Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp

Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp
Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp
Born	(1897-11-19)19 November 1897 Bothkamp, Province of Schleswig-Holstein, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Died	27 February 1976(1976-02-27) (aged 78) Kirchbarkau, Schleswig-Holstein, West Germany
Allegiance	German Empire (to 1918)  Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftstreitkräfte  Luftwaffe
Years of service	1916–18 1935–45
Rank	Oberst
Unit	JG 77, JG 2, NJG 101
Commands held	JG 2
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain
Awards	Iron Cross (WW I) II. Class I. Class Aviator badge (WW I) Albert Order II. Class with swords Military Order of St. Henry House Order of Hohenzollern Aviator badge (WW II) Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4. Class Clasp to the Iron Cross II. Class 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross I. Class 1939 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp (brother)

World War I

World War II

Oberst Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp (19 November 1897 – 27 February 1976) Holder of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, was a German fighter ace notable for being one of the few two-war aces in history. After scoring six victories in World War I, he became a Luftwaffe ace in World War II, with 12 additional victories.

Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp was a child of nobility, born in his family's castle in the village of Bothkamp in the Schleswig-Holstein Province of Germany. He began his military service with Saxon Hussar Regiment No. 18 when he was 17, before learning to fly in August 1916. In December 1916 he joined the German air service. He was one of three brothers (the others being Walter and Conrad) to serve in the Fliegertruppe during World War I. He first flew two seaters with FFA 53, which became FA 272 (A), as a reconnaissance pilot adjusting artillery fire, before becoming a fighter pilot with Jasta 36, which was commanded by his brother Walter who fell on 6 January 1918.

During his time with Jasta 36, Harry von Bulow-Bothkamp shot down an Airco D.H.4 on 12 October 1917, followed by five additional enemy fighters. His last victory came on 21 July 1918, over Major R.N. Freeman, CO of No. 73 Squadron. His notable win was his fourth, over British 10-kill ace Captain Cecil Clark of No 1 Squadron, who was wounded and taken prisoner. Harry was discharged from the service by order of the Kaiser on 25 August 1918. Harry was the last survivor of four brothers; the oldest, Friedrich, was killed in 1914, and Conrad died in a flying accident on 26 September 1918 while commanding part of the Aviation Battalion of the Finnish Air Force.

Harry had earned the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and Iron Cross for his service.

After World War I he returned to school (Gymnasium) receiving his Abitur and went to University studying agriculture. Together with Paul Bäumer he founded the Bäumer Aero in Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel to produce airplanes. The company went bankrupt in the course of the Great Depression.