Ernst Hess
| Ernst Hess | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 January 1893 Wiesbaden, Germany |
| Died |
23 December 1917 (aged 24) East of |
| Südfriedhof | Weisbaden, Germany |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | FA 9, FA 62, Jasta 10, KEK Douai, Fokkerstaffel C, Jasta 28, Jasta 19 |
| Awards | House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross (both classes) |
Leutnant Ernst Hess HOH IC was a World War I flying ace credited with 17 confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories. Hess was one of a few World War I pilots involved in aviation prewar, as he gained his civil pilot's license on 26 September 1913. He was already enrolled in Die Fliegertruppes (The Flying Troops) of the Imperial German Army when World War I began. He qualified for his military pilot's license on 21 November 1914, and was launched on his flying career as one of Germany's first fighter pilots. He would score his first aerial victory in tandem with Oswald Boelcke on 5 January 1916. He would rotate through four assignments before scoring a dozen victories within July–September 1917 while flying an Albatros D.Va for Jagdstaffel 28. On 19 September 1917, he was promoted to command of Jagdstaffel 19. He had just been appointed to command of a Jagdgruppe (fighter group) being formed by Germany's First Army when he was killed in combat on 23 December 1917.
Ernst Hess was born on 8 January 1893 in Wiesbaden in the German Empire. His education led him into engineering, and he became interested in flying. He trained as a pilot, receiving Pilot's License 535 on 26 September 1913. On 1 October 1913, he joined Luftschiffer Battalion Nr. 3. On 1 April 1914, he was forwarded to Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 3 to train as a military pilot. World War I began even as he trained.
On 21 November 1914, he earned his military pilot's badge. He then joined Flieger-Abteilung (Flier Detachment) 9 as an Unteroffizier, when they were operating in the vicinities of Lille and Arras, France. On 24 June 1915, he was promoted into the officer's ranks as a Leutnant. He moved to Douai to join FA 62, and its co-located ad hoc fighter detachment, Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Douai. Hess joined Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann there.
...
Wikipedia