Otto Schmidt (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Oberleutnant Otto Schmidt was a World War I
fighter ace
credited with 20 aerial victories, including eight against enemy observation balloons. He commanded three different jagdstaffeln
(squadrons) as well as a jagdgeschwader (group).
A year later, after transferring to Royal Prussian Jasta 7, Schmidt continued his career as a balloon buster
, by shooting one down on both 25 and 27 June 1917.
Schmidt took temporary command of Royal Bavarian Jasta 32, from 30 June to 19 August 1917. During this period, he downed a Spad
and another balloon for his fifth and sixth kills, becoming an ace in the process.
Schmidt then moved on to temporarily command Royal Prussian Jasta 29 from 19 August to 18 October 1917. While leading this squadron, he scored four more times. His eighth victory, on 11 September, was over Captain Louis Fleeming Jenkin
.
Schmidt was wounded in action by ground fire on 18 October 1917 while attacking a balloon. He did not return to Jasta 29; instead, he was appointed to command Royal Prussian Jasta 5 on 3 July 1918. It was re-equipped with new Fokker D.VII
fighters. On 8 August, Jasta 5 became part of Jagdgeschwader 2
; Schmidt was also appointed commander of the JG while maintaining his post with the squadron.
It took him over a month to reopen his score, which he did by shooting down a balloon on 26 August 1918. He then accumulated nine more victories by 4 November, bringing his total to 20. His final tally was twelve enemy airplanes shot down, and eight observation balloons.
Schmidt was recommended for Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Mérite
. However, the war's end left it unconfirmed; some of his victory claims may similarly been left uncredited. The records do show three unconfirmed earlier claims.
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 ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
credited with 20 aerial victories, including eight against enemy observation balloons. He commanded three different jagdstaffeln
Jasta
The Jagdstaffeln were specialized fighter squadrons in the Luftstreitkräfte during World War I.-Background:...
(squadrons) as well as a jagdgeschwader (group).
Early life and service
Otto Schmidt was born in Neukirchen, Saarland on 23 March 1885. He became an officer in the hussars in 1910. At the start of World War I, he was serving in a Jäger regiment. He went into battle with them, and was wounded in action in March 1915. He then transferred to aviation as an oberleutnant (first lieutenant).Aerial victories
Otto Schmidt scored his first two aerial victories while still flying artillery direction missions for FA(A) 25. On 20 June 1916, he downed an enemy aircraft; on 11 July 1916, he shot down an enemy observation balloon.A year later, after transferring to Royal Prussian Jasta 7, Schmidt continued 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 shooting one down on both 25 and 27 June 1917.
Schmidt took temporary command of Royal Bavarian Jasta 32, from 30 June to 19 August 1917. During this period, he downed 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:...
and another balloon for his fifth and sixth kills, becoming an ace in the process.
Schmidt then moved on to temporarily command Royal Prussian Jasta 29 from 19 August to 18 October 1917. While leading this squadron, he scored four more times. His eighth victory, on 11 September, was over Captain Louis Fleeming Jenkin
Louis Fleeming Jenkin
Captain Louis Fleeming Jenkin, Military Cross & Bar, was a First World War flying ace credited with 22 victories.-Early life and service:...
.
Schmidt was wounded in action by ground fire on 18 October 1917 while attacking a balloon. He did not return to Jasta 29; instead, he was appointed to command Royal Prussian Jasta 5 on 3 July 1918. It was re-equipped with new 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...
fighters. On 8 August, Jasta 5 became part of Jagdgeschwader 2
Jagdgeschwader 2
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" was a World War II Luftwaffe wing. It was named after World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen.-History:...
; Schmidt was also appointed commander of the JG while maintaining his post with the squadron.
Schmidt was recommended for Germany's highest decoration for valor, the 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....
. However, the war's end left it unconfirmed; some of his victory claims may similarly been left uncredited. The records do show three unconfirmed earlier claims.