Franz Gräser
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Franz Gräser was a World War I flying ace
credited with 18 aerial victories.
Gräser was a technical university student in Budapest until World War I broke out. In October 1914, he enlisted in Infanterieregiment No. 72, graduated reserve officer school in mid-July 1915, and began World War I as the commander of a machine gun unit on the Russian Front. After being wounded, he transferred to K.u.K, the Austro-Hungarian air service. He was commissioned as an officer and assigned to observer duties in the rear seat of a reconnaissance aircraft in Flik 2. His skill with machine guns helped him to his first two victories, from the rear seat, on 10 February and 20 May 1917.
Like many observers, Gräser made the transition to becoming a pilot. Unlike just about anyone else, he did so without formal training. The feldwebel
pilot who coached him thought he was a natural, but he never received any official training. Without ever being licensed as a pilot, Gräser began flying an Albatros D.III fighter for Flik 42J beginning in September 1917. His personal insignia of an owl on his plane was based in Baltic culture; an owl was considered a sign of death. By the end of 1917, his score stood at 11, with number 11 being claimed on 5 December 1917.
He resumed his victory roll on 26 January 1918 with Flik 61J. By the 23rd of March, he had run his total of wins up to 18 confirmed and one unconfirmed. Most of his victories were over Italian pilots, and his range of victims was wide; seaplanes, fighters, recon two-seaters, and balloons all fell before his guns.
On 17 May 1918, Gräser flew an escort mission, and was shot down in flames by several Italian aces, including Francesco Baracca
, Antonio Chiri
, Cesare Magistrini
, and Gastone Novelli
.
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 18 aerial victories.
Gräser was a technical university student in Budapest until World War I broke out. In October 1914, he enlisted in Infanterieregiment No. 72, graduated reserve officer school in mid-July 1915, and began World War I as the commander of a machine gun unit on the Russian Front. After being wounded, he transferred to K.u.K, the Austro-Hungarian air service. He was commissioned as an officer and assigned to observer duties in the rear seat of a reconnaissance aircraft in Flik 2. His skill with machine guns helped him to his first two victories, from the rear seat, on 10 February and 20 May 1917.
Like many observers, Gräser made the transition to becoming a pilot. Unlike just about anyone else, he did so without formal training. The feldwebel
Feldwebel
Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
pilot who coached him thought he was a natural, but he never received any official training. Without ever being licensed as a pilot, Gräser began flying an Albatros D.III fighter for Flik 42J beginning in September 1917. His personal insignia of an owl on his plane was based in Baltic culture; an owl was considered a sign of death. By the end of 1917, his score stood at 11, with number 11 being claimed on 5 December 1917.
He resumed his victory roll on 26 January 1918 with Flik 61J. By the 23rd of March, he had run his total of wins up to 18 confirmed and one unconfirmed. Most of his victories were over Italian pilots, and his range of victims was wide; seaplanes, fighters, recon two-seaters, and balloons all fell before his guns.
On 17 May 1918, Gräser flew an escort mission, and was shot down in flames by several Italian aces, including Francesco Baracca
Francesco Baracca
Count Francesco Baracca was Italy's top fighter ace of World War I. He was credited with 34 aerial victories.-Before World War I:...
, Antonio Chiri
Antonio Chiri
Sergente Maggiore Antonio Chiri was a World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed and seven unconfirmed aerial victories.-References:...
, Cesare Magistrini
Cesare Magistrini
Sergente Cesare Magistrini began his lengthy aviation career as a World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories.-Reference:...
, and Gastone Novelli
Gastone Novelli
Tenente Gastone Novelli was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Reference:...
.
Reference
- Austro-Hungarian Aces of World War 1 Christopher Chant. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1841763764, 9781841763767.
- SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. Jon Guttman. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN. 1841763160, 9781841763163.