Walter Böning
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Walter Böning was a World War I flying ace
credited with 17 aerial victories. He began his military career in the German infantry, and transferred to the German flying service. He began pilot training on 10 February 1916. He was briefly posted to FA 6 on the Western Front
for artillery cooperation duties. In November 1916, he was transferred to a fighter squadron, Royal Prussian Jasta 9
. He scored his first victory on 6 April 1917. Böning became a balloon buster
on 30 April, downing one of the observation balloons at Guyencourt
. He became an ace on 23 September 1917, when he shot down two Nieuport
fighters for victories five and six. These were his final wins for Jasta 9; he was given command of Royal Bavarian Jasta 76b on 5 October 1917.
Flying his Albatros D.Va marked with blue and white diamonds, he scored a victory for his new squadron on 9 December 1917, to run his total to seven. He then ran up ten more wins between 4 February and 30 May 1918. On 31 May 1918, while on combat patrol, he collided with one of the pilots of his squadron as they were being attacked by No. 70 Squadron RAF. He was then wounded below the knee in his left leg. Somehow, he still managed to disengage and return to base. After safely landing the Albatros emblazoned with a large 'B' on its side, Böning was out of the war.
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 17 aerial victories. He began his military career in the German infantry, and transferred to the German flying service. He began pilot training on 10 February 1916. He was briefly posted to FA 6 on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
for artillery cooperation duties. In November 1916, he was transferred to a fighter squadron, Royal Prussian Jasta 9
Jasta 9
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 9 was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, founded on 28 September 1916. Although the squadron, and the Luftstreitkräfte, were short-lived, they had great influence on the Nazi Luftwaffe, as can be seen by the later careers of the unit's Staffelführers...
. He scored his first victory on 6 April 1917. Böning became 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....
on 30 April, downing one of the observation balloons at Guyencourt
Guyencourt
Guyencourt is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:...
. He became an ace on 23 September 1917, when he shot down two Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
fighters for victories five and six. These were his final wins for Jasta 9; he was given command of Royal Bavarian Jasta 76b on 5 October 1917.
Flying his Albatros D.Va marked with blue and white diamonds, he scored a victory for his new squadron on 9 December 1917, to run his total to seven. He then ran up ten more wins between 4 February and 30 May 1918. On 31 May 1918, while on combat patrol, he collided with one of the pilots of his squadron as they were being attacked by No. 70 Squadron RAF. He was then wounded below the knee in his left leg. Somehow, he still managed to disengage and return to base. After safely landing the Albatros emblazoned with a large 'B' on its side, Böning was out of the war.