A German air ace who achieved eight victories and was awarded the Pour le Merite. Although he had joined the army in 1909, he qualified for his flying licence in 1913 and thus became one of the few aces who was actually a pilot at the start of WWI. He saw service in the West and East, and showed enough ability to be trusted with the Fokker Eindecker, a new plane that had been fitted with a machine gun synchronised to fire through the propeller. He gained his eighth victory on 9 July, 1916, but 12 days later he was mortally wounded in combat and while being able to land his plane he died soon after in hospital.
A German air ace who achieved eight victories and was awarded the Pour le Merite. Although he had joined the army in 1909, he qualified for his flying licence in 1913 and thus became one of the few aces who was actually a pilot at the start of WWI. He saw service in the West and East, and showed enough ability to be trusted with the Fokker Eindecker, a new plane that had been fitted with a machine gun synchronised to fire through the propeller. He gained his eighth victory on 9 July, 1916, but 12 days later he was mortally wounded in combat and while being able to land his plane he died soon after in hospital.
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