1. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch, pp. 42-43.
2. Short for Grosskampfflugzeug [large combat aeroplane].
3. Berthold, op.cit., p. 38.
4. The initials AEG stand for the name of the constructor, the Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft [General Electric Company, which has no connection to the U.S.-based corporation of that name].
5. Grosz, AEG G.IV Windsock Datafile 51, p. 1.
6. Bruce, British Aeroplanes 1914-1918, p. 664.
7. Ibid., p. 662.
8. Vickers F.B.5 serial numbered 5460 [Ref: Henshaw, The Sky Their Battlefield, p. 54].
9. Royal Flying Corps, War Diary, 2 October 1915, p. 1.
10. Woodman, Early Aircraft Armament – The Aeroplane and the Gun up to 1918, pp. 34, 37.
11. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 39-40.
12. Ibid., p. 39.
13. Weather report in RFC, op.cit.
14. Franks, Bailey & Duiven, Casualties of the German Air Service 1914-1920, p. 180.
15. O’Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany and the Men Who Earned Them, Vol. IV – The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Württemberg, pp. 57-60.
16. Royal Flying Corps, War Diary, 6 November 1915, p. 1.
17. Josef Georg Grüner was born on 11 December 1892 in Mariahilf, Bavaria [Ref: Zickerick, Verlustliste der deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im Weltkriege in Unsere Luftstreitkräfte 1914-1918, p. 28]; Haehnelt, Ehrentafel der im Flugdienst während des Weltkrieges gefallenen Offiziere der Deutschen Fliegerverbände, p. 26 lists Grüner as a member of FFA 32, an erroneous transposition of FFA 23.
18. Franks, Bailey & Duiven, op.cit., p. 181; once again, Grüner is erroneously noted as a member of FFA 32.
19. Walter Gnamm was born on 28 May 1895 in Alpirsbach, Württemberg. Commissioned into the 10. Württembergisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180, he transferred to the Fliegertruppe and on 17 August 1915 was assigned to Feldflieger-Abteilung 23. He remained with that unit until 6 October 1916 [Ref: Deutscher Offizier-Bund, Ehren-Rangliste des ehemaligen Deutschen Heeres, p. 980; Hildebrand, K. Die Generale der deutschen Luftwaffe 1935-1945, Vol. I, p. 367].
20. Armee-Oberkommando der 2. Armee, Täglicher Bericht, 7 October 1915.
21. Royal Flying Corps, Communiqué No. 19, 9 November 1915, p. 1.
22. Ibid.
23. Gengler, Rudolf Berthold – Sieger in 44 Luftschlachten Erschlagen im Bruderkampfe für Deutschlands Freiheit, op.cit., p. 33.
24. Berthold began his army service in Prussian Infanterie-Regiment Reg. Graf Tauentzien von Wittenberg (3. Brandenburgischen) Nr. 20 and Grüner in Saxony’s 13. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 178 [Ref: Deutscher Offizier-Bund, op.cit., pp. 159, 909].
25. Anonymous, ‘Leutnant Grüners Heldentod fürs Vaterland’, p. 1.
26. O’Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany and the Men Who Earned Them, Vol. III – The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Saxony, p. 258.
27. Berthold, op.cit., p. 40.
28. Woodman, op.cit., p. 126.
29. Ernst Freiherr von Althaus was born on 19 March 1890 in Coburg in the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. In 1911, he was commissioned into Saxony’s 1. Husaren-Regiment König Albert Nr. 18, with which he served early in World War I and was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Militär-St.-Heinrichs-Orden [Knight’s Cross of the Military St. Henry Order] on 27 January 1915. After transferring to the Fliegertruppe and being trained as a pilot, Althaus was assigned to FFA 23 in September 1915 [Ref: Zuerl, Pour-le-Mérite-Flieger, p. 30].
30. The aircraft was from Escadrille N 3, which, at this time, was equipped with Nieuport Type 14 and 15 two-seaters and used both interchangeably [Ref: Jean, Rohrbacher, Palmieri, & Service historique de l’armée de l’air France. Les escadrilles de l’aéronautique militaire française: Symbolique et histoire, 1912-1920, p. 26].
31. Franks, Sharks Among Minnows, pp. 54-55.
32. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 42-44.
CHAPTER TWO
1. Taufbuch, p. 101.
2. Albert Oskar Arno was born and died on 23 April 1887; Although attended by three physicians, Frau Berthold suffered fatal secondary bleeding during the delivery. The other children were Friedrich Oskar Bertram, born on 30 December 1881, Anna Ida Gertrud on 17 December 1882, Amalia Franziska Ernestine on 14 June 1884 and Anna Ida Elsa on 11 August 1885 [Ref: Bestattungsbuch, Vol. 5, p. 141; Vol. 6, pp. 12, 91, 137].
3. The other siblings from the second marriage were Julius Wolfram, born on 26 July 1892, Armin Friedrich Johann on 19 July 1894 (who died on 29 December the same year) and Hermann Armin Julius, born on 24 February 1896 [Ref: Taufbuch, pp. 107, 11 7 and 126].
4. Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften. Deutsches Rechtswörterbuch – Wörterbuch der älteren deutschen Rechtssprache, Vol. 10, p. 109.
5. Ibid., pp. 11-12.
6. Ibid.
7. Moncure, Forging the King’s Sword, pp. 79-80.
8. Deutscher Offizier-Bund, Ehren-Rangliste des ehemaligen Deutschen Heeres, p. 789.
9. Ibid., p. 820.
10. Gengler, Rudolf Berthold – Sieger in 44 Luftschlachten Erschlagen im Bruderkampfe für Deutschlands Freiheit, p. 13.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid. The original phrase ‘Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’ is from Horace’s Odes (III.2.13) meaning, roughly, ‘It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country’. The line is from a poem that urges Romans to develop their military strength to the extent that their enemies would become too frightened to challenge them.
13. Königl. Humanistische Gymnasium Schweinfurt. Jahresbericht 1906/1907, pp. 28-29.
14. Königl. Humanistische Gymnasium Schweinfurt. Jahresbericht 1907/1908, pp. 30-31.
15. Jordan, Blätter der Erinnerung an die im Kriege 1914-1919 Gefallenen der Universität Erlangen, p. 84.
16. Gengler, op.cit., p. 14.
17. Abbreviated from Ibid., pp. 15-19, an over-abundant description of the event.
18. Ibid, p. 14.
19. Moncure, op.cit., p. 15.
20. Today in the State of Sachsen-Anhalt.
21. Gengler, op.cit.
22. Bogislav Friedrich Emanuel Graf [Count] Tauentzien (1760-1824) was granted the right to add the honorary title ‘von Wittenberg’ in honour of his leadership during the liberation of Wittenberg [Ref: Doerstling, Kriegsgeschichte des Königlich Preussischen Infanterie-Regiment Graf Tauentzien v. Wittenberg (3. Brandenb.) Nr. 20, pp. 1-2].
23. Gengler, op.cit., pp. 20-21.
24. Ibid., p. 22.
25. Supf, Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte, Vol. II, p. 369.
26. Anonymous. ‘Führende Männer im Weltkriege Nr. 8 – Generalfeldmarschall von der Goltz’ in Kriegs-Echo Nr. 66, p. 14.
27. Ibid.
28. German newspaper on 15 December 1911, quoted from Bethge, Bund Jungdeutschland in Fricke, Die bürgerlichen Parteien in Deutschland, Handbuch der Geschichte der bürgerlichen Parteien und anderer bürgerlicher Interessenorganisationen vom Vormärz bis zum Jahre 1945, p. 164.
29. Ibid., p. 167.
30. Gengler, op.cit., pp. 22-23.
31. Anonymous. ‘Führende Männer’. op.cit.
32. Neumann, Die deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im Weltkriege, p. 61, which also traces the Fliegertruppe’s development from a provisional military flying school established at Döberitz in May 1910.
33. Feldflieger-Abteilung 23 Kriegstagebuch [war diary] quoted in Gengler, op.cit., p. 29.
34. Grosz, Halberstadt CL.II Windsock Datafile 27, p. 2.
35. Werner, Boelcke der Mensch, der Flieger, der Führer der deutschen Jagdfliegerei, p. 53.
36. MacDonogh, The Last Kaiser: The Life of Wilhelm II, p. 353.
37. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch, p. 1.
38. Ibid., pp. 1-2.
39. Ibid., pp. 2-4.
40. Ibid., pp. 4-5.
41. Ibid., p. 5.
42. Subsequently designated as Royal Saxon Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 6 on 1 December 1914 [Ref: Kriegsministerium, Teil 10 Abschnitt B, Flieger-Formationen, p. 348].
43. Berthold, op.cit.
CHAPTER THREE
1. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch, p. 13.
2. Ibid., p. 7.
3. Täger, Heerde & Ruscher, Flugplatz Grossenhain – Historischer Abriss, p. 15.
4. Loewenstern & Bertkau, Mobilmachung, Aufmarsch und erster Einsatz der deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im August 1914, p. 104.
5. Four Prussian units included the other two Kompagnie at Flieger-Bataillon 1 at Döberitz; Flieger-Bataillon 2 at Posen, Graudenz and Königsberg; Flieger-Bataillon 3 at Cologne, Hannover and Darmstadt; and Flieger-Bataillon 4 at Strassburg, Metz and Freiburg im Breisgau; a Royal Bavarian Flieger-Bataillon was established at Oberschleissheim [Ref: Loewenstern & Bertkau, ibid.].
6. FFA 24 was commanded by Hptm Horst von Minckwitz, FFA 29 by Hptm Ferdinand von Jena, and EFP 3 by Major der Reserve Georg Mardersteig [Ref: Ibid., pp. 119-120].
7. Neumann, Die deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im Weltkriege, p. 62.
8. Otto Karl Ferdinand Freiherr Vogel von Falckenstein was born on 21 February 1883 in Berlin [Ref: Perthes, Ehrentafel der Kriegsopfer des reichsdeutschen Adels 1914-1918, p. 258] Zickerick, ‘Verlustliste der deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im Weltkriege’ in Unsere Luftstreitkräfte 1914-1918, p. 84].
9. 3 July to 30 November 1911; Vogel von Falckenstein was a classmate of Job-Heinrich von Dewall, whose service record provided the dates of the course [Ref: Hildebrand, K. Die Generale der deutschen Luftwaffe 1935-1945, Vol. I, p. 191].
10. Supf, Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte, Vol. I, pp. 468-469, 472, 555.
11. Supf, Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte, Vol. II, p. 102; the other two Kompaniechefs were Hptm Wilhelm Grade and Hptm Jasper von Oertzen.
12. Neumann, op.cit.
13. Loewenstern & Bertkau, op.cit., pp. 119-120.
14. Feldflieger-Abteilung 23 Kriegstagebuch [war diary] quoted in Gengler, Rudolf Berthold – Sieger in 44 Luftschlachten Erschlagen im Bruderkampfe für Deutschlands Freiheit, p. 33.
15. Liddell Hart, B. The Real War 1914-1918, p. 54.
16. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
17. According to Imperial War Museum. Handbook of the German Army in War. April 1918, p. 20, generaloberst ‘commands an army’ and is one rank below generalfeldmarschall [field-marshal], the highest-ranked officer, who ‘commands a group of armies’.
18. According to Esposito, A Concise History of World War I, p. 44:‘The genesis of the final plan for the war on the Western Front was the Schlieffen Plan of 1905, compiled by Count Alfred von Schlieffen, then chief of the general staff ... [and] a disciple of Carl von Clausewitz ... Feeling certain the French would devote their energies to recapturing Alsace and Lorraine (which they did), [Schlieffen] envisioned a wide sweep to get behind them and pin them against the difficult terrain of the Vosges mountains’ ...
19. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 8-9.
20. The pilots were: Oblt Otto Freiherr Vogel von Falckenstein, Oblt Gottfried Glaeser, Oblt Otto Freiherr Marschalck von Bachtenbrock, Oblt Willy Meyer, Ltn Franz Keller, Ltn Hans-Joachim von Seydlitz-Gerstenberg and Ltn Johannes Viehweger.
21. The observers included: Oblt Eberhard Bohnstedt, Oblt Karl von Gross, Ltn Rudolf Berthold and Ltn Aribert Müller-Arles.
22. Berthold, op.cit., p. 9.
23. Johannes Viehweger was an army officer when he received Deutsche Luftfahrer-Verband [German Air Travellers Association] pilots license No. 417 on 27 May 1913 [Ref: Supf, Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte, Vol. II, p. 663].
24. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 10-12.
25. Ibid., pp. 12-13.
26. Ibid., p. 13.
27. Ibid., p. 38.
28. Hildebrand, Die Generale der deutschen Luftwaffe 1935-1945, Vol. II, p. 419.
29. Wolff’schen Telegraph-Bureaus, Amtliche Kriegs-Depeschen nach Berichten des, Vol. 1, p. 54.
30. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 38.
31. Ibid.
32. According to Perthes, op.cit., p. 83, Karl von Gross was born on 16 November 1895 and first served with Kurmärkisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 39.
33. Deutscher Offizier-Bund, Ehren-Rangliste des ehemaligen Deutschen Heeres, p. 500.
34. Franks, Bailey & Duiven, Casualties of the German Air Service 1914-1920, p. 172.
35. According to Perthes, op.cit., p. 155, Otto Freiherr Marschalck von Bachtenbrock was born on 12 February 1887 in Hutloh, Niedersachsen and first served with Grossherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-regiment Nr. 90 Kaiser Wilhelm; Deutscher Offizier-Bund, op.cit., p. 272 notes that he was killed in a crash on 5 May 1916 near St. Quentin while attached to Armee-Flugpark 2.
36. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
37. Ibid.
38. Letter of 6 September 1914 quoted in Gengler, p. 39.
39. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 14-15.
40. Esposito, op.cit., pp. 62-65.
41. Berthold, op.cit., p. 16.
42. Ibid.
43. Anonymous, ‘Führende Männer im Weltkriege Nr. 69 – Generalfeldmarschall von Bülow’ in Kriegs-Echo Nr. 129, p. 270.
44. Berthold, op.cit., p. 17.
45. Esposito, op.cit., pp. 65-66.
46. O’Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany and the Men Who Earned Them, Vol. II – The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Prussia, p. 7.
47. Neubecker, Für Tapferkeit und Verdienst, p. 21.
48. O’Connor, op.cit.
49. Letter of 13 September 1914 quoted in Gengler, op.cit., p. 41.
50. Raleigh, The War in the Air, Vol. I, p. 336.
51. Ibid.
52. Both the Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabrik P.08 7.65-mm pistol (better known as the Luger) and the Mauser C96 7.63-mm pistol could accommodate a rifle stock for added stability when being fired.
53. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 19-21.
54. Neumann, Die deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im Weltkriege, p. 187.
55. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 41.
56. Esposito, op.cit., p. 80.
57. Berthold, op.cit., p. 22.
58. Franks, Bailey & Duiven, op.cit., pp. 112, 173 and other sources list Ostermann’s death date as 9 October 1914.
59. Berthold, op.cit., p. 26.
60. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 44.
61. Täger, Heerde & Ruscher, op.cit., pp. 24-25.
62. According to Militär-Wochenblatt, Vogel von Falckenstein’s promotion was effective 17 October 1914.
63. Berthold, op.cit., p. 27.
CHAPTER FOUR
1. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch, p. 27.
2. Normand Knackfuss was born on 13 June 1881 in Kassel, Grand Duchy of Hesse. He attained a regular army commission in the 1. Ober-Elsässisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 167 and he subsequently transferred to the Fliegertruppe, where he qualified as an observer. Early in World War I Knackfuss was assigned as commanding officer of EFP2, which on 18 March 1915 was renamed as Armee Flugpark 2. After the formation of Württembergische Flieger-Abteilung (A) 252 on 10 December 1916, he was appointed the unit’s first commanding officer. On the evening of 15 March 1918, Knackfuss was killed during a French bombing raid on FAA 252w’s airfield at Alincourt in the Champagne sector [Ref: FAA 252w Monatsbericht quoted in Kilduff, ‘The History of Royal Württemberg Flieger-Abteilung (A) 252’, p. 306; Deutscher Offizier-Bund, Ehren-Rangliste des ehemaligen Deutschen Heeres, p. 356].
3. Ernst Schlegel, born on 21 June 1882 in Konstanz, Grand Duchy of Baden. He was awarded Deutsche Luftfahrer-Verband pilot’s license No. 209 on 20 May 1912 [Ref: Supf, Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte, Vol. I, p. 568] and remained a civilian instructor of military pilots throughout the war.
4. Berthold, op.cit.
5. Hans Joachim Buddecke was born on 22 August 1890 in Berlin, the capital of Prussia. He attended school in Potsdam, Strassburg and Charlottenburg before entering the Prussian Cadet System in the spring of 1904. Buddecke qualified for inclusion among the Selekta, a special honour indicating he was a top student in his class. In spring 1910 he was commissioned a Leutnant in Leibgarde-Infanterie-Regiment (1. Grossherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 115, a unit in which his father also served at the time. Three years later Buddecke was granted reserve status so he could travel to the USA, where he worked in an automotive plant and then learned to fly. At the beginning of World War I, he returned to Germany aboard a neutral ship. Buddecke was accepted into aviation training, first at Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 3 at Darmstadt and then Etappen-Flugzeug-Park 2 before being assigned to Feldflieger-Abteilung 23 [Ref: Zuerl, Pour-le-Mérite-Flieger, pp. 113, 124].
6. Established on 11 March 1621 [Ref: von Diersburg, Geschichte des 1. Grossherzoglich Hessischen Infanterie-(Leibgarde-) Regiments Nr. 115, 1621-1899, p. 1].
7. Alfred Keller went on to become Germany’s premier night-bombing commander in World War I [Ref: Zuerl, op.cit., pp. 253-258].
8. Buddecke, El Schahin (Der Jagdfalke): Aus meinem Fliegerleben, pp. 42-43.
9. Berthold, op.cit., p. 31.
10. Ibid., pp. 28-29.
11. Ibid., pp. 32-33.
12. The Militär-Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen was promulgated on 27 January 1913 by order of Kaiser Wilhelm II. It was ‘presented to officers, non-commissioned officers and non-rated men who, after completion of prescribed examinations and after completion of their training at a military aviation facility, have earned certification as a military pilot’ [Ref: Neubecker, Für Tapferkeit und Verdienst, p. 28].
13. Berthold, op.cit.. p. 35
14. Wolff’schen Telegraph-Bureaus, Amtliche Kriegs-Depeschen nach Berichten des, Vol. 1, p. 335.
15. Franz Keller was born on 22 September 1896 in Tübingen, Kingdom of Württemberg, and was commissioned into the 9. Württembergisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 127. Although no aviation training is listed in his service record, on 22 September 1914 he reported to EFP 2, from whence he was assigned to Feldflieger-Abteilung 23 on 15 October 1914. Keller was promoted to Oberleutnant on 24 December 1914. After he was shot down and wounded in the neck on 10 January 1915, he was sent to a French PoW camp in Entrevaux. Next, Keller was interned in Switzerland from 15 May 1916 until 14 July 1917, after which, as part of a prisoner exchange, he was repatriated to Germany. Forbidden to serve in a frontline unit by the repatriation agreement, Keller, who was promoted to Hauptmann on 19 October 1917 (with the date of rank of 18 August 1916), served in training duties with Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 10 in Böblingen, FEA 9 in Darmstadt and the Geschwaderschule [Multi-Engine Aircraft School] in Paderborn. His wartime awards were: the Kingdom of Württemberg’s Goldene Militär-Verdienst-Medaille [Golden Military Merit Medal] on 10 June 1917, the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 29 January 1918 and the Verwundeten-Abzeichen [Wound Badge] in black, signifying one wound received in combat [Ref: Keller, Kriegsranglisten-Auszug, p. 3].
16. Lamberton, Reconnaissance and Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War, p. 140.
17. Légion d’Honneur citation quoted in Bailey, Kilduff & Vanoverbeke, ‘General Service Unit: The History of Escadrille 23’, p. 228.
18. Adrien Eugène Aimable Gilbert was born on 19 July 1889 in Riom (Puy-de-Dôme), France. He received instruction at the Blériot School at Étampes and qualified for Aéro Club de France [Aero Club of France] Pilot Brevet No. 240 on 24 September 1910. Gilbert qualified for Military Pilot’s Brevet No. 165 on 31 August 1912, at which time he was posted to Escadrille Nr. 1. Having completed his military obligation, Gilbert became active in pre-war civilian air races and other events. He was recalled to active duty in the summer of 1914 and assigned to Escadrille MS 23, with which he participated in successful aerial combats on 2 November and 17 December 1914 and received full merit for aerial victories. His actions on 10 January 1915 resulted in credit for his third victory. [Ref: Pearce, “Eugène Gilbert – A Great French Fighter Pilot,” pp. 57-70].
19. Ibid.
20. Grossenhainer Tageblatt, 8 August 1914, p. 1 quoted in Täger, Heerde, Franke & Ruscher, Flugplatz Grossenhain – Historischer Abriss, p. 22.
21. Karl Seber, born in 1883, served in the Garde-Fussartillerie-Regiment, a unit of the Guard Corps responsible for the monarch’s defence, until he transferred to the Fliegertruppe [Ref: Deutscher Offizier-Bund, op.cit., p. 533].
22. Bailey & Cony, The French Air War Chronology, p. 6.
23. O’Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany and the Men Who Earned Them, Vol. III – The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Saxony, pp. 17-18,
24. Ibid., p. 67.
25. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 29-30
26. Ibid., pp. 35-36.
27. Ibid., p. 35.
28. Welkoborsky, Vom Fliegen, Siegen und Sterben einer Feldflieger-Abteilung, p. 47.
29. Friedrich Schueler van Krieken was born on 10 October 1885 in Berlin. He served in a dragoons regiment before transferring to the Fliegertruppe, where he was trained as an observer and subsequently assigned to Feldflieger-Abteilung 23. He left FFA 23 in 1916 to become Kommandeur der Flieger (Kofl) [officer in charge of aviation] for the Turkish 5th Army.
30. Eberhard Bohnstedt was born on 22 July 1886 in Kassel, Grand Duchy of Hesse. He was commissioned into the Grenadier-Regiment Prinz Carl von Preussen (2. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 12, where he attained the rank of Hauptmann before transferring to the Fliegertruppe. He became an observer and was one of the founding members of FFA 23. On 26 November 1915, he was transferred to FFA 32 to become commanding officer [Ref: Deutscher Offizier-Bund, op.cit., p. 146; Welkoborsky, op.cit., p. 77].
31. Hans-Joachim von Seydlitz-Gerstenberg was born on 2 July 1891 in Dresden, the capital of Saxony. He was commissioned into the 2. Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 101 Kaiser Wilhelm, Kônig von Preussen, and transferred to the Fliegertruppe. A founding member of FFA 23, he was wounded in action on 17 August 1914 and crashed behind French lines, but escaped to German territory. On 17 June 1916, he was transferred to train on R-type large, multi-engine bombers; he was killed in action while flying with Riesenflugzeug-Abteilung 501 on 26 July 1918 [Ref: Perthes, Ehrentafel der Kriegsopfer des reichsdeutschen Adels 1914-1918, p. 229; Deutscher Offizier-Bund, op.cit., p. 892].
32. Berthold’s reference to von Seydlitz-Gerstenberg as ‘Seidenspitz’ is a play on words for the “German Kleinspitz”, an old and popular species of dog, renowned for being very patient with children, totally loyal to its master’s family and, with its acute hearing, always ready to defend the family’s property.
33. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 36-37.
34. Ibid., p. 36.
35. Supf, Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte, Vol. II, pp. 20, 250.
36. Neumann, Die deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im Weltkriege, p. 232.
37. Welkoborsky, op.cit., pp. 50-51.
38. Letter of 10 August 1915 quoted in Gengler, Rudolf Berthold – Sieger in 44 Luftschlachten Erschlagen im Bruderkampfe für Deutschlands Freiheit, p. 52.
39. Grosz, Fokker E.III Windsock Datafile 15, p. 3.
40. Lamberton, op.cit., p. 220.
41. Berthold, op.cit., p. 37.
42. Ibid.
43 AOK 3, Stabsoffizier der Ballon-Abwehrkanonen Bericht Nr. 101, 27 August 1915.
44. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 37-38.
45. Buddecke, op.cit., p. 43.
46. Feldflieger-Abteilung 23 Kriegstagebuch [war diary] quoted in ibid., p. 53.
CHAPTER FIVE
1. Buddecke, El Schahin (Der Jagdfalke): Aus meinem Fliegerleben, pp. 51-52.
2. Franks, Bailey & Guest, Above the Lines, p. 76.
3. Ibid., p. 134.
4. Ibid., p. 88.
5. Feldflieger-Abteilung 23 Kriegstagebuch [war diary] quoted in Gengler, Rudolf Berthold – Sieger in 44 Luftschlachten Erschlagen im Bruderkampfe für Deutschlands Freiheit, p. 53; the unit war diary also noted that, although promoted on 21 September 1915, Berthold’s date of rank was 18 September.
6. Ibid.
7. According to weather reports in Royal Flying Corps, War Diary, 28, 29 and 30 September 1915.
8. Lamberton, Reconnaissance and Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War, p. 220.
9. Most likely, Lieutenant Herbert T. Kemp and Capt Cecil W. Lane in Vickers FB.5 5460 of 11 Squadron, RFC [Ref: Henshaw, op.cit., p. 54].
10. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch quoted in Gengler, op.cit., p. 54.
11. Armee-Oberkommando der 2. Armee, Tägliche Berichte for 15, 18 and 22 October 1915.
12. Buddecke, op.cit., pp. 51-54.
13. Ibid., p. 59.
14. Ibid., p. 60; the aircraft was B.E.2c 2017 of 13 Squadron, RFC [Ref: Henshaw, op.cit., p. 56].
15. Hobson, Airmen Died in the Great War 1914-1918, pp. 71, 64.
16. Buddecke, op.cit., p. 63.
17. Neubecker, Für Tapferkeit und Verdienst, p. 15.
18. O’Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany and the Men Who Earned Them, Vol. VII – The Aviation Awards of Eight German States and the Three Free Cities, p. 46.
19. Ibid., p. 47.
20. AOK 2, op.cit., Taglicher Bericht for 3 November 1915.
21. Royal Flying Corps, Communiqué No. 19, 9 November 1915, p. 1; this account, from a slightly different perspective, relates the same aerial combat described in Chapter 1.
22. Ibid.
23. Lamberton, Fighter Aircraft, op.cit.
24. Ernst Freiherr von Althaus was promoted to Oberleutnant on 6 August 1915, over six weeks before Rudolf Berthold was promoted to that rank [Ref: Franks, Bailey & Guest, op.cit., p. 61].
25. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch Berthold, p. 40.
26. Feldflieger-Abteilung 23. Tägliche Berichte, 14 October 1915-12 January 1916.
27. Jones, H. The War in the Air, Vol. II, p. 150.
28. Franks, Bailey & Guest, op.cit., p. 88.
29. Buddecke, op.cit., p. 64.
30. AOK 2. Armee Bericht 2/I Tc IIa Nr. 120, 1 January 1916.
31. Taeger, Die verlorene Ehre des Ernst Freiherr von Althaus.
32. Supf, Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte, Vol. II, p. 308.
33. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch quoted in Gengler, op.cit., p. 56.
34. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 40-42.
35. Quoted in Jones, op.cit., pp. 156-157.
36. Zuerl, Pour-le-Mérite-Flieger, p. 84.
37. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 42-43.
38. Arthur Jacquin was born on 8 November 1886 in Ville-sous-la-Ferté (Aube). He had been a mechanic before the war and entered military service in October 1907. He was mobilized in August 1914 and assigned to the 61è Régiment d’Infanterie [61st Infantry Regiment]. He transferred to aviation as a student pilot in the second quarter of 1915, trained at Ambérieu and received Military Pilot Brevet No. 1735 on 10 October 1915 while holding the rank of Soldat [Private]. He was assigned to the Réserve Générale de l’Aviation [General Aviation Reserve] on 14 November 1915 and the Groupe des Divisions d’Entraînement [Divisional Training Group] on 22 January 1916. Days later he was posted to Escadrille VB 108, where he served until he was shot down near Chaulnes (Somme) on 2 February 1916 and taken prisoner [Ref: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link), Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire / Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire].
39. Pierre Ségaud was born on 11 March 1878 in Lalinde. He entered military service on 18 April 1896. He was mobilized in August 1914 with the 95è Régiment d’Infanterie Territorial. Transferred to the aviation branch as an observer on 30 August 1915, he was assigned to the Réserve Générale de l’Aviation on 5 September 1915 and then to VB 108 on 23 September 1915. He was killed in action near Chaulnes (Somme) on 2 February 1916 [Ref: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link), Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire / Personnels l’aéronautique militaire].
40. Berthold, op.cit., p. 40.
41. Franks, Sharks Among Minnows, p. 55.
42. Letter of 5 February 1916, quoted in Gengler, op.cit., p. 59.
43. AOK 2, Bericht Ic 2920, 5 February 1916; while Berthold remained on the roster of FFA 23 (indicated here), he was in charge of its sub-unit, KEK Vaux; Berthold’s rank listed here is incorrect, as by this time he had been promoted to Oberleutnant.
44. Ibid.
45. Royal Flying Corps, Communiqué No. 30, 4 March 1916, p. 1.
46. RFC, Pilot & Observer Casualties, 10 February 1916.
47. RFC, Communiqué, op.cit.
48. Ibid.
49. Ibid.
50. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
51. Ibid.
52. Liddell Hart, The Real War 1914-1918, p. 218.
53. O’Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany in World War I, Vol. I – The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Bavaria, p. 103.
54. 2/Lt Michael Amyss Julian Orde was born on 18 December 1888 in Norfolk. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Service Corps and qualified as a pilot on 27 October 1915. Orde was shot down and listed as missing on 14 March 1916. He was taken prisoner and held until the end of the war. Orde died on 6 August 1920 in a flying accident on Salisbury Plain.
55. RFC, War Diary, 13 March 1916.
56. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
57. Ibid.
58. Louis Paoli was born on 6 January 1892 in à Bastia (Corsica). He joined the army on 3 September 1910 and, subsequently, was assigned to the 4e Régiment de Chasseurs à cheval [4th Mounted Rifles Regiment]. Paoli entered the aviation school at Étampes on 19 July 1915. On 25 September, he was sent to Bourget to fly a new type of bomber, but after a nearly fatal incident, he returned to flying Maurice Farman aircraft. He was posted to Escadrille MF 54 on 23 January 1915 and made his first flight over the enemy on 2 February 1916. Paoli was awarded the Croix de Guerre and had applied for fighter training shortly before he was killed [Ref: Anonymous, ‘Les Héros Disparu: Paoli,’ p. 284; http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link), Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire / Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire].
59. Jean, Rohrbacher, Palmieri & Service historique de l’armée de l’air France. Les escadrilles de l’aéronautique militaire française: Symbolique et histoire, 1912-1920, pp. 144-145.
60. Anonymous, ‘Les Héros Disparu,’ op.cit.
61. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
62. O’Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany and the Men Who Earned Them, Vol. III – The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Saxony, p. 83.
63. Ibid., p. 22.
64. Wallace Sinclair Earle was born on 8 February 1889 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. On 14 December 1914 he enlisted as a sapper in the second contingent and was commissioned in the 6th Field Company, Canadian Engineers, 2nd Division, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Earle was attached to the RFC at Brooklands on 20 October 1915. After completing flight training, on 17 December 1915 he was assigned to ‘B’ Flight, 9 Squadron, RFC [Ref: S.K. Taylor notes].
65. Cuthbert William Prideaux Selby was born in (ca.) 1898 in Teynham, Kent. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the Royal West Kent Regiment and was later transferred to the RFC. After being shot down and wounded on 16 April 1916, Selby became a prisoner of war and, due to his wounds, was paroled to Switzerland on 24 December 1916. He was repatriated to Britain in September 1917.
66. RFC, Communiqué No. 34, 30 April 1916, p. 1.
67. Quoted in Franks, op.cit., p. 81.
CHAPTER SIX
1. Buddecke, El Schahin (Der Jagdfalke): Aus meinem Fliegerleben, p. 97.
2. Royal Flying Corps, War Diary, weather report, 25 April 1916, p. 1.
3. Jones, The War in the Air, Vol. II, p. 196.
4. Ibid., p. 197.
5. Davilla & Soltan, French Aircraft of the First World War, p. 312.
6. Grosz, Pfalz E.I – E.VI Windsock Datafile 59, p. 4.
7. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch, pp. 44-45.
8. Berthold, Lazarettkrankenbuch entry, 18 May 1916.
9. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 45.
10. Franks, Sharks Among Minnows, p. 81.
11. Etzel, Das K.B. 9. Infanterie-Regiment Wrede: nach den amtlichen Kriegstagebüchern, p. 77.
12. Jordan, Blätter der Erinnerung an die im Kriege 1914-1919 Gefallenen der Universität Erlangen, p. 84.
13. Etzel, op.cit., pp. 77-78.
14. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
15. Haehnelt, Ehrentafel der im Flugdienst während des Weltkrieges gefallenen Offiziere der Deutschen Fliegerverbände, pp. 26, 57.
16. Grosz, LVG B.I Windsock Datafile 98, p. 3.
17. Goote, Kamerad Berthold der ‘unvergleiche Franke,‘ p. 92.
18. Pietsch, ‘Bernward Gross 1887-1916,’ pp. 2-4 includes the text of a letter that FFA 23 commanding officer Hauptmann Hermann Palmer wrote to Gross’ father, relating the known facts of the fight. That account matches facts stated in Royal Flying Corps Communiqué No. 37, 27 May 1916, p. 1.
19. Allerhöchste Führung des XIV. Reserve-Korps, Bericht Ic 795 Geh, 22 May 1916, p. 1.
20. Allerhöchste Führung des XIV. Reserve-Korps, op.cit., pp. 2-3.
21. Werner, Boelcke der Mensch, der Flieger, der Führer der deutschen Jagdfliegerei, p. 165.
22. Falls in Esposito, (ed.), A Concise History of World War I, p. 90.
23. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 45-46.
24. Armeegruppe Stein was assigned FFA 22 and Kampfstaffel S.2 at Bertincourt and Rocquigny; VI. Reserve-korps had FFA 26 and two staffeln of Kagohl 1 at Trejean and Essigny-le-Petit; Armeegruppe Quast had FFA 23, the other two staffeln of Kagohl 1 and three staffeln of Kagohl 4 at Roupy, Vaux, Essigny-le-Petit and Flesquières; and XVII. Armeekorps deployed Kampfstaffel T at Tergnier [Ref: Armee-Oberkommando der 2. Armee, Taglicher Bericht Nr. 130908/11452, 4 July 1916, p. 3].
25. Berthold, op.cit., p. 46
26. Berthold, op.cit., p. 47.
27. Werner, op.cit., p. 182.
28. Lamberton, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War, p. 134.
29. Feldflieger-Abteilung 23 Kriegstagebuch [war diary] quoted in Gengler, Rudolf Berthold – Sieger in 44 Luftschlachten Erschlagen im Bruderkampfe für Deutschlands Freiheit, p. 63.
30. Henri Dangueuger was born on 18 June 1896 in Paris. He enlisted in the army in 1914 and then transferred to aviation and became qualified as a pilot. He joined Escadrille N 37 on 28 July 1916 [Ref: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link), Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire / Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire].
31. Bailey & Cony, The French Air War Chronology, p. 67; Franks, op.cit., p. 133.
32. Davilla & Soltan, op.cit., p. 379.
33. FFA 23 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 64.
34. O’Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany and the Men Who Earned Them, Vol. II – The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Prussia, p. 132.
35. Kriegsministerium, Teil 10 Abschnitt B, Flieger-Formationen, p. 234.
36. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 48-49.
37. Buddecke, op.cit., pp. 92-93.
38. William Hugh Stobart Chance was born on 31 December 1896. When the war began in 1914, he left school and applied for an army commission. Serving first with the Worcestershire Territorial Regiment, in April 1916 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and was eventually posted to 27 Squadron on the Somme. Following his landing within German territory, Chance was confined in prisoner of war camps in Germany until December 1918. He was invested as a knight in 1945 and as a Commander, Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) in 1958.
39. Quoted from Bowyer, The Flying Elephants – A History of No. 27 Squadron, p. 39.
40. Jagdstaffel 4 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
41. Bruce, British Aeroplanes 1914-1918, pp. 379-380.
42. 19 Squadron, RFC, Combat Report by Capt Henderson, 22 September 1916.
43. RFC, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 22 September 1916.
44. Hobson, Airmen Died in the Great War 1914-1918, p. 55.
45. Ibid., p. 43.
46. Buddecke, op.cit., pp. 93-94.
47. André Steuer was born on 7 December 1894 in Versailles. He was one of six brothers to enlist and was accepted for aviation service on 3 September 1914. Following training at Le Plessis-Belleville and Belfort, he served as a two-seater pilot in Escadrille HF 1 and the MF 32. His brother Pierre became an aerial gunner with Escadrille C 46. In July and August, André Steuer trained as a fighter pilot and was assigned to N 103. In a twist of fate, Pierre Steuer was fatally wounded on 24 August, the day Berthold scored his sixth victory. On 24 September, André Steuer was killed by Berthold [Ref: Daçay, ‘Les Frères Steuer,’ p. 628; Jean, Rohrbacher, Palmieri & Service historique de l’armée de l’air France. Les escadrilles de l’aéronautique militaire française: Symbolique et histoire, 1912 - 1920, pp. 46, 246; http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link). op.cit.].
48. François Louis Roman was born on 11 June 1893 in Dieulefit (Drôme Provençale). He joined an army engineering unit in 1913 and transferred to aviation on 4 March 1916. He completed pilot training at Pau on 30 June 1916 and, after brief service with Escadrille MF 32, on 8 August he was assigned to N 103 [Ref: Daçay, op.cit., p. 628; Jean, Rohrbacher, Palmieri & Service historique de l’armée de l’air France, Ibid., p. 246; http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link), Ibid.].
49. Daçay, op.cit.
50. Buddecke, op.cit., p. 97.
51. Jagdstaffel 4 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
52. Weather report in RFC, War Diary, 26 September 1916.
53. Jagdstaffel 4 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
54. RFC, Pilot & Observer Casualties, 26 September 1916.
55. Hobson, op.cit., p. 34.
56. Ibid., p. 90.
57. Buddecke, op.cit., p. 98.
58. O’Connor, op.cit., p. 56 includes a photograph of Berthold’s bestowal document.
59. According to Cron, Imperial German Army 1914-18 – Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle, p. 84: Armee-Abteilung A ‘was not under the command of an AOK, but itself formed a small army on the northern part of the front in Alsace-Lorraine’ .
60. Buddecke, op.cit., p. 98.
61. Jagdstaffel 4 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 65.
62. Berthold, op.cit., p. 50.
63. Kriegsministerium, op.cit., p. 220.
64. Ibid., p. 236.
65. Berthold, op.cit., p. 51.
66. Ibid.
67. Grosz, The Agile and Aggressive Albatros, p. 37.
68. Grosz, Albatros D.I/D.II Windsock Datafile 100, p. 5.
69. Quoted in Gengler, op.cit., pp. 65-66.
70. Franks, Bailey & Duiven, The Jasta Pilots, p. 262.
71. Ibid., p. 66.
CHAPTER SEVEN
1. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch, p. 56.
2. Neumann, Die Deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im Weltkriege, p. 4.
3. Ibid., p. 5; von Hoeppner previously commanded the 75th Reserve Division.
4. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 52-53.
5. Cron, Imperial German Army 1914-18 – Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle, p. 189.
6. Berthold, op.cit., p. 53.
7. Jean, Rohrbacher, Palmieri & Service historique de l’armée de l’air France. Les escadrilles de l’aéronautique militaire française: Symbolique et histoire, 1912-1920, p. 391.
8. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt der Luftstreitkräfte, Vol. I, Nr. 3, 15 March 1917, p. 10.
9. Jagdstaffel 14 Kriegstagebuch [war diary] quoted in Gengler, Rudolf Berthold – Sieger in 44 Luftschlachten Erschlagen im Bruderkampfe für Deutschlands Freiheit, p. 69.
10. Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 11 noted that the captured aircraft was Nieuport XVIIbis No. 2405.
11. Bailey & Cony, The French Air War Chronology, p. 96.
12. Jasta 14 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
13. Boelcke, Hauptmann Boelckes Feldberichte, p. 53.
14. Radloff & Niemann, ‘The Ehrenbechers – Where Are They Now?’ p. 366.
15. Lamberton, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War p. 110.
16. Berthold, op.cit., p. 53.
17. Jones, The War in the Air, Vol. III, p. 325.
18. Falls, ‘Western Front, 1915-1917 Stalemate’, p. 93.
19. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 54-55.
20. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 7, 12 April 1917, p. 14.
21. Maréchal des Logis [Sergeant-Major] Jean Peinaud was born on 28 April 1888 in Saligny (Allier). He received his aviation training at Étampes and received Military Pilot Brevet 2508 on 26 January 1916. Lieutenant Marcel Vernes was born on 9 August 1886 in St. Germain-en-Laye (Seine-et-Oise). Following artillery service, he transferred to aviation and trained as an observer with Escadrille MF 7 [Ref.: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link), Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire / Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire].
22. Jasta 14 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 72.
23. Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 15.
24. The crewmen, all members of Escadrille F 35, were: S/Lt Desbordes, Lt Borgoltz and Soldat Lebleu. Pierre Étienne Frédéric Desbordes was born 3 July 1886 in Jussy-le Chaudrier (Jura). He began his military service with a dragoons regiment in 1904 and transferred to aviation eleven years later. He trained at Pau and, at the rank of sous-lieutenant, received Military Pilot Brevet 1205 on 18 July 1915. Jacques-Victor-Alexandré Borgoltz was born on 31 January 1894 in Chartres (Eure-le-Loir). Initially he served with an engineers regiment and transferred to Escadrille F 5 to become an observer. Alexandré Joseph Lebleu was born on 4 February 1892 in St. Symphorien (Indre-et-Loire). He entered military service with an armoured cavalry unit and transferred to aviation to become an aerial gunner [Ref.: www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link). op.cit.].
25. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 11, 10 May 1917, p. 13.
26. Ibid., Nr. 9, 26 April 1917, p. 7.
27. Adjudant Albert Barioz was born on 29 April 1889 in Paris’ 19e Arrondissement (Seine). He joined the army twenty years later and was in an artillery regiment at the beginning of the war. He transferred to aviation as an observer in April 1915. He served with Escadrille VB 110 until May 1915, when he began pilot training at Avord. He received Military Pilot Brevet 2024 in November. Promoted to adjutant on 16 August 1916, he was posted to Escadrille N 73 on 28 December and remained until his death on 11 April 1917 [Ref.: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link). op.cit.].
28. Jasta 14 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
29. Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 14.
30. Franks, Bailey & Guest, Above the Lines, p. 223.
31. The Sopwith crewmen were S/Lts Antoine Arnoux de Maison-Rouge and Robert Levi. Antoine Valentin Roger Arnoux de Maison-Rouge was born on 3 May 1895 in Saumur (Maine-et-Loir). He enlisted in 1913 and, after ground service, was promoted to sous-lieutenant and accepted for pilot training on 8 March 1916. He received Military Pilot Brevet 3572 in May 1916. A year later he was invested as a Chevalier [Knight] of the Légion d’Honneur. He was wounded in action on 14 April and died of his wounds on 29 May 1917 at Hôpital Complémentaire #1 at Troyes (Aube) [Ref.: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link). op.cit.].
32. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 11, p. 15.
33. Jones, op.cit., pp. 324-325.
34. Anonymous, L’horreur des dévastations allemandes, p. 550.
35. Berthold, op.cit., p. 55.
36. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 9, 26 April 1917, p. 3.
37. Gengler, op.cit., p. 73.
38. Berthold, op.cit.
39. Gengler, op.cit.
40. Falls, op.cit., p. 94.
41. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 15, 7 June 1917, p. 12; Nr. 16, 14 June 1917, p. 28; Nr. 20, 12 July 1917, p. 80.
42. Berthold, op.cit., p. 56.
43. Ibid.
44. Berthold, Lazarettkrankenbuch entry, 18 August 1917.
45. Jasta 14 Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 73.
46. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 56.
47. Strähle diary entry for 12 August 1917 quoted from Van Dorssen, Tubbs & Evans, Paul Strähle – The War Diary of a German Aviator, 11 August 1917-22 April 1918, p. 150.
48. Otto Gerbig qualified for Deutsche-Luftfahrer-Verband (DLV) license No. 805 on 3 July 1914 [Ref: Supf, Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte, Vol. II, p. 667].
49. They included Ltn.d.Res Michael Paulin and Ltn Fritz Schabbel, who departed for Jasta 14 on 15 August 1917 [Ref: Kommandeur der Flieger der 4. Armee, Tagesbefehl Nr. 51, 22 August 1917].
50. VanWyngarden, Jasta 18 – The Red Noses, p. 27.
51. Deutscher Offizier-Bund. Ehren-Rangliste des ehemaligen Deutschen Heeres, p. 417.
52. Kriegsministerium, op.cit., pp. 236-237.
53. Franks, Bailey & Duiven, The Jasta Pilots, p. 33.
54. Jones, The War in the Air, Vol. IV, p. 109.
55. Berthold, op.cit.
56. Van Dorssen, Tubbs & Evans, op.cit., p. 151.
57. Henshaw, The Sky Their Battlefield, p. 211.
58. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 30, 20 September 1917, p. 247.
59. Berthold, op.cit., pp. 53-54.
60. Kriegsministerium, op.cit., pp. 208-209.
61. von Hoeppner, Deutschlands Krieg in der Luft, p. 122.
62. Kommandeur der Flieger der 4. Armee, Wochenbericht Nr. 116 op, 30 August 1917, p. 2; the other groupings and their commanders were: Jagdgruppe Nord (Jastas 2, 20 and 28, and Kest 8), Hptm Otto Hartmann; Jagdgruppe 11 (Jastas 7, 29, 33 and 35), Oblt Otto Schmidt; and Jagdgruppe 15 (Jastas 3, 8, 26 and 27), Hptm Constantin von Bentheim).
63. Van Dorssen, Tubbs & Evans, op.cit., p. 152.
64. Bodenschatz, Jagd in Flanderns Himmel – Aus den sechzehn Kampfmonaten des Jagdgeschwaders Freiherr von Richthofen, p. 154.
65. Berthold letter of 20 August 1917 quoted in Gengler, op.cit., p. 74.
66. Van Dorssen, Tubbs & Evans, op.cit., p. 154.
67. Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 248.
68. Hobson, Airmen Died in the Great War 1914-1918, p. 22.
69. Ibid., p. 44.
70. Royal Flying Corps, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 21 August 1917.
71. Lamberton, Reconnaissance and Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War, p. 56.
72. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 33, 11 October 1917, p. 308.
73. Ibid., p. 306.
74. Hobson, op.cit., p. 109.
75. Ibid., p. 81.
76. RFC, War Diary, 4 September 1917, p. 648.
77. Henshaw, op.cit., p. 220.
78. Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 306.
79. RFC, War Diary, 5 September 1917, p. 653.
80. Henshaw, op.cit., p. 221.
81. Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 307.
82. Ibid., p. 308.
83. Henshaw, op.cit., p. 224.
84. Hobson, op.cit., p. 54.
85. Ibid., p. 66.
86. RFC, War Diary, 16 September 1917, p. 688.
87. Hobson, op.cit., p. 56 notes that 19-year-old Leslie Glendower Humphries was buried not far from where he fell.
88. RFC, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 16 September 1917.
89. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 34, 18 October 1917, p. 327.
90. Möller, Kampf und Sieg eines Jagdgeschwaders, p. 37.
91. Berthold, op.cit., p. 56.
92. Kogenluft, op.cit.
93. RFC, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 19 September 1917.
94. Hobson, op.cit., pp. 104, 54.
95. Berthold, op.cit., p. 57.
96. VanWyngarden, op.cit., p. 37.
97. Weather report in RFC, War Diary, 20 September 1917, p. 698.
98. There were no German anti-aircraft claims remotely near the area where this aeroplane came down [Ref: Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 330].
99. Hobson, op.cit., p. 36.
100. RFC, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 20 September 1917.
101. Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 328 erroneously lists it as Berthold’s 20th chronological victory.
102. Ibid.
103. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 39, 22 November 1917, p. 417, due to the late acceptance, erroneously lists it as Berthold’s 28th chronological victory; in fact, it was his 22nd victory.
104. 19 Squadron, RFC, Squadron Record Book, 21 September 1917, p. 1.
105. Lamberton, op.cit., p. 32.
106 Hobson, op.cit., pp. 23, 78.
107. Ibid., p. 84; Bernard Alexander Powers was commissioned 2/Lt in the Middlesex Regiment on 2 December 1915 [Ref: Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 December 1915, p. 12031].
108. 19 Squadron, RFC, Squadron Record Book, 26 September 1917, p. 2.
109. Quoted from a letter to Gould’s family from 70 Squadron’s recording officer, 30 September 1917, courtesy of S.K. Taylor.
110. Henshaw, op.cit., p. 232.
111. RFC, War Diary, 26 September 1917, p. 736.
112 Hobson, op.cit., p. 50.
113. 20 Squadron, RFC, Squadron Record Book, 28 September 1917, p. 2.
114. Hobson, op.cit., pp. 30, 99.
115. Ibid., pp. 101, 77.
116. RFC, War Diary, 28 September 1917, p. 746.
117. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 39, p. 417; Berthold’s victory is erroneously listed as his 25th.
118. RFC, War Diary, 30 September 1917, pp. 751-752.
119. Franks, Bailey & Duiven, Casualties of the German Air Service 1914-1920, p. 231.
120. Hobson, op.cit., p. 104.
121. RFC, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 30 September 1917.
122. Kogenluft, op.cit.
123. Berthold, op.cit.
124. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt, Nrn. 33, 34, 39 as cited above.
CHAPTER EIGHT
1. Quoted in Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch, p. 58.
2. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt der Luftstreitkräfte, Vol. I, Nr. 32, 4 October 1917, p. 273.
3. Royal Flying Corps, War Diary, 2 October 1917, p. 6.
4. VanWyngarden, Jasta 18 - The Red Noses, p. 40.
5. D.H.4 A.7451, the crew of nineteen-year-old 2/Lt Clifford Richard Brice Halley and Airman 1st Class Thomas Joseph Barlow, age twenty-four, perished [Ref: Hobson, Airmen Died in the Great War 1914-1918, pp. 52, 21].
6. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 38, 15 November 1917, p. 397 incorrectly lists this victory as Berthold’s twenty-seventh.
7. Hobson, op.cit., pp. 67, 92.
8. Their deaths were confirmed in RFC, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 2 October 1917.
9. D.H.4 A.7583; the pilot, 2/Lt C.G. Crane, was taken prisoner and his backseat man, 2/Lt William Logan Inglis, was killed [Ref: Ibid., p. 59].
10. Jagdstaffel 18 Kriegstagebuch quoted in Gengler, Rudolf Berthold – Sieger in 44 Luftschlachten Erschlagen im Bruderkampfe für Deutschlands Freiheit, p. 75.
11. Kleffel, letter of 25 October 1974, pp. 1-2.
12. Strähle diary entry for 5 October 1917 quoted from Van Dorssen, Tubbs & Evans, Paul Strähle – The War Diary of a German Aviator, 11 August 1917 - 22 April 1918, p. 156.
13. Confirmed in RFC, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 5 October 1917.
14. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 34, 18 October 1917, p. 309.
15. RFC, Communiqué No. 109, 17 October 1917, p. 2.
16. Flown by Oblts Harald Auffarth and Ernst Wilhelm Turck, Ltns Walter Dingel, Arthur Rahn, Richard Runge, Otto Schober, Paul Strähle and Josef Veltjens, and Off.Stv Johannes Klein [Ref: Van Dorssen, Tubbs & Evans, op.cit.].
17. Revell, High in the Empty Blue – The History of 56 Squadron, RFC/RAF 1916 to 1920, p. 182.
18. 56 Squadron, RFC, Combat Report by Capt Maxwell, 10 October 1917.
19. Van Dorssen, Tubbs & Evans, op.cit.
20. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 57.
21. Berthold, Lazarettkrankenbuch entry, 10 October 1917.
22. Kogenluft, op.cit., Nr. 35, 25 October 1917, p. 340.
23. Berthold, Lazarett, op.cit., 31 October 1917.
24. Gengler, op.cit., p. 77.
25. Historische Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Neue Deutsche Biographie, Vol. II, pp. 230-231, which notes that Bier was also known for his work with Dr. Frederich Schwerd in developing the M16 Stahlhelm (the so-called ‘coal scuttle’ steel helmet) to provide better head protection for German ground troops.
26. Berthold, op.cit., 2 November 1917.
27. Quoted in Gengler, op.cit., p. 78.
28. Quoted in Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 58.
29. Quoted in Ibid., p. 59.
30. Ibid., pp. 59-60.
31. Van Dorssen, Tubbs & Evans, op.cit., p. 157.
32. Berthold, op.cit., p. 60.
33. Historische Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, op.cit.
34. Berthold, op.cit., p. 60.
35. Ibid.
36. Berthold, Lazarett, op.cit., 1 March 1918.
37. Ibid., 6 March 1918.
38. Luftwaffe Illustrierte Wochenschrift für die Gesamtinteresse der Luftstreitkräfte und des Luftverkehrs, Nr. 8, 24 February 1918, p. 9.
39. According to RFC, War Diary, 10 March 1918, p. 163.
40. 3 Squadron, RNAS, Combat Report by Flt/Lt Whealy, 10 March 1918.
41. Shores, C., Franks, N. & Guest, R. Above the Trenches, p. 380.
42. Esposito, A Concise History of World War I, pp. 104-106.
43. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt der Luftstreitkräfte, Vol. II, Nr. 4, 21 March 1918, pp. 42, 49.
44. Möller, Kampf und Sieg eines Jagdgeschwaders, p. 27.
45. Kriegsministerium (organisational manual). Teil 10 Abschnitt B, Flieger-Formationen, pp. 208-209.
46. Möller, op.cit.
47. Ibid., p. 28.
48. VanWyngarden, op.cit., p. 66.
49. Thoms, Invalidenfriedhof Berlin, p. 1.
50. Buddecke, H. El Schahin (Der Jagdfalke): Aus meinem Fliegerleben, p. 124.
51. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
52. Kommandeur der Flieger der 18. Armee, Tagesbericht, 24 March 1918.
53. Esposito, op.cit., p. 110.
54. Möller, op.cit., p. 29.
55. Ibid., p. 32.
CHAPTER NINE
1. Quoted in Möller, Kampf und Sieg eines Jagdgeschwaders, p. 56.
2. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch 1914-1920, p. 61.
3. von Langsdorff, (ed.). Flieger am Feind, p. 338; Goote, Kamerad Berthold der ‘unvergleiche Franke’, p. 215.
4. Berthold, ‘Aus hinterlassenen Papieren’ in von Langsdorff, ibid., pp. 105-106.
5. Ibid., p. 105
6. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
7. Möller, op.cit., p. 35.
8. Esposito, A Concise History of World War I, p. 112.
9. Berthold, ‘Papieren’, op.cit., p. 106.
10. Quoted in Möller, op.cit., p. 37.
11. Berthold, ‘Papieren’, op.cit.
12. Bailey & Cony, The French Air War Chronology, p. 229; Jean, Rohrbacher, Palmieri, Service historique de l’armée de l’air France. Les escadrilles de l’aéronautique militaire française: Symbolique et histoire, 1912-1920, p. 452.
13. Kofl 18. Armee, Wochenbericht, 30 May 1918.
14. Möller, op.cit., p. 38.
15. Kofl 18, op,cit.; the SPAD pilot, Sgt André Louis Maurice Géhin of Escadrille Spa 77 was killed. He was born on 18 February 1893 in Bussang (Vosges) and entered military service in December 1913. Following service with the 1e Régiment de Zouaves, he began pilot training in August 1916 and in October received Military Pilot Brevet 4794. Géhin took part in shooting down three Albatroses over Montdidier on 8 February 1918. Of the Salmson crew from Escadrille Sal 27, the pilot, MdLTussing was killed, and the observer, Lt Camille Lemmery, was wounded and taken prisoner [Ref: Bailey & Cony, op.cit., p. 229; Jean, Rohrbacher, Palmieri, Service historique de l’armée de l’air France, op.cit., pp. 193, 84; www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link), Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire / Personnels de l’aéronautique militaire].
16. Berthold, ‘Papieren’ op.cit., pp. 106-107.
17. Möller, op.cit., p. 39.
18. Ibid., p. 40.
19. RAF, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 5 June 1918.
20. Hobson, Airmen Died in the Great War 1914-1918, pp. 198, 201.
21. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt der Luftstreitkräfte, Vol. II, Nr. 24, 8 August 1918, p. 363.
22. Bardt, Georg von Hantelmann: Erinnerungen aus dem Leben meines Bruders, p. 24.
23. Esposito, op.cit., p. 114.
24. Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 364.
25. Bailey & Cony, op.cit., p. 242.
26. Quoted in Möller, op.cit., p. 44.
27. Ibid., pp. 44-45.
28. Ibid., p. 46.
29. Berthold, ‘Papieren’, op.cit., p. 107.
30. Bailey & Cony, op.cit., p. 243; Jacques Monod was born on 29 August 1896 in Livron (Drôme). He enlisted in the army on 21 September 1914 and served in ground units until he transferred to aviation on 15 March 1917. Monod trained at Longvic, Avord and Pau, and received Military Pilot Brevet No. 6810 on 4 June 1917. He succumbed to his wounds on 13 June 1918 at Hôpital d’Ognon (Oise) [Ref: gunner [Ref.: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/spip.php?rubrique16 (link). op.cit.].
31. Confirmed in Kogenluft, op.cit., p. 365.
32. Berthold, ‘Papieren’, op.cit.
33. 84 Squadron, RAF, Combat Report by Capt Ralston, 18 June 1918.
34. RAF, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 18 June 1918.
35. Hobson, op.cit., pp. 173, 142.
36. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit.
37. Berthold, ‘Papieren’, op.cit., pp. 107-108.
38. 48 Squadron, RAF, Combat Report by Lt R.H. Little and 2/Lt E. Vickers, 27 June 1918.
39. Hobson, op.cit., pp. 140, 155.
40. Cron, ‘Organization of the German Luftstreitkräfte’, p. 55.
41. Lamberton, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War, p. 118.
42. Möller, op.cit., p. 52.
43. Esposito, op.cit., p. 115.
44. Möller, op.cit., p. 53.
45. Bailey & Cony, op.cit., p. 267.
46. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt, Nr. 29, 12 September 1918, p. 452.
47. Ibid., p. 453; Möller, op.cit.
48. Bailey & Cony, op.cit., p. 268.
49. Möller, op.cit., p. 54.
50. Ibid.; Cron, Imperial German Army 1914-18 – Organisation, Structure, Orders-of-Battle, p. 396.
51. Möller, op.cit.
52. Mortane, ‘Les As Ennemis’, p. 595.
53. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt, Nr. 24, 8 August 1918, p. 352.
54. Kommandeur der Flieger der 9. Armee. Wochenbericht Nr. 30157/18, 8 August 1918, p. 18.
55. Henshaw, The Sky Their Battlefield, p. 462; Sloane, Wings of Honor – American Airmen in World War I, pp. 153, 155.
56. Quoted in Möller, op.cit., p. 56.
57. Esposito, op.cit., p. 116.
58. Ibid., p. 119.
59. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt, Nr. 25, 15 August 1918, p. 368.
60. Jean, Rohrbacher, Palmieri, Service historique de l’armée de l’air France, op.cit., p. 463.
61. Bailey & Cony, op.cit., p. 279; the crews were: Sgt Leger and Lt Flamming, and Sgt Pollet and S/Lt Bouvier.
62. Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt, op.cit.
63. Jones, The War in the Air, Vol. VI, p. 452.
64. Ibid., pp. 452-453; 12 S.E.5a aircraft from 32 Squadron, RAF, were in this air combat [Ref: 32 Squadron, RAF, Squadron Record Book, 10 August 1918, p. 303].
65. 32 Squadron, RAF, Combat Report by 2/Lt J.O. Donaldson, 10 August 1918.
66. Möller, op.cit., p. 62.
67. Hobson, op.cit., p. 165.
68. 32 Squadron, RAF, Record Book, op.cit.
69. RAF, Pilot and Observer Casualties, 10 August 1918.
70. Confirmed in Kogenluft, Nachrichtenblatt, Nr. 33, 10 October 1918, p. 528.
71. Möller, op.cit., pp. 62-63.
72. RAF, Pilot and Observer Casualties, op.cit.
73. Kofl 9. Armee. Wochenbericht Nr. 30350/18, 14 August 1918, p. 27.
74. Bodenschatz, Jagd in Flanderns Himmel – Aus den sechzehn Kampfmonaten des Jagdgeschwaders Freiherr von Richthofen, pp. 129, 198.
75. Zuerl, op.cit., p. 500.
76. Möller, op.cit., p. 66.
77. Quoted in Ibid.
78. Ibid., p. 67
79. Quoted in Ibid.
80. Deutscher Offizier-Bund. Ehren-Rangliste des ehemaligen Deutschen Heeres, p. 601; von Loewenstern & Bertkau, Mobilmachung, Aufmarsch und erster Einsatz der deutschen Luftstreitkräfte im August 1914, p. 119.
CHAPTER TEN
1. Anonymous, Letter of 24 March 1920 [about Berthold’s death], p. 3.
2. Berthold, Persönliches Kriegstagebuch 1914-1920, pp. 62-63.
3. Wolff’schen Telegraph-Bureau, Amtliche Kriegs-Depeschen nach Berichten des, Vol. 8, p. 2833.
4. Franks, Bailey & Guest, Above the Lines, p. 77.
5. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 63.
6. Berthold, ‘Aus hinterlassenen Papieren in von Langsdorff’, (ed.). Flieger am Feind, p. 108.
7. Wolff’schen Telegraph-Bureau, op.cit., p. 2936.
8. Ibid., p. 2938.
9. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 65.
10. Wolff’schen Telegraph-Bureau, op.cit., p. 2966.
11. Berthold, op.cit., p. 66.
12. Ibid., pp. 66-67.
13. Ibid., p. 67.
14. Ibid., p. 68.
15. Ullstein & Co., Welt-Echo - Politische Wochen-Chronik, 31 January 1919, p. 53.
16. Berthold, Kriegslazarettenbuch entry, 8 March 1919.
17. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 82.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Ullstein & Co., Welt-Echo, op.cit., 17 April; 1919, p. 15.
21. Ibid., 24 April 1919, p. 15.
22. Ibid., 15 May 1919, p. 12.
23. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 83.
24. Wittmann, Erinnerungen der Eisernen Schar Berthold, p. 15.
25. Ibid., p. 19.
26. Ibid., p. 25.
27. Ibid., p. 48.
28. Ibid., p. 92.
29. Ibid., p. 95.
30. Ibid., p. 96.
31. Ibid., p. 99.
32. Ibid., pp. 96-97.
33. Berlin, ‘“Lynchjustiz an Hauptmann Berthold” oder Abwehr des Kapp-Putsches? ’ in Berlin, J. (ed.). Das andere Hamburg, p. 223.
34. Wittmann, op.cit., pp. 100-101.
35. Berlin, op.cit.
36. Wittmann, op.cit., p. 103.
37. Berlin, op.cit., p. 221.
38. Zeit Online. ‘Harburg und der Kapp Putsch – I. Teil’, p. 4.
39. Ibid., p. 5.
40. Berlin, op.cit., p. 227.
41. Ibid., p. 228.
42. Wittmann, op.cit., pp. 139-140.
43. Zeit Online, op.cit., p. 5.
44. Berthold, Kriegstagebuch, op.cit., p. 106.
45. Ibid., p. 107.
46. Ibid.
47. Many sources state that Berthold was buried on the anniversary of his birth, but the family-sponsored newspaper obituary notice clearly gives the day of interment as 30 March 1920.
48. Ibid., p. 108.
49. Ibid., p. 107.
50. Thoms, Invalidenfriedhof Berlin, p. 56.
51. Anonymous, op,cit.
52. Zeit Online, op.cit., p. 3.
53 Röll, Sozialdemokraten im Konzentrationslager Buchenwald 1937-1945, pp. 49-52; Noack reportedly died in 1941.