Wilhelm Frickart
Leutnant Wilhelm Frickart was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories. He is the only known German observer to become an ace balloon buster. After pilot training, he scored five additional victories, to become an ace a second time.
Wilhelm Frickart | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/ | Aviation |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | FA 24/FA 242, FA 20, Jasta 64, Jasta 65 |
| Commands held | Jasta 65 |
| Awards | Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, Silver and Bronze award of Austro-Hungarian Medal for Bravery |
Biography
Early life
Wilhelm Maxmilian Frickart was born in Engers, the German Empire on 25 July 1893.[1][2]
Military service in Russia
Frickart was originally assigned to duty as an observer/gunner on the Russian Front with FA 24 (later redubbed FA 242). He scored his first victory on 12 April 1917,teaming with Leopold Anslinger to shoot down a Voisin. He followed up for a second one on 27 April. Between 15 and 28 June, he shot down five Russian observation balloons.[1][2]
Victories in Russia
| No. | Date | Foe | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 April 1917 | Voisin | Pututory (vicinity of Kuropatniki) | |
| 2 | 27 April 1917 | Voisin | Kuropatniki | |
| 3 | 15 June 1917 | Observation balloon | North of Zloczowska | |
| 4 | 20 June 1917 | Observation balloon | Telacze | |
| 5 | 24 June 1917 | Observation balloon | Folosenkow | |
| 6 | 28 June 1917 | Observation balloon | Folosenkow | |
| 7 | 28 June 1917 | Observation balloon | Telacze[1][2] | |
Military service in France
Frickart then went for pilot training, and was consequently assigned to FA 20 on the Western Front. He had three wins there, only one of which, scored on 17 March 1918, was confirmed.[2] From there, he progressed to flying fighters for Jagdstaffel 64 in mid-1918. He then moved to Jagdstaffel 65 on 19 August 1918 as deputy commander under fellow ace Otto Fitzner, and intermittently commanded the squadron while scoring his last four wins between 30 August and 4 October 1918.[1][2]
Victories in France
"U/C" means a claimed victory was unconfirmed.
| No. | Date | Foe | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 18 March 1918 | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Vicinity of Tahaino Lake |
| U/C | 24 March 1918 | Sopwith | Humkos |
| U/C | 22 April 1918 | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Southeast of Tahaino Lake |
| 9 | 30 August 1918 | Airco DH.4 | Hermeville |
| 10 | 14 September 1918 | Caudron R.9 | Latour |
| 11 | 26 September 1918 | SPAD | South of Delut |
| 12 | 4 October 1918 | SPAD 2 | Montfaucon[1][2] |
Sources of information
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918. p. 110.
- The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/frickart.php Retrieved 30 November 2017.
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.