| Oswald Boelcke | |
|---|---|
| 19 May 1891 - 28 October 1916 | |
 Oswald Boelcke in 1916 with the Pour le Mérite at his neck. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. 312 - Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Pour le Mérite, known informally during World War I as the Blue Max (Blauer Max was the Kingdom of Prussia 's highest military order until |
|
| Place of birth | Giebichenstein; near Halle (Saale) |
| Place of death | Near Douai |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service/branch | Luftstreitkräfte |
| Years of service | 1914-1916 |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit | Jasta 2 |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite |
Oswald Boelcke (IPA: [ˈbœlkə]; 19 May 1891 – 28 October 1916) was a German flying ace of the First World War and one of the most influential patrol leaders and tacticians of the early years of air combat. Halle is the largest city in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt. Douai ( Dutch: Dowaai) is a town and commune in the north of France in the département of Nord The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte or Imperial German Army Air Service ( Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches) was the over-land air arm of the German Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as Captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies The Pour le Mérite, known informally during World War I as the Blue Max (Blauer Max was the Kingdom of Prussia 's highest military order until Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. 312 - Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy Aircraft during aerial combat World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Military tactics ( Greek: Taktikē, the art of organizing an army are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating Boelcke is considered the father of the German fighter air force; he was the first to formalize the rules of air fighting, which he presented as the Dicta Boelcke. The Dicta Boelcke is a list of fundamental Aerial maneuvers of Air combat formulated by the first great German Flying ace of Germany's premier ace, Manfred von Richthofen (The Red Baron), had been taught by Boelcke and continued to idolize his late mentor long after he had surpassed Boelcke's tally of victories. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout
- "I am after all only a combat pilot, but Boelcke, he was a hero. " (Manfred von Richthofen, September 1917)
Contents |
Early life, entrance into World War I
Boelcke was born in Giebichenstein, the son of a schoolmaster recently returned from Argentina. Halle is the largest city in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. His family name was originally spelt Bölcke, but Oswald and his elder brother Wilhelm dispensed with the umlaut and adopted the Latin spelling in place of the German. Diaeresis or trema See also Diaeresis History Historically the diaeresis mark or trema is far older than the umlaut mark Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The pronunciation is the same for both spellings. After leaving school he joined Telegraphen-Bataillon Nr. 3 in Koblenz as a Fahnenjunker (cadet officer). Koblenz (also Coblenz in pre-1926 German Spellings French Coblence) is a city situated on both banks of the Rhine In mid-1914 he transferred to the Fliegertruppe. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year His flight training took place from May to August at the Halberstädter Fliegerschule, and he was then immediately posted to active duty.
Career as a combat fighter pilot
He was initially posted to Fliegerabteilung 13. He transferred to Fliegerabteilung 62 in April 1915, based at Douai. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Douai ( Dutch: Dowaai) is a town and commune in the north of France in the département of Nord Boelcke's observer shot down their first enemy aircraft on July 4, 1915. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year In the same month, Boelcke and Max Immelmann became the first German fighter pilots, being given two of the five constructed Fokker M. } Max Immelmann ( September 21, 1890 – June 18, 1916) was a German World War I Flying ace. 5K/MG production prototypes of the Fokker E.I aircraft, fitted with a synchronized forward-firing Parabellum machine gun. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Boelcke won his first aerial combat on 19 August 1915, downed four more enemy aircraft before the end of the year and had four more 'kills' in January 1916. Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Also in January 1916 he and Immelmann were the first German fliers to be awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military medal. The Pour le Mérite, known informally during World War I as the Blue Max (Blauer Max was the Kingdom of Prussia 's highest military order until After Immelmann was killed in June 1916, Boelcke became the top German ace. In March 1916 Boelcke was made leader of the newly formed Fliegerabteilung Sivery and led them in action over Verdun. Verdun (medieval Wirten official name before 1970 Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city and commune
The German air force (Luftstreitkräfte) was reorganized in mid-1916 and Boelcke was appointed commander of his hand-picked group of Jagdstaffel Nr. The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte or Imperial German Army Air Service ( Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches) was the over-land air arm of the German 2, usually called Jasta 2, in September. Among his first selections were Manfred von Richthofen, Erwin Böhme and Hans Reimann. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Erwin Böhme ( 29 July 1879 &ndash 29 November 1917) was a German pilot during World War I. The unit initially flew Fokker D.II and Halberstadt D.II fighters, but really got into its stride with the new Albatros D.I and D.II. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Boelcke shot down eleven Royal Flying Corps planes in his first month with Jasta 2. The Royal Flying Corps (RFC was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. His pilots always flew in disciplined formations, and he repeatedly drilled them in his tactics. Among them were his famed combat rules, called "Boelcke's Dicta", which were the first systematic analysis of air combat and continued to be applicable through World War II. The Dicta Boelcke is a list of fundamental Aerial maneuvers of Air combat formulated by the first great German Flying ace of World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
Death in action
Boelcke set out on October 28, 1916 with his two best pilots, Manfred von Richthofen and Erwin Böhme, for a patrol that eventually led them into a dogfight with single-seater DH.2 fighters from no. 24 squadron RFC. Events 306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. 312 - Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Erwin Böhme ( 29 July 1879 &ndash 29 November 1917) was a German pilot during World War I. The Airco DH2 was a single-seat Biplane " pusher " aircraft which operated as a fighter PLEASE SCROLL DOWN IN ORDER TO EDIT THE ARTICLE--> No XXIV' or 24 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the C-130J Hercules C Before they had set out on their attack, Boelcke, rushing to get ready, failed to properly strap on his safety belt. In the ensuing dogfight, Boelcke and Böhme, neither aware of the other's presence, closed in on the same aircraft. Von Richthofen dived in on that very same airplane, and Boelcke swerved to avoid a collision with him. In seconds, Böhme collided with Boelcke's upper wing, and so the great ace went down in a violent spin like a stone. Minutes later, the pilot's lifeless body was pulled from his smashed Albatros D.II. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The great Oswald Boelcke, victor of 40 aerial engagements, was dead at age 25. It is speculated that had he worn a safety belt, he would have survived with only minor injuries.
Jasta 2 was stricken with shock and grief over the death of their great leader. Böhme, blaming himself for Boelcke's death, had to be talked out of committing suicide. As the Fatherland mourned, Boelcke was buried with full honors at his aerodrome in Cambrai. Cambrai (Dutch Kamerijk; old spelling Cambray) is a French town and commune, in the Nord département, The Royal Flying Corps dropped a wreath a day later over Jasta 2 which read, "To the memory of Captain Boelcke, a brave and chivalrous foe. The Royal Flying Corps (RFC was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. "
In honor of their great leader, Jasta 2 was officially named "Jasta Boelcke", a name the squadron still bears to this very day. Ironically, on November 23rd, Von Richthofen shot down his 11th victory, the most famous British pilot: Lanoe Hawker. Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Lanoe George Hawker VC, DSO ( December 30, 1890 &ndash November 23, 1916) was a World War I English As another ironic side note, Erwin Böhme was killed exactly one year, one month, and one day after his collision with Boelcke. Erwin Böhme ( 29 July 1879 &ndash 29 November 1917) was a German pilot during World War I.
In the end, Boelcke had broken his own rule in his dicta, which stated to never close in on a single combatant when others are also pursuing it.
See also
External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Boelcke, Oswald |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | German First World War flying ace |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 19 May 1891 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Giebichenstein near Halle (Saale) |
| DATE OF DEATH | 28 October 1916 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Near Douai |
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic