Adolf Heyrowsky
Encyclopedia
Oberst
Adolf Heyrowsky, 18 February 1882-1945, was a career officer in the Austro-Hungarian military
who turned to aviation
. He became an accredited flying ace
during World War I
, with twelve aerial victories.
Infantry
Military Academy
in 1902. He enlisted in Infanterieregiment 9 and became an Offizierstellvertreter. He was promoted to Leutnant in May 1904, and on to Oberleutnant
six years later. In 1912, Heyrowski volunteered for aviation; in August of that year, he qualified as a pilot
. By the time World War I broke out, Heyrowsky had a respectable military career in progress. He opened his war serving with Flik 2 against the Serbs.
s, Heyrowsky carried out daring deep reconnaissance missions that penetrated as far as 125 miles (200 km) into enemy terrain. On 22 February and 3 March 1915, he played balloon buster
over Belgrade
for Flik 9, destroying an observation balloon on both dates.
His third win came after he took command of a newly formed unit, Flik 19. Flying with Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg as his observer, Heyrowsky shot down the Italian
airship
M4 on 4 May 1916. Even as Heyrowsky was reopening his victory list, he was also volunteering to serve as an infantry officer
in the ongoing Battle of Isonzo in his time off from flying. During August, he was forced to land on two consecutive days, even as he picked up two more wins and became an ace. Heyrowsky would continue to score right through 26 June 1917, when he shot a double. He was shot down again in October, evaded capture, and was removed from combat duty for staff work. He began as staff officer for aviation for the Second Army
, and moved up to become the air liaison officer
to Generalleutnant Ernst Wilhelm von Hoeppner.
Oberst
during World War II. He died in 1945, when he was on the brink of promotion to Generalmajor.
Austro-Hungarian aces of World War 1 Chant, Christopher. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-376-4, 9781841763767.
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
Adolf Heyrowsky, 18 February 1882-1945, was a career officer in the Austro-Hungarian military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
who turned to aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
. He became an accredited flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, with twelve aerial victories.
Pre-World War I
Heyrowsky graduated from Prague'sPrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Military Academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
in 1902. He enlisted in Infanterieregiment 9 and became an Offizierstellvertreter. He was promoted to Leutnant in May 1904, and on to Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
six years later. In 1912, Heyrowski volunteered for aviation; in August of that year, he qualified as a pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
. By the time World War I broke out, Heyrowsky had a respectable military career in progress. He opened his war serving with Flik 2 against the Serbs.
World War I
Despite the limitations of outdated Jakob Lohner AG Pfeilflieger biplaneBiplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
s, Heyrowsky carried out daring deep reconnaissance missions that penetrated as far as 125 miles (200 km) into enemy terrain. On 22 February and 3 March 1915, he played balloon buster
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
over Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
for Flik 9, destroying an observation balloon on both dates.
His third win came after he took command of a newly formed unit, Flik 19. Flying with Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg as his observer, Heyrowsky shot down the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
M4 on 4 May 1916. Even as Heyrowsky was reopening his victory list, he was also volunteering to serve as an infantry officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the ongoing Battle of Isonzo in his time off from flying. During August, he was forced to land on two consecutive days, even as he picked up two more wins and became an ace. Heyrowsky would continue to score right through 26 June 1917, when he shot a double. He was shot down again in October, evaded capture, and was removed from combat duty for staff work. He began as staff officer for aviation for the Second Army
Second Army
A number of nations have had a Second Army* Australian Second Army* British Second Army* French Second Army* German Second Army* Japanese Second Army* Ottoman Second Army* Polish Second Army* Second Army , fought at Tannenberg...
, and moved up to become the air liaison officer
Liaison officer
A liaison officer or LNO is a person that liaises between two organizations to communicate and coordinate their activities. Generally, they are used to achieve the best utilization of resources or employment of services of one organization by another. In the military, liaison officers may...
to Generalleutnant Ernst Wilhelm von Hoeppner.
World War II
Heyrowsky served as a LuftwaffeLuftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
during World War II. He died in 1945, when he was on the brink of promotion to Generalmajor.
Sources
BibliographyAustro-Hungarian aces of World War 1 Chant, Christopher. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-376-4, 9781841763767.
External links
Further reading
- Austro-Hungarian Aces of World War I Chant, Christopher. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-376-4, 9781841763767.