Otto Brauneck

Otto Brauneck (27 February 1896 – 26 July 1917) was a German World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed and five unconfirmed aerial victories. Originally assigned to fly on the Macedonian Front to support Germany's ally, the Ottoman Empire, between September 1916 and April 1917 Brauneck shot down four enemy observation balloons and three aircraft, with a further five claims going unproven. Transferred to the Red Baron's Jagdstaffel 11 in France, Brauneck scored a further three victories before being killed in action on 26 July 1917.[1]

Otto Brauneck
Born(1896-02-27)27 February 1896
Sulzbach
Died26 July 1917(1917-07-26) (aged 21)
UnitFFA 69, Jasta 25, Jasta 11
AwardsRoyal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross First and Second Class

Early life

Otto Brauneck was born on 27 February 1896 in Sulzbach, the German Empire.[1]

Aerial service

In Macedonia
A Caudron G.4 of the Ottoman Air Force; a Caudron G.4 was Brauneck's fifth confirmed victory in Macedonia.
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I

Brauneck joined the air service and was posted to FFA 69 in Macedonia. He scored first in September 1916. His second victory, over an observation balloon on 14 December, earned him the Iron Cross First Class.[1] After an unconfirmed victory on Christmas Day, he shot down two balloons on 5 January 1917.[2] He then transferred to Jagdstaffel 25 on 14 January 1917. On 19 January, he received the Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.[1] Between 19 January and 6 April 1917, he claimed seven triumphs, only three of which were confirmed.[2]

Victories in Macedonia

"U/C" marks an unconfirmed victory.

No. Date/time Unit Foe Location Notes
1 September 1916 FFA 69 Biplane Bitola, vicinity of Manastir
2 14 December 1916 FFA 69 Observation balloon Vicinity of Monastir
U/C 25 December 1916 FFA 69 Enemy aircraft Foe forced to land
3 5 January 1917 FFA 69 Observation balloon Vicinity of Negočani
4 5 January 1917 FFA 69 Observation balloon Cernabogen
5 19 January 1917 Jagdstaffel 25 Caudron G.IV North of Gjevgjeli
U/C 20 January 1917 Jasta 25 Farman Southwest of Doiran Lake
U/C 20 January 1917 Jasta 25 Enemy aircraft Southwest of Doiran Lake
6 11 February 1917 @ 1200 hours Jasta 25 Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 South of Hudova, vicinity of Balince Victim was from No. 47 Squadron RFC
U/C 1 March 1917 Jasta 25 Enemy aircraft
7 31 March 1917 Jasta 25 Observation balloon Cernabogen, south of Monastir Victim was from 27th Kite Balloon Squadron
U/C 6 April 1917 Jasta 25 Observation balloon[1][2]

In France
Braunecker's final victim flew a Sopwith Triplane.

On 20 April 1917, he moved to Jasta 11 on the Western Front, to serve under Manfred von Richthofen. He scored twice in early June. On 22 July 1917, he shot down a 10 Naval Squadron Sopwith Triplane, probably Canadian seven-victory ace Flight Lieutenant John Albert Page. On 26 July 1917, Brauneck fell to the guns of 70 Squadron's Captain Noel Webb.[1]

Victories in France
No. Date/time Unit Foe Location Notes
8 1 June 1917 @ 1158 hours Jagdstaffel 11 Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 Méricourt, France Victim from No. 16 Squadron RFC
9 5 June 1917 1120 hours Jasta 11 Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter Terhand Victim from No. 45 Squadron RFC
10 22 July 1917 @ 1125 hours Jasta 11 Sopwith Triplane N5478 Becelaere[1][2] Victim from No. 10 Squadron RNAS

Decorations and awards

Sources of information
  1. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918. pp. 84–85.
  2. The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/brauneck.php Retrieved on 20 April 2010.
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References

Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918 Norman L. R. Franks, et al. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.

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