Otto Fruhner
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Otto Fruhner (6 September 1893 - 19 June 1965) was a German World War I
fighter pilot credited with 27 victories. He was one of the first aviators to parachute
from a stricken aircraft.
against the Russians. He then volunteered for fighter duty, and was assigned to Jagdstaffel 26
.
. He shot down two Sopwiths in two separate engagements on 3 September 1917.
There was a four month lapse. Then, on 3 January 1918, he scored for the third time, and continued his success through March, with his 9th victory on the 26th. On 3 June, he was awarded the Prussian Military Merit Cross
, the highest award for valor available to enlisted men in the German military.
There was another lapse of three months; then on 1 July, he downed his tenth victim to become an Überkanone. From that point on, he accrued victories until 4 September 1918. On the 4th, he shot down three Sopwith Camel
s from 70 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
as his share of the eight losses by the British; this dogfight was the largest loss of fighters ever suffered by the RAF in a single engagement in World War I
.
Fruhner was subsequently commissioned. He was also proposed for the Pour le Merite
, the German military's highest award for bravery. The Pour le Merite
was reserved for officers, just as the Military Merit Cross
was for enlisted men. There were only five German aces who won both awards. However, the Kaiser abdicated before approving the award.
On 20 September 1918, while in a dogfight with Sopwith Camel
s of 203 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
, he collided with one of them. Although injured, he leapt from his irreparably damaged aircraft and parachuted to safety. The Camel he had collided with crashed; it was credited as Fruhner's 27th victory.
as a major commanding a flying school. He later rose in rank in the Luftwaffe
during World War II. Remaining in training commands, he eventually attained the rank of Generalmajor.
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...
fighter pilot credited with 27 victories. He was one of the first aviators to parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
from a stricken aircraft.
Early service
Otto Fruhner was originally an aviation mechanic, starting in late 1914. He then underwent pilot training, and flew as an enlisted pilot of two seater aircraft on the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
against the Russians. He then volunteered for fighter duty, and was assigned to Jagdstaffel 26
Jagdstaffel 26
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 26 was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 177 verified aerial victories, including four observation balloons destroyed...
.
Fighter service
His combat successes began when he was serving in Jagdstaffel 26Jagdstaffel 26
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 26 was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 177 verified aerial victories, including four observation balloons destroyed...
. He shot down two Sopwiths in two separate engagements on 3 September 1917.
There was a four month lapse. Then, on 3 January 1918, he scored for the third time, and continued his success through March, with his 9th victory on the 26th. On 3 June, he was awarded the Prussian Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross (Prussia)
The Military Merit Cross was the highest bravery award of the Kingdom of Prussia for non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers. It was also known as the Golden Military Merit Cross to distinguish it from the Military Decoration 1st Class The Military Merit Cross (Militär-Verdienstkreuz)...
, the highest award for valor available to enlisted men in the German military.
There was another lapse of three months; then on 1 July, he downed his tenth victim to become an Überkanone. From that point on, he accrued victories until 4 September 1918. On the 4th, he shot down three 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...
s from 70 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as his share of the eight losses by the British; this dogfight was the largest loss of fighters ever suffered by the RAF in a single engagement in World War I
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...
.
Fruhner was subsequently commissioned. He was also proposed 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....
, the German military's highest award for bravery. 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....
was reserved for officers, just as the 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 for enlisted men. There were only five German aces who won both awards. However, the Kaiser abdicated before approving the award.
On 20 September 1918, while in a dogfight with 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...
s of 203 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, he collided with one of them. Although injured, he leapt from his irreparably damaged aircraft and parachuted to safety. The Camel he had collided with crashed; it was credited as Fruhner's 27th victory.
Post World War I service
In 1935, Fruhner joined the LuftwaffeLuftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
as a major commanding a flying school. He later rose in rank in the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
during World War II. Remaining in training commands, he eventually attained the rank of Generalmajor.