Carl Degelow
| Carl Degelow | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Charly |
| Born | 5 January 1891 Munsterdorf, Germany |
| Died | 9 November 1970 (aged 79) Hamburg, Germany |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/branch | Infantry, Air Service |
| Years of service | 1914 - circa 1945 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Infantry Regiment 88, FAA 216, Jagdstaffel 36, Jagdstaffel 7 |
| Commands held | Jagdstaffel 40 |
| Awards |
Pour le Merite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross |
| Other work | Luftwaffe in World War II. |
Carl "Charly" Degelow (5 January 1891 – 9 November 1970) Pour le Merite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern,Iron Cross, was a German fighter pilot during World War I. He was credited with 30 victories, and was the last person to win the military Pour le Merite.
Carl Degelow was born on 5 January 1891 in Münsterdorf, Schleswig-Holstein, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
In 1912-1913, before World War I broke out, Degelow worked in the United States as an industrial chemist. His specialty was the manufacture of cement, and he was known to have visited Chicago and El Paso.
He returned to Germany just before World War I erupted and enlisted in Nassauischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr 88. Degelow initially served with distinction in this infantry regiment in both France and Russia, winning both classes of the Iron Cross and earning promotion in rank from Gefreiter to Vizefeldwebel. He was also wounded in the arm while fighting in Russia. He was commissioned as a Leutnant on 31 July 1915. He was seriously wounded in the arm in Russia in 1915, and commissioned in July 1915 while he was still hospitalized.
Degelow transferred to the air service in 1916 and trained as a pilot. His first assignment was to Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie): Flier Detachment (Artillery) 216 as an artillery spotter at the beginning of 1917, directing and correcting artillery fire from an Albatros C.V. On 22 May 1917, he claimed a French Caudron G.IV, but it was unconfirmed. Three days later, he shot down another Caudron; for this one he got credit.
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