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Oswald
Boelcke
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| Country: |
Germany |
| Born: |
19 May 1891 |
| Place of Birth: |
Giebichenstein; near Halle, Saxony |
| Deceased: |
28 October 1916 |
| Rank: |
Hauptmann |
| Units: |
Jasta 2 |
| Victories: |
40 |
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| In 1915, Boelcke was the pilot
chosen to test Anthony Fokker's new machine gun
synchronizing device. It was a great success
and Boelcke used the new invention to become
the first German ace. He and Max Immelmann were
awarded the Orden Pour le Mérite on 12
January 1916. They were the first two pilots
to receive Prussia's highest award for bravery.
By the summer of the same year, Immelmann had
been killed and Boelcke was Germany's leading
ace. Author of the "Dicta Boelcke," he
developed rules for air combat, many of which
remain relevant today. While flying an infantry
support mission, Boelcke's Albatros D.II briefly
collided with that of Erwin Böhme. Böhme
survived but Boelcke was killed. |
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