Georg von Hantelmann
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Georg von Hantelmann (9 October 1898 - 7 September 1924) was a German fighter ace credited with winning 25 victories during World War I
. It was notable that these victories included three opposing aces shot down within the same week.
reflected his prior service in the 17th Hussar Regiment; it consisted of a skull and crossbones, referent to the cap badge worn by the Hussars.
He was assigned initially to Jagdstaffel 18
, commanded by Rudolf Berthold. When Berthold changed commands on 20 March 1918, to take charge of Jagdstaffel 15
, he took his pilots with him in an exchange of personnel. Hantelmann was one of the pilots who accompanied Berthold.
Hantelmann posted his first victory claim on 29 May 1917, but it went unconfirmed. Then, on June 6, when Jasta 15 dove into battle, he was eager for success. As his squadron-mate Joachim von Ziegsar recalled, "Like a steer unbound, the aircraft with the Braunschweig Hussar's crest dived onto the enemy first." A British DH.4 fell before the young Prussian's guns.
It was the first of five wins in June; on the 26th, Hantelmann became an ace. It was during this period that Kurt Wüsthoff
borrowed Hantelmann's Fokker and flew his final mission.
Hantlemann scored again on 17 August, but it was his second victory on 12 September 1918 that was notable. Hantlemann shot down David Putnam
, a leading ace of the nascent US Army Air Service
who had 13 victories of his own, for victory number eight. Just four days and six wins later, Hantlemann scored an even more notable triumph when he shot down French ace Maurice Boyau
, who had a score list of 21 balloons and 14 airplanes. Two days and two victories after that, Hantlemann shot down Frank Luke
's wingman, six-'kill' ace Joseph Wehner, for number 16. The young German ace ended September with 18 victories.
On 21 October 1918, Hantelmann was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, on the same day he tallied his 22nd victory. He was now past the 20 victories required for the award of Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite
.
Hantelmann was recommended for the Pour le Merite
on 3 November 1918. However, the Kaiser abdicated on November 9 without approving the award.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. It was notable that these victories included three opposing aces shot down within the same week.
Early life and service
Georg von Hantelmann was born into a minor Junker family on 9 October 1898. He was the eldest son. He joined the army at age 18, in 1916. He transferred to aerial service a year later.Aerial service
Hantelmann's personal insignia on his Albatros D.VAlbatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
reflected his prior service in the 17th Hussar Regiment; it consisted of a skull and crossbones, referent to the cap badge worn by the Hussars.
He was assigned initially to Jagdstaffel 18
Jagdstaffel 18
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 18 was a "hunting squadron" or fighter squadron of the World War I German air service, or Luftstreitkräfte.-History:...
, commanded by Rudolf Berthold. When Berthold changed commands on 20 March 1918, to take charge of Jagdstaffel 15
Jagdstaffel 15
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 15, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 15, was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe...
, he took his pilots with him in an exchange of personnel. Hantelmann was one of the pilots who accompanied Berthold.
Hantelmann posted his first victory claim on 29 May 1917, but it went unconfirmed. Then, on June 6, when Jasta 15 dove into battle, he was eager for success. As his squadron-mate Joachim von Ziegsar recalled, "Like a steer unbound, the aircraft with the Braunschweig Hussar's crest dived onto the enemy first." A British DH.4 fell before the young Prussian's guns.
It was the first of five wins in June; on the 26th, Hantelmann became an ace. It was during this period that Kurt Wüsthoff
Kurt Wusthoff
Leutnant Kurt Wüsthoff was a German fighter pilot credited with 27 victories during World War I. He was the second youngest winner of Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite or Blue Max.-Early life:...
borrowed Hantelmann's Fokker and flew his final mission.
Hantlemann scored again on 17 August, but it was his second victory on 12 September 1918 that was notable. Hantlemann shot down David Putnam
David Putnam
1LT David Endicott Putnam was an American flying Ace of World War I.A descendant of General Israel Putnam he was born at Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts and attended Harvard University before joining the Lafayette Flying Corps of the French Air Service in 1917. In June of the following year he...
, a leading ace of the nascent US Army Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
who had 13 victories of his own, for victory number eight. Just four days and six wins later, Hantlemann scored an even more notable triumph when he shot down French ace Maurice Boyau
Maurice Boyau
Maurice Jean-Paul Boyau was a French rugby union player and a leading French ace of the First World War with 35 victories, and one of the most successful balloon busters...
, who had a score list of 21 balloons and 14 airplanes. Two days and two victories after that, Hantlemann shot down Frank Luke
Frank Luke
Frank Luke Jr. was an American fighter ace, ranking second among U.S. Army Air Service pilots after Captain Eddie Rickenbacker in number of aerial victories during World War I . Frank Luke was the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor...
's wingman, six-'kill' ace Joseph Wehner, for number 16. The young German ace ended September with 18 victories.
On 21 October 1918, Hantelmann was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, on the same day he tallied his 22nd victory. He was now past the 20 victories required for the award of Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite
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....
.
Hantelmann was recommended for the Pour le Merite
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....
on 3 November 1918. However, the Kaiser abdicated on November 9 without approving the award.