Hans von Freden
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Hans von Freden was a World War I flying ace
credited with 20 aerial victories.
Freden began his string of aerial victories while assigned to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1
. He shot down an observation balloon at Spresiano
on 29 January 1918. He furthered his career as a balloon buster
by downing two more, on 31 January and 5 February respectively. He rounded out his career with Jasta 1 with his fourth win, over a Spad
fighter, on 9 June 1918.
Later that month, he assumed command of Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 50. He scored four times in July, but skipped August. Sometime during his run of six victories in September, he upgraded to a Fokker D.VII
, which he emblazoned with his family coat of arms. He scored his last victory, the one that qualified him for the Pour le Merite
, on November 10, the day before the war ended. His final tally was nine observation balloons and eleven enemy airplanes downed.
Freden did not long survive the war. He died of influenza less than a year later, on 30 October 1919.
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 20 aerial victories.
Freden began his string of aerial victories while assigned to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1
Jagdstaffel 1
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1 was a fighter squadron of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. Jasta 1 was founded on 22 August 1916, using single seat fighters drawn from First Army...
. He shot down an observation balloon at Spresiano
Spresiano
Spresiano is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 40 km north of Venice and about 13 km north of Treviso...
on 29 January 1918. He furthered his career as a balloon buster
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
by downing two more, on 31 January and 5 February respectively. He rounded out his career with Jasta 1 with his fourth win, over a Spad
Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:...
fighter, on 9 June 1918.
Later that month, he assumed command of Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 50. He scored four times in July, but skipped August. Sometime during his run of six victories in September, he upgraded to a 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...
, which he emblazoned with his family coat of arms. He scored his last victory, the one that qualified him 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 November 10, the day before the war ended. His final tally was nine observation balloons and eleven enemy airplanes downed.
Freden did not long survive the war. He died of influenza less than a year later, on 30 October 1919.