Fokker D.VII Models In Flight Coffee Mug

Large scale models of the Fokker D.VIIs of two German WWI aces. The yellow airplane is that of Oberleutnant Erich Löwenhardt, Germany's 3rd ranking ace of WW1, behind only Manfred von Richthofen and Ernst Udet. Löwenhardt was an aggressive, skilled fighter whose score grew steadily. At the end of May 1918 he received Germany's highest honor, the Pour le Mérite (Blue Max) after 24 kills. Flying the new Fokker D.VII, he added eight more in June and no fewer than 16 in July. His tally climbed to 53 on August 9. After scoring his 54th victory, he collided with Leutnant Alfred Wenz of Jasta 11. Both men jumped from their planes but Löwenhardt was killed when his parachute failed to open and he fell to his death from 12,000 feet. The darker plane is that of Carl Degelow. He was credited with 30 victories, and was the last person to win the military Pour le Merite.