Fritz Max Mecklenburg, German Pilot in WWI

Fritz was born in Berlin on 18 Sept 1890 to Max Theodor Mecklenburg and his wife Ernestine Lachmann.

Fritz had a brother and sister, and in fact my great grandparents Rosi and Siegmund signed as witnesses on his brother Gustav Max Mecklenburg's 21 Aug 1919 marriage to Anita Margarete Fischer. So, yes they knew cousin Fritz.

His official Berlin death certificate states that Fritz Max Mecklenburg died in Maria-Aalter, Flanders, Belgium fighting for the Germans on 21 Sep 1917 during WWI.

Maria-Aalter was an airfield between Ghent and the Belgian coast that were used as emergency landing grounds for the German bomber groups coming back from England, which strongly suggested to me that he was a bomber pilot — well, that and the text on his Berlin grave that says und Flugzeug ührer (and Airplane flyer).

As it turns out Bogol I was stationed to Maria-Aalter on 20 Sep 1917. Bogohl I was a Bombengeschwader der Oberste Heeresleitung (Bomb Squadron of the Supreme Army Command), that made up the Kampfgeschwader (Specialized Bomber Units) in the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service). In May 1917 the Bogoh I returned to Flanders and exchanged it’s AEG’s for the larger Friedrichshafen bombers. It is most likely that Fritz was piloting a 3-man crewed Friedrichshafen G.III in Sept 1917.

So, yes Fritz was a bomber pilot. He was a medical student before he became an officer in Dragoner-Regiment König (2. Württembergisches) Nr. 26, attaining the rank of Leutnant d.R.

Fritz died from his injuries on 21 Sep 1917 at Maria-Aalter. Some references list Mariakerke as the place of death, so that might be where the injury was sustained. Most records state that it was a wound or injury, and one site denotes his death with an “i”, meaning he died of illness. So, that’s clear as mud, but certainly close enough for now.

Fritz’s body was returned to Berlin and is buried at Jüdischer Friedhof Weissensee along with his brother and sister.

Fritz was 27 years old, unmarried without children.

Fritz Max Mecklenburg, German Pilot in WWI

Fritz was born in Berlin on 18 Sept 1890 to Max Theodor Mecklenburg and his wife Ernestine Lachmann.

Fritz had a brother and sister, and in fact my great grandparents Rosi and Siegmund signed as witnesses on his brother Gustav Max Mecklenburg's 21 Aug 1919 marriage to Anita Margarete Fischer. So, yes they knew cousin Fritz.

His official Berlin death certificate states that Fritz Max Mecklenburg died in Maria-Aalter, Flanders, Belgium fighting for the Germans on 21 Sep 1917 during WWI.

Maria-Aalter was an airfield between Ghent and the Belgian coast that were used as emergency landing grounds for the German bomber groups coming back from England, which strongly suggested to me that he was a bomber pilot — well, that and the text on his Berlin grave that says und Flugzeug ührer (and Airplane flyer).

As it turns out Bogol I was stationed to Maria-Aalter on 20 Sep 1917. Bogohl I was a Bombengeschwader der Oberste Heeresleitung (Bomb Squadron of the Supreme Army Command), that made up the Kampfgeschwader (Specialized Bomber Units) in the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service). In May 1917 the Bogoh I returned to Flanders and exchanged it’s AEG’s for the larger Friedrichshafen bombers. It is most likely that Fritz was piloting a 3-man crewed Friedrichshafen G.III in Sept 1917.

So, yes Fritz was a bomber pilot. He was a medical student before he became an officer in Dragoner-Regiment König (2. Württembergisches) Nr. 26, attaining the rank of Leutnant d.R.

Fritz died from his injuries on 21 Sep 1917 at Maria-Aalter. Some references list Mariakerke as the place of death, so that might be where the injury was sustained. Most records state that it was a wound or injury, and one site denotes his death with an “i”, meaning he died of illness. So, that’s clear as mud, but certainly close enough for now.

Fritz’s body was returned to Berlin and is buried at Jüdischer Friedhof Weissensee along with his brother and sister.

Fritz was 27 years old, unmarried without children.