Eduard Pulpe
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Eduard Martynovich Pulpe was a World War I flying ace
credited with five aerial victories.
Educated at Moscow University as a school teacher, Pulpe moved to France in 1912. After obtaining his civilian pilot's brevet no. 1571 on 19 December 1913, he volunteered for the French air service at the outbreak of war, despite being 34 years old. Pulpe was posted as a Sergent to fly a Morane-Saulnier
for Escadrille MS23 on 1 May 1915. His two victories while flying a Morane-Saulnier L over the Battle of Verdun
that year were among some of the first aerial victories in history. The March after that, he used a Nieuport 11
for two more wins. He was then promoted to Adjutant. He was awarded the Medaille Militaire
and Croix de Guerre
on 29 October 1915, and transferred home to Russia. There he was assigned to the 10th Detachment of the Imperial Russian Air Service. Using a Nieuport 11, he shot down an enemy plane on 1 July 1916 to become an ace. On 2 August, Pulpe fell under the guns of Erwin Böhme
and his gunner to begin Böhme's victory string. The Order of St. George, Fourth Class was awarded posthumously.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with five aerial victories.
Educated at Moscow University as a school teacher, Pulpe moved to France in 1912. After obtaining his civilian pilot's brevet no. 1571 on 19 December 1913, he volunteered for the French air service at the outbreak of war, despite being 34 years old. Pulpe was posted as a Sergent to fly a Morane-Saulnier
Morane-Saulnier
Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier is a French aircraft manufacturing company formed in October 1911 by Raymond Saulnier and the Morane brothers, Leon and Robert...
for Escadrille MS23 on 1 May 1915. His two victories while flying a Morane-Saulnier L over the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
that year were among some of the first aerial victories in history. The March after that, he used a Nieuport 11
Nieuport 11
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzio, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. New York: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4....
for two more wins. He was then promoted to Adjutant. He was awarded the Medaille Militaire
Médaille militaire
The Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
and Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
on 29 October 1915, and transferred home to Russia. There he was assigned to the 10th Detachment of the Imperial Russian Air Service. Using a Nieuport 11, he shot down an enemy plane on 1 July 1916 to become an ace. On 2 August, Pulpe fell under the guns of Erwin Böhme
Erwin Böhme
Erwin Böhme , Pour le Mérite, was a German pilot during World War I. He was born in Holzminden, grew into an athletic sportsman, and became a flying ace during the war credited with 24 victories. He was a both a close friend and a military subordinate of Oswald Boelcke and was inadvertently...
and his gunner to begin Böhme's victory string. The Order of St. George, Fourth Class was awarded posthumously.