Corgi Albatross DVa Ltn. Helmut Dilthey Jasta 40, Mid-1918

Not much in the way of Corgi releases of late but 

Corgi AA37806, Albatross DVa Ltn. Helmut Dilthey Jasta 40, Mid-1918 has started hitting the shelves in the UK. An attractive scheme that should fit in nicely with WWI collections.

Born in Rheydt, Germany on the 9th of February 1894, Helmut Dilthey first flew two-seat reconnaissance bi-planes on the Eastern Front but rose to prominence flying this Albatross DVa during the latter half of 1917 and the early part of 1918 on the Western Front. 

His seven aerial victories included a trio of Spad fighters, as well as a Sopwith Triplane, a Sopwith Camel and a Nieuport Scout. He painted his machine in a garish white and green striped livery, the colours of Saxony, while leading Jasta 40 in the opening months of 1918. 

It was while flying this machine that Dilthey was killed in July 1918 by German ground fire, while attacking an RAF DH9 bomber of 107 Squadron over the frontline in the region of Lille, France.