Heinrich Gontermann
| Heinrich Gontermann | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 25 February 1896 Siegen, Southern Westphalia, Germany |
| Died | 30 October 1917 (aged 21) La Neuville, France, near Marle |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/branch | Cavalry, Air Service |
| Years of service | 1914–1917 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | 6th Uhlans, 80th Fusiliers, Kampfstaffel Tergnier, FA 25, Jagdstaffel 5, Jagdstaffel 15 |
| Commands held | Jasta 15 |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Military Order of Max Joseph, Iron Cross (First and Second Class) |
Heinrich Gontermann (25 February 1896 – 30 October 1917) was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 39 victories during the war.
Born in Siegen, Southern Westphalia, on 25 February 1896, Heinrich Gontermann grew into a tall slender man, full of vitality. He abstained from smoking and was only a social drinker. He was a patriotic, religious introvert.
Gontermann's father, a cavalry officer, pushed him towards a career in the military. After leaving school, Heinrich enlisted into the 6th Uhlan Cavalry Regiment in Hanau on 14 August 1914. Only days after arriving in his regiment, he was sent into action.
Gontermann had a reputation for being aloof, but during his time with the Uhlans he displayed leadership abilities. He was slightly wounded in September 1914, and he was promoted to Feldwebel. Early in the spring of 1915, he was given a field commission as Leutnant and he was also awarded the Iron Cross Second Class. While he continued to lead his men through 1915 Gontermann applied for a transfer to the newly formed German Army Air Service, but in October 1915 he was transferred to the 80th Fusilier Regiment.
He was finally accepted for pilot/observer training, and upon his graduation in early 1916 was posted to Kampfstaffel Tergnier as a reconnaissance pilot flying the Roland C.II. Later that spring he was posted to Field-Abteilung 25 where he flew both as a pilot and as an observer on AGO C.Is.
Gontermann applied for aviation training at Jastaschule and a transfer to a fighter unit. He was accepted and on 11 November 1916 joined Jasta 5. Three days later, while on his first combat sortie, he shot down his first aircraft: an FE.2b on patrol over Morval.
There was a lull in his scoring until 6 March 1917, when he shot down an FE.2d of No. 57 Squadron RFC the day after being awarded the Iron Cross First Class. He scored regularly in March, becoming an ace on the 24th by downing a Sopwith 1½ Strutter. He added a second one the following day. It was after this victory that he wrote home, "Today I shot down a two-seater.... He broke up into dust in the air.... It is a horrible job but one must do one's duty."
...
Wikipedia