Walter Blume (aircraft designer)
| Walter Blume | |
|---|---|
Lieutenant Walter Blume in World War I
|
|
| Born |
10 January 1896 Hirschberg, Silesia, Germany |
| Died | 27 May 1964 (aged 68) Duisburg, Germany |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/ |
Jaegers, Aerial Service |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | 5th Jaegers, FFA 65, FFA 280, Jagdstaffel 26, Jagdstaffel 9 |
| Awards | Pour le Merite, Iron Cross |
| Other work | Aircraft designer. |
Walter Blume (10 January 1896 – 27 May 1964) was a German fighter ace of World War I. During World War I, he flew with Jastas 26 and 9, gaining 28 aerial victories and earning the Iron Cross and the Pour le Merite.
Post World War I he became a prominent aircraft designer for both Albatros and Arado, being one of the pioneers of jet propulsion design in airplanes.
Walter Blume was born in Hirschberg, Silesia, and originally served in the 5th Silesian Jaeger Battalion in September 1914. After being wounded early in the conflict, he trained as a pilot beginning 30 June 1915. He began his flying career in two-seater Aviatik aircraft with Feldflieger abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 65 from 18 June 1916 through 20 January 1917. He received an Iron Cross Second Class during this time, on 24 July 1916. He then successfully asked for a transfer to flying single-seat fighters for Jasta 26 in January 1917. In August 1916, he was promoted to Vizefeldwebel. On 31 January 1917, he was commissioned a leutnant. This was also the month he would shift to Jasta 26.
He scored his first victory for Jasta 26 on 10 May 1917. On 14 August, he received the Iron Cross First Class. He became an ace on 24 October 1917, and on 29 November 1917 received a serious chest wound in combat with No. 48 Squadron RFC's Bristol F.2 Fighters. He was hospitalised for over 3 months.
After a spell with Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 3, on 5 March 1918 Blume returned to active duty, commanding Jasta 9. He scored a further 22 victories, all with his new unit. With the exception of double scores on 31 August 1918 and 14 September 1918, he accumulated his successes singly, mostly fighters. Only four of his victories were over two-seater aircraft. He flew in both Albatros fighters and the Fokker D.VII.
...
Wikipedia