World War I Flying Ace. 48 aerial victories. Fourth among all German flying aces in World War I, he was considered a close competitor to von Richthofen, though they were actually close friends and would go hunting together at the Voss family lodge when on leave. When war broke out in 1914, he volunteered for the 2nd Westphalian Hussars, where he was assigned to the 11th Regiment, serving in Lorraine. In 1915, he transferred to the flying forces where he trained as a pilot and then was selected as an instructor. In early 1916, he was promoted to vice-sergeant and assigned to Kampfgeschwader 4 . Later that year, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to Jagdstaffel 2, where he became friends with the Red Baron. By April of 1916, he had achieved his 24th victory in just under 5 months and was awarded the Pour le Merite by Kaiser Wilhelm II. In May of 1917, he transferred again to Jagdstaffel 5 and had achieved his 34th victory. He was given command of Jadgstaffel29 and 14, and finally the command of Jagdgeschwader 1 in July. He was best known for flying the Fokker Dr 1 triplane with which he achieved his final victories, 22 coming in the last three weeks of his life. He was killed in a solo dogfight with 8 RAF aircraft over Belgium, damaging 7 of 8 before being shot down. His body was buried in a shell hole near where he was found, as was common at the time, and the location later lost, so his memorial here is a cenotaph. Along with the Pour le Merite, he also was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class, the Prussian Pilots Badge, and the Cross of the Order of the House of Hohenzollern.
World War I Flying Ace. 48 aerial victories. Fourth among all German flying aces in World War I, he was considered a close competitor to von Richthofen, though they were actually close friends and would go hunting together at the Voss family lodge when on leave. When war broke out in 1914, he volunteered for the 2nd Westphalian Hussars, where he was assigned to the 11th Regiment, serving in Lorraine. In 1915, he transferred to the flying forces where he trained as a pilot and then was selected as an instructor. In early 1916, he was promoted to vice-sergeant and assigned to Kampfgeschwader 4 . Later that year, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to Jagdstaffel 2, where he became friends with the Red Baron. By April of 1916, he had achieved his 24th victory in just under 5 months and was awarded the Pour le Merite by Kaiser Wilhelm II. In May of 1917, he transferred again to Jagdstaffel 5 and had achieved his 34th victory. He was given command of Jadgstaffel29 and 14, and finally the command of Jagdgeschwader 1 in July. He was best known for flying the Fokker Dr 1 triplane with which he achieved his final victories, 22 coming in the last three weeks of his life. He was killed in a solo dogfight with 8 RAF aircraft over Belgium, damaging 7 of 8 before being shot down. His body was buried in a shell hole near where he was found, as was common at the time, and the location later lost, so his memorial here is a cenotaph. Along with the Pour le Merite, he also was awarded the Iron Cross First and Second Class, the Prussian Pilots Badge, and the Cross of the Order of the House of Hohenzollern.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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