Karl Emil Schäfer
| Emil Schäfer | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s) |
Karlchen ("Charlie") |
| Born |
17 December 1891 Krefeld, Germany |
| Died | 5 June 1917 (aged 25) Becelaere-Zandvoorde, Belgium |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service/branch | Luftstreitkräfte |
| Years of service | 1914–1917 |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit |
|
| Commands held | Jagdstaffel 28 |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Eastern Front • Western Front |
| Awards |
Pour le Mérite Iron Cross First & Second Class Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Wound Badge |
Karl Emil Schäfer (17 December 1891 – 5 June 1917) was a German pilot during World War I; he became one of the major German flying aces of the war, with 30 confirmed aerial victories.
Schäfer was born in Krefeld and joined the Jäger Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 10 of the Prussian Army for his One-year volunteer military service. An engineering student who spoke fluent French and English, he was a fine draughtsman, and was studying in Paris when the war broke out, but managed to return to Germany and was assigned to the Reserve Jäger Bataillon 7 in Bückeburg. He won the Iron Cross 2nd class and was promoted to Vizefeldwebel during September 1914, before being badly wounded and hospitalised for six months. After returning to the front line he was commissioned in May 1915.
Requesting flying duties Schäfer trained as a pilot and served over the Eastern Front with Kampfgeschwader 2 from July 1916 onwards. He moved to the west and now flew with Kampfstaffel 11 of KG 2, where he gained his first victory. With just this single victory, he impudently telegraphed Manfred von Richthofen, who was assembling a "top gun" (kanone) squadron at Jasta 11, "Can you use me?" Richthofen replied, "You have already been requested."
Schäfer was then posted to Jasta 11 on 21 February 1917. In intensive operations during Bloody April he became a flying ace, being credited with 21 victories and awarded the Pour le Mérite. While a member of Jasta 11, "Karlchen" (Charlie) became known as the squadron's prankster and recorded many vivid incidents in combat and at play. He flew an Albatros D.III with red and black markings. Somehow amidst all this he found time to pen his autobiography, Vom Jaeger zum Flieger ("From Soldier to Pilot").
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