Richthofen first flew 102/17 on 1 September 1917 and shot down two enemy aircraft in the next two days. He reported to the "Kogenluft" ("Kommandierender General der Luftstreitkräfte") that the F.I was superior to the Sopwith Triplane. Richthofen recommended that fighter squadrons be reequipped with the new aircraft as soon as possible. The combat evaluation came to an abrupt conclusion when "Oberleutnant" Kurt Wolff, "Staffelführer" of "Jasta" 11, was shot down in 102/17 on 15 September, and "Leutnant" Werner Voss, "Staffelführer" of "Jasta" 10, was killed in 103/17 on 23 September.