Country of origin:

Germany

Description:

Single-seat fighting scout

Power Plant:

One 134 kw (180 hp) Mercedes D.IIIa six-cylinder in-line liquid-cooled engine

Specifications:

Armament:

Two 7.69 mm (0.303 in) Spandau machine guns fixed and firing forward

History:

The Pfalz D.XII appeared at the June 1918 German fighter trials at Adlershof and was shown in two models, one with a Mercedes D.IIIa engine and the other with a BMW III engine. Similar in appearance to the Fokker D.VII it in fact differed considerably from that aircraft. It was tested by senior pilots from front line Jastas, including Ernst Udet and Hans Weiss, a production order being placed as supplies of the Fokker D.VII were not meeting requirements.  It eventually proved to be able to give a good account of itself and was able to cope with Sopwith Camels, RAF SE.5as and Sopwith Dolphins of the RFC.  By October 1918 some 180 were in service on the Western Front.

The D.XII was entered by the manufacturer into a competition in Germany against other designs from other builders, and a contract was awarded for 500 aircraft with a 127 kw (170 hp) Daimler D.III engine. It was flown on 19 June 1918 and fitted with two LMG08/15 machine guns, reaching the front in quantity in August 1918.  Some pilots did not like its poor control response and thought the Fokker D.VII was more favourable to their requirements.

The D.XII had metal panelling around the engine, with a radiator mounted at the front of the engine bearers. The remainder of the fuselage was of wooden, semi monocoque, construction. The basic framework was of spruce longerons and oval ply formers spirally in opposing directions with layers of ply strip covered in fabric. The vertical fin was an integral part of the fuselage. Twin Spandau machine guns were mounted on the decking in front of the windscreen. The tailplane was of wooden construction and fabric covered. The elevator was of welded steel tube construction with fabric covering. Both wings were of the same basic shape but the upper wing was greater in span and chord. The fin surfaces were welded steel tube with fabric covering, the tailplane being covered with plywood.

At least one was brought to Australia, this being a D.XII (Serial 2600/18) which was handed over to Australia in 1919 as war reparation under the terms of the Armistice.  It was sent to No 2 Salvage Depot in France and taken by cross-channel steamer to England late that year, later being conveyed to Australia by troopship. It was displayed in the Australian War Memorial’s temporary exhibition in October and November 1920 before being taken to Adelaide for display at the Motor Traders Association of South Australia exhibit.

It returned to Melbourne on 30 November 1920 where it was placed on display alongside a Fokker, Halberstadt, Hannover, Albatros and Rumpler. After 1924 it was placed on display at a temporary exhibition in Sydney, NSW. It was thought at one stage to have been flown by RAAF pilots in the 1920s but it would seem the fabric on this and the Albatros was already in poor condition by then and it is not likely they were in a condition fit to fly.  This aircraft still has its original Maxim LMG08 machine guns serials 9455 and 9290.  Early in the 21st century it was restored and placed on display in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, initially in the 1980s on the floor of the Memorial but later hung from the ceiling in the Anzac Hall.