Fritz Rumey
Encyclopedia
Fritz Rumey Pour le Mérite
, Golden Military Merit Cross
was a German
fighter pilot
in the First World War, credited with 45 victories.
and was decorated with the Iron Cross
2nd class. Subsequently in August 1915 he applied for aviation
duty and completed an observer's course and served with FAA 219. Later he was accepted for pilot training and when he completed his training, he was sent to France
in early 1917, serving for a brief period with Jasta Boelcke
, and then went to Jagdstaffel 5
on 10 June 1917. He served as a Vizefeldwebel, along with Josef Mai
and Otto Könnecke, as one of the three NCO pilots who flew together and scored 40% of the squadron's successes, and were known as "The Golden Triumvirate". His personal marking on the aircraft he used was a demon's head.
Rumey's first victim was a British observation balloon
, flamed on July 6, 1917. His third was over British ace Captain Gerald Crole
(5 victories) of 43 Squadron, who was taken prisoner. Rumey was wounded on 25 August 1917, and again on 24 September. By year's end he was credited with five victories.
Rumey continued to accrue single victories throughout the first half of 1918. He killed ace Lt. James Dawe (8 victories) of No. 24 Squadron on 7 June 1918, for his 23rd claim. This same day he was commissioned as a Leutnant. He brought down and killed Canadian ace Lt. Edward C. Eaton of No. 65 Squadron on 26 June 1918. About this time, he switched to a yellow Fokker D.VII
.
With 29 victories to his credit, Leutnant Rumey received the coveted Pour le Mérite
in July 1918. This made him one of only five pilots to have received both this award and the Golden Military Merit Cross. He went scoreless in August but in September, shot down 16 airplanes, a figure only surpassed by Franz Büchner
.
One theory was that he was killed after a mid-air collision with the SE5a of Captain G. E. B. Lawson
(No. 32 Squadron, who survived). With the top wing of his Fokker D.VII smashed to pieces (his plane thus driven out of control), he bailed out. The spin that his aeroplane was in, however, caused his parachute to open incorrectly when he threw it from the cockpit.
Another suggests Lieutenant Frank Hale
(7 victories) of 32 Squadron actually shot Rumey down, while Rumey's squadron comrades believed that his full throttle diving pursuit of an RAF SE5a
caused the fabric to peel off the upper wing of his aircraft.
Whichever account is true, when he jumped from his damaged machine, his parachute failed entirely, sending the 27-year old ace plummeting to the ground below (from a 1,000 feet up according to Lawson's account). Rumey did not survive.
Fritz Rumey's tally of 45 victories was almost entirely over enemy fighter planes. He shot down more enemy scouts (35) than the more famous Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen
.
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....
, Golden Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross is the name for a military decoration in various states, including:* Military Merit Cross * Military Merit Cross * German States:...
was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
in the First World War, credited with 45 victories.
Service career
A prewar infantryman with the 45th Infantry regiment, he saw action against the RussiansRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and was decorated with the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd class. Subsequently in August 1915 he applied for aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
duty and completed an observer's course and served with FAA 219. Later he was accepted for pilot training and when he completed his training, he was sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in early 1917, serving for a brief period with Jasta Boelcke
Jasta 2
Jasta 2 was one of the best-known German Luftstreitkräfte Squadrons in World War I. It was founded by the great aerial tactician Oswald Boelcke, and was the incubator of several notable aviation careers.-Formation:...
, and then went to Jagdstaffel 5
Jagdstaffel 5
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 5, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 5, was founded on 21 August 1916, as one of the first fighter squadrons of the predecessor to the Luftwaffe, the Luftstreitkräfte.It was founded upon KEK Avillers, itself an early attempt to utilize fighter planes as winged weapons...
on 10 June 1917. He served as a Vizefeldwebel, along with Josef Mai
Josef Mai
Major Josef Mai Iron Cross First and Second Class, was a World War I fighter pilot credited with 30 victories.-Early life:...
and Otto Könnecke, as one of the three NCO pilots who flew together and scored 40% of the squadron's successes, and were known as "The Golden Triumvirate". His personal marking on the aircraft he used was a demon's head.
Rumey's first victim was a British observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
, flamed on July 6, 1917. His third was over British ace Captain Gerald Crole
Gerald Crole
Captain Gerard Bruce Crole was a Scottish international rugby union and cricket player. He was also a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He was born on June 7, 1894, and died on March 31, 1965....
(5 victories) of 43 Squadron, who was taken prisoner. Rumey was wounded on 25 August 1917, and again on 24 September. By year's end he was credited with five victories.
Rumey continued to accrue single victories throughout the first half of 1918. He killed ace Lt. James Dawe (8 victories) of No. 24 Squadron on 7 June 1918, for his 23rd claim. This same day he was commissioned as a Leutnant. He brought down and killed Canadian ace Lt. Edward C. Eaton of No. 65 Squadron on 26 June 1918. About this time, he switched to a yellow Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
.
With 29 victories to his credit, Leutnant Rumey received the coveted Pour le Mérite
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....
in July 1918. This made him one of only five pilots to have received both this award and the Golden Military Merit Cross. He went scoreless in August but in September, shot down 16 airplanes, a figure only surpassed by Franz Büchner
Franz Buchner
Franz Büchner was one of the most successful German fighter aces of the First World War, shooting down 40 enemy aircraft.-Early career:...
.
Killed In Action
There are conflicting accounts of Fritz Rumey's death.One theory was that he was killed after a mid-air collision with the SE5a of Captain G. E. B. Lawson
George Lawson
George Lawson may refer to:* George Lawson , Canadian botanist* George Lawson , Scottish Member of Parliament, 1954–1974* George Lawson , Australian politician...
(No. 32 Squadron, who survived). With the top wing of his Fokker D.VII smashed to pieces (his plane thus driven out of control), he bailed out. The spin that his aeroplane was in, however, caused his parachute to open incorrectly when he threw it from the cockpit.
Another suggests Lieutenant Frank Hale
Frank Hale
Captain Frank Lucien Hale was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He later accompanied Charles Lindbergh in a transcontinental flight.-Early life and World War I service:...
(7 victories) of 32 Squadron actually shot Rumey down, while Rumey's squadron comrades believed that his full throttle diving pursuit of an RAF SE5a
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
caused the fabric to peel off the upper wing of his aircraft.
Whichever account is true, when he jumped from his damaged machine, his parachute failed entirely, sending the 27-year old ace plummeting to the ground below (from a 1,000 feet up according to Lawson's account). Rumey did not survive.
Fritz Rumey's tally of 45 victories was almost entirely over enemy fighter planes. He shot down more enemy scouts (35) than the more famous Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
.