1920 - Takeoff: 11:45, landing: 13:50. Crew: kpt. pil. Waclaw Iwaszkiewicz and sierz. pil. Antoni Wolniczek. Summary: reconnaissance mission to locate the Wilenska Brygada Jazdy, the crew was unable to find the unit's position.
- 23 November 1920 - Takeoff: 12:00, landing: 13:35. Crew: kpt. pil. Waclaw Iwaszkiewicz and pchor. obs. Czeslaw Wajcht. Summary: reconnaissance mission to locate the Wilenska Brygada Jazdy; the crew was unable to find the unit's position.
  On 30 November 1920, the agreement ending military operations between the Republic of Lithuania and Central Lithuania came into effect. During the winter, the aircraft remained grounded. On 19 March 1921, it was sent by rail to Krakow. From 1 July 1921, it was stationed at IV RPL in Brest, and on 1 November 1921, it was assigned to Wyzsza Szkola Pilotow in Grudziadz.


Albatros C.XV ("408")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.408. It was delivered to lawica in early September 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was assigned to 21. EN in Lviv, where it officially joined the unit on 29 September 1920. Five days later, the squadron was relocated to Ternopil. As of 10 January 1921, it had logged 20 hours and 15 minutes of flight time. On 22 January 1921, a strong gust of wind destroyed one of the squadron's tent hangars. Among the aircraft inside was Albatros C.XV "408," which sustained serious damage. The airframe was disassembled and left in the open until early February. The squadron then moved to Grudziadz, where it was disbanded, and both its equipment and personnel were absorbed into 14. EW.On 31 March 1921, the damaged aircraft was handed over to I RPL in Grudziadz, where it remained until at least 20 June.


Albatros C.XV ("409"; 23.1)

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.409. Initially, it was delivered to the Polish naval aviation base in Puck, which had been known during World War I as Seeflugstation Putzig. On 2 August 1920, the aircraft arrived in Torun. The passenger on this flight was por. Karol Dubicz-Penther, an intelligence officer involved in acquiring aircraft for the Polish air service. In the following days, the Albatros C.XV was assigned to 16. EW in Warsaw. Its operational history was brief, consisting of just two combat flights:
- 11 August 1920 - Crew: ppor. pil. Tadeusz Halewski and an observer. Summary: reconnaissance mission over the front line in the Warsaw-Plock area. Despite technical issues, the crew managed to determine the exact positions of the retreating Polish units. During the mission, the aircraft was hit multiple times by ground fire. Flight time: 3 hours 30 minutes.
- 12 August 1920 - Takeoff: 8:35. Crew: kpr. pil. Maksymilian Bialogrodzki and plut. obs. Jan Starzynski. Summary: reconnaissance mission over the front line in the Warsaw area. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed near the airfield. Both crew members were killed.


Albatros C.XV (“410")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.410. It was delivered to Lawica in early September 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was assigned to 21. EN in Lviv, where it officially joined the unit on 29 September 1920. Five days later, the squadron was relocated to Ternopil. In November 1920, the aircraft was temporarily stationed at III RPL in Lviv. In early February 1921, 21. EN moved to Grudziadz, where it was disbanded, and both its equipment and personnel were absorbed into 14. EW. Albatros C.XV "410" was damaged beyond repair in an accident in April 1921, with the pilot, pptk pil. Aleksander Serednicki, suffering only minor injuries. Salvageable parts of the airframe were sent to I RPL in Grudziadz.


Albatros C.XV ("411")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.411. It was delivered to lawica in early October 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was stored as a reserve aircraft.


Albatros C.XV (“412"; 23.2)

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.412. In the second half of August 1920, it was delivered to Torun and then flown to lawica. It likely sustained propeller damage during landing, but the issue was quickly resolved, and the aircraft soon returned to Torun. On 3 September 1920, the commanding officer of 18. EM, por. pil.Wladyslaw Kralewski, performed a delivery flight to Warsaw. The aircraft was initially intended for 8. EW, but on 29 September 1920, it was ultimately transferred to 4. EW in Dojlidy. Before the armistice took effect, it completed the following flights:
- 30 September 1920 - Takeoff: 15:10, landing: 15:25. Crew: pchor. pil. Wladyslaw Dittmer and a mechanic. Summary: maintenance check flight.
- 30 September 1920 - Takeoff: 15:30, landing: 15:39. Crew: pchor. pil.Wladyslaw Dittmer and a mechanic. Summary: maintenance check flight.
- 2 October 1920 - Takeoff: 16:30, landing: 17:45. Crew: pchor. pil.Wladyslaw Dittmer and por. obs. Jan Roder. Summary: ferry flight from Dojlidy to Vawkavysk.
- 5 October 1920 - Takeoff: 11:15, landing: 12:25. Crew: pchor. pil. Wladyslaw Dittmer and por. obs. Jan Roder. Summary: ferry flight from Vawkavysk to Baranavichy.
- 6 October 1920 - Takeoff: 15:55, landing: 17:50. Crew: pchor. pil. Wladyslaw Dittmer and por. obs. Jan Roder. Summary: reconnaissance mission.
-7 October 1920 - Takeoff: 9:35, landing: 11:40. Crew: pchor. pil.Wladyslaw Dittmer and por. obs. Jan Roder. Summary: reconnaissance mission over the Koydanava area and along the Usha River. During the flight, the observer identified Soviet infantry positions and opened fire on them from an altitude of 100 m.
- 8 October 1920 - Takeoff: 13:55, landing: 14:55. Crew: pchor. pil. Wladyslaw Dittmer and por. obs. Jan Roder. Summary: reconnaissance mission.
-9 October 1920 - Takeoff: 10:00, landing: 11:30. Crew: pchor. pil. Wladyslaw Dittmer and plut. obs. Stanislaw Czerwinski. Summary: reconnaissance mission.
- 11 October 1920 - Takeoff: 14:00, landing: 15:30. Crew: pchor. pil. Wladyslaw Dittmer and sierz. Marian Rada (air gunner). Summary: reconnaissance mission.
  With combat operations winding down and 4. EW preparing to relocate to Torun, the aircraft was reassigned to 12. EW in Lida. However, after the unit received relocation orders on 3 November 1920, Albatros C.XV "412" was transferred to 11. (4.) EN. In mid-February 1921, the squadron was absorbed into 8. EW. The aircraft remained in service until at least 28 February 1921.


Albatros C.XV ("413")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.413. It was delivered to Lawica in early October 1920. In March 1921, Albatros C.XV "413" was assigned to 8. EW in Lida. In August 1922, following the unit's relocation to Krakow and its re-equipment with Ansaldo SVA 10 aircraft, it was transferred to 3. Pulk Lotniczy in lawica. It remained in use as a trainer until the winter of 1926, when it was damaged in an accident.


Albatros C.XV ("414")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.414. It was delivered to Lawica in early October 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was stored as a reserve aircraft.


Albatros C.XV ("416")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.416. It was delivered to Lawica in early October 1920. In November 1920, the aircraft was assigned to 12. EW in Wilanow and, just a few days later, transferred to 11. (4.) EN in Lida. By 10 February 1921, its engine had run for only 15 minutes. Albatros C.XV "416" remained in service at least until 28 February 1921, although it already required repairs.


Albatros C.XV ("417")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.417. It was delivered to Lawica in early September 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was assigned to 21. EN in Lviv, where it officially joined the unit on 29 September 1920. Five days later, the squadron was relocated to Ternopil. The aircraft was seriously damaged in an accident on 1 November 1920 in Lviv. It was then sent back to Lawica, where it was scrapped.


Albatros C.XV ("418")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.418. It was delivered to lawica in early October 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was assigned to 21. EN in Ternopil,where it officially joined the unit on 23 October 1920. During the winter, the aircraft remained grounded. On 22 January 1921, a strong gust of wind destroyed one of the squadron's tent hangars. Among the aircraft inside was Albatros C.XV "418," which sustained serious damage. The airframe was disassembled and left in the open until early February. At that time, the squadron relocated to Grudziadz, where it was disbanded, and both its equipment and personnel were absorbed into 14. EW. The aircraft was repaired and returned to flying condition by the unit's mechanics. As of 22 May 1921, it had logged 9 hours and 50 minutes of flight time.


Albatros C.XV (“419")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.419. It was delivered to Lawica in early October 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was stored as a reserve aircraft.


Albatros C.XV (“420")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.420. It was delivered to Lawica in early October 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was assigned to 21. EN in Ternopil, where it officially joined the unit on 23 October 1920. During the winter, the aircraft remained grounded. On 30 January 1921, a strong gust of wind lifted it into the air. The impact with the ground caused severe damage to the fuselage and wings. That same day, it was returned to Lawica and subsequently scrapped.


Albatros C.XV (“421")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.421. It was delivered to Lawica in early October 1920. After undergoing an inspection, it was stored as a reserve aircraft.


Albatros C.XV ("422")

  At the time of its purchase, the aircraft was registered in Germany as D.422. It was delivered to Lawica in early October 1920. After undergoing an inspection and engine replacement, it was assigned to 21. EN in Ternopil, where it officially joined the unit on 23 October 1920. During the winter, the aircraft remained grounded. On 22 January 1921, a strong gust of wind destroyed one of the squadron's tent hangars. Among the aircraft inside was Albatros C.XV "422," which sustained serious damage. The airframe was disassembled and left in the open until early February. At that time, the squadron relocated to Grudziadz, where it was disbanded, and both its equipment and personnel were absorbed into 14. EW. On 31 March 1921, the damaged aircraft was handed over to I RPL in Grudziadz, where it remained until at least 20 June.



Albatros C.XV Aircraft in Poland
German Reg. Number Manufacturer & Model Polish Reg. Number Engine Type (Serial Number)
D.249 Albatros C.XV 249, 23.3 Benz Bz.IV (34119)
D.408 Albatros C.XV 408 Benz Bz.IV (35587, 33199)
D.409 Albatros C.XV 409, 23.1 Benz Bz.IV (no data)
D.410 Albatros C.XV 410 Benz Bz.IV (33662)
D.411 Albatros C.XV 411 Benz Bz.IV (32740)
D.412 Albatros C.XV 412, 23.2 Benz Bz.IV (35651)
D.413 Albatros C.XV 413 Benz Bz.IV (35511)
D.414 Albatros C.XV 414 Benz Bz.IV (32868)
D.416 Albatros C.XV 416 Benz Bz.IV (33992)
D.417 Albatros C.XV 417 Benz Bz.IV (33718)
D.418 Albatros C.XV 418 Benz Bz.IV (32827)
D.419 Albatros C.XV 419 Benz Bz.IV (33420)
D.420 Albatros C.XV 420 Benz Bz.IV (33984)
D.421 Albatros C.XV 421 Benz Bz.IV (35594)
D.422 Albatros C.XV 422 Benz Bz.IV (35595, 32614)