Fritz Kosmahl
Encyclopedia
Offizierstellvertreter Fritz Gustav August Kosmahl (1892–1917) was one of the first flying ace
s of Germany's Luftstreitkräfte
during World War I. He was one of the few German two-seater aces of the war, being officially credited with nine aerial victories. He was also one of the first ten German aviators to earn the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.
Kosmahl started pilot's training very early in World War I, on 12 August 1914, at FEA 2. On 11 January 1915, he joined FFA 22 in France. During 1916, he scored three aerial victories while operating a two-seater reconnaissance plane; details of his first two wins is lost to history, but his third win came on 10 October 1916. As a result, on 9 January 1917, Kosmahl was awarded the Member's Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern; he was one of the first ten German fliers to receive this prestigious award, second only to the famed Blue Max
. He was also awarded the Saxe-Meiningen Medal for Merit in War while with FFA 22. He also won both classes of the Iron Cross.
FFA 22 morphed into FFA 261 in December 1916. On 2 February 1917, Kosmahl shot down a Sopwith Pup
piloted by acting Flight Lieutenant W.E.Traynor of 8 squadron RNAS over Hermies
. On 11 March, he downed a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b south of Beugny
and became an ace. He then departed for advanced training, to become a fighter pilot. In late July 1917, he was assigned to Jasta 26. On 17 August, he scored his first win as a fighter pilot, downing an RAF FE.2d at Zonnebeke
. On 9 September, Kosmahl downed a Sopwith Camel
fighter plane. On both 19 and 20 September, he shot down Sopwith Triplane
fighters at Passchendaele
.
Two days later, on 22 September 1917, Fritz Kosmahl suffered a stomach wound in combat, but managed to return to base despite his injury. He lingered four days after landing, succumbing at 0230 hours on 26 September 1917.
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...
s of Germany's Luftstreitkräfte
Luftstreitkräfte
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte , known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches , or simply Die Fliegertruppen, was the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I...
during World War I. He was one of the few German two-seater aces of the war, being officially credited with nine aerial victories. He was also one of the first ten German aviators to earn the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.
Kosmahl started pilot's training very early in World War I, on 12 August 1914, at FEA 2. On 11 January 1915, he joined FFA 22 in France. During 1916, he scored three aerial victories while operating a two-seater reconnaissance plane; details of his first two wins is lost to history, but his third win came on 10 October 1916. As a result, on 9 January 1917, Kosmahl was awarded the Member's Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern; he was one of the first ten German fliers to receive this prestigious award, second only to the famed Blue Max
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
. He was also awarded the Saxe-Meiningen Medal for Merit in War while with FFA 22. He also won both classes of the Iron Cross.
FFA 22 morphed into FFA 261 in December 1916. On 2 February 1917, Kosmahl shot down a Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
piloted by acting Flight Lieutenant W.E.Traynor of 8 squadron RNAS over Hermies
Hermies
Hermies is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Hermies is a farming village situated southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D5 and the D19 roads.-Population:-References:*...
. On 11 March, he downed a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b south of Beugny
Beugny
Beugny is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village located 20 miles southeast of Arras at the junction of the N30 and D20 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:...
and became an ace. He then departed for advanced training, to become a fighter pilot. In late July 1917, he was assigned to Jasta 26. On 17 August, he scored his first win as a fighter pilot, downing an RAF FE.2d at Zonnebeke
Zonnebeke
Zonnebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Beselare, Geluveld, Passendale, Zandvoorde and Zonnebeke proper. On January 1, 2006 Zonnebeke had a total population of 11,758...
. On 9 September, Kosmahl downed a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
fighter plane. On both 19 and 20 September, he shot down Sopwith Triplane
Sopwith Triplane
The Sopwith Triplane was a British single seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War. Pilots nicknamed it the Tripehound or simply the Tripe. The Triplane became operational with the Royal Naval Air Service in early 1917 and was...
fighters at Passchendaele
Passchendaele
The Battle of PasschendaeleThe Battle of Passchendaele...
.
Two days later, on 22 September 1917, Fritz Kosmahl suffered a stomach wound in combat, but managed to return to base despite his injury. He lingered four days after landing, succumbing at 0230 hours on 26 September 1917.
External links
- http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/kosmahl.php|The Aerodrome gives a detailed list of his victories, and contains his photograph
Reference
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0948817739, 9780948817731.