Ernst Strohschneider
Encyclopedia
Oberleutnant Ernst Strohschneider was an Austro-Hungarian flying ace
during World War I. He was credited with 15 confirmed aerial victories during his rise to the simultaneous command of two fighter squadrons. He died in a flying accident on 21 March 1918.
), Czech Republic
. He was of Sudeten German parentage, and his family was well-to-do. When old enough, he joined the infantry and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the reserves in January 1913. He was serving with the 28th Infantry Regiment on the Serbian front when World War I began.
early in the war, on 28 August 1914. After hospitalization, he was posted to a Guards unit, the 42nd Infantry Regiment on the Russian Front. He went into bitter winter battle at the Chryszcata Heights in the Carpathian Mountains
and suffered a knee wound on 9 February 1915. He returned from hospital after this injury to command a machine gun section. On 19 September 1915, he was wounded for the third time, and captured by the Russians. He escaped to friendly lines. After convalescense, he was then invalided from the army as unfit for further service.
He joined the Luftfahrtruppen and was trained as an aerial observer
at the Officer's Flight School at Wiener-Neustadt by March 1916. He was posted to Heinrich Kostrba
's Flik 23 in the South Tyrol
, where his first win went unconfirmed. More notable were his long and hazardous reconnaissance flights deep into enemy territory and his bombing missions flown through heavy antiaircraft fire.
Once transferred to Flik 28 along the Isonzo, he soon trained as a pilot, returning to Wiener-Nieustadt. While attending school there, he taught student observers while also undergoing flight training. He qualified as a pilot on 30 December 1916, and received Austrian Pilot Certificate No. 596 on 30 January 1917. The new pilot was posted to Flugegeschwader I on the Isonzo line. Here he and Julius Arigi
flew as fighter escort to the unit's bombers and Strohschneider scored his first two victories despite a certain lack of finesse at the controls, as on 17 April 1917, he wrecked Hansa-Brandenburg D.I
serial number 28.08. However, this assignment saw him awarded the Silver Military Merit Medal with Swords, as well as the Military Merit Medal Third Class.
Strohschneider was then transferred from his general purpose assignment to a fighter squadron at Prosecco
when he was appointed second-in-command of Flik 42J. He would score nine victories during his tenure with this squadron. He would also befriend Reserve Leutnant Franz Gräser
, with whom he ultimately shared seven victories. However, in an incident that demonstrated Strohschneider's belief in the rigid Austro-Hungarian class structure, he was the squadron's sole officer who did not congratulate an enlisted fellow ace on a medal awarded in October 1917. The incident did not harm Strohschneider's professional reputation; on 29 October he was commended by his superiors for his exemplary temporary command of his squadron.
He was then posted to command of a fighter unit, Flik 61J on 28 December 1917, the first reserve lieutenant to do so. He was joined by his friend, Franz Gräser, at Flik 61J's field at Motta di Livenza. Strohschneider also found himself simultaneously commanding a second fighter squadron while its commander Karl Nikitsch
was ill. Under Strohschneider's leadership, Flik 61J undertook a wide variety of missions. It flew fighter interceptions, fighter escort missions, strafed trenches and artillery batteries, and attacked enemy airfields and naval ships. They also flew night sorties. Strohschneider was awarded the Order of the Iron Crown, Third Class, with War Decoration and Swords for his feats.
On the night of 20 March 1918, Ernst Strohschneider took off in Phonix D.I
s/n 228.36 to accompany a five plane night mission against an Italian position at Zenson di Piave
. His return in the early morning hours of 21 March ended in a fatal crash. He was posthumously honored with the Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold with War Decoration and Swords.
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. He was credited with 15 confirmed aerial victories during his rise to the simultaneous command of two fighter squadrons. He died in a flying accident on 21 March 1918.
Early life
Ernst Strohschneider was born on 6 September 1886 in Aussig an der Elbe (present day Ústí nad LabemÚstí nad Labem
Ústí nad Labem is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Ústí nad Labem Region. The city is the 7th-most populous in the country.Ústí is situated in a mountainous district at the confluence of the Bílina and the Elbe Rivers, and, besides being an active river port, is an important railway junction...
), Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. He was of Sudeten German parentage, and his family was well-to-do. When old enough, he joined the infantry and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the reserves in January 1913. He was serving with the 28th Infantry Regiment on the Serbian front when World War I began.
World War I
Strohschneider was wounded by a bullet in the tibiaTibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
early in the war, on 28 August 1914. After hospitalization, he was posted to a Guards unit, the 42nd Infantry Regiment on the Russian Front. He went into bitter winter battle at the Chryszcata Heights in the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
and suffered a knee wound on 9 February 1915. He returned from hospital after this injury to command a machine gun section. On 19 September 1915, he was wounded for the third time, and captured by the Russians. He escaped to friendly lines. After convalescense, he was then invalided from the army as unfit for further service.
He joined the Luftfahrtruppen and was trained as an aerial observer
Aerial observer
Aerial Observer- Air Force Reconnaissance.An Aerial Observer is the functional position of gathering information visually from an airborne platform for use by military or commercial purposes. This history started when the first balloons were flown in Europe...
at the Officer's Flight School at Wiener-Neustadt by March 1916. He was posted to Heinrich Kostrba
Heinrich Kostrba
Hauptmann Heinrich Kostrba was the first Austro-Hungarian pilot to score three victories in a single day, on 18 February 1916, and three more on 29 June 1916. He went on to amass eight aerial victories and become a flying ace. Postwar, he founded and led the Czechoslovakian Flying Corps.-Reference:...
's Flik 23 in the South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
, where his first win went unconfirmed. More notable were his long and hazardous reconnaissance flights deep into enemy territory and his bombing missions flown through heavy antiaircraft fire.
Once transferred to Flik 28 along the Isonzo, he soon trained as a pilot, returning to Wiener-Nieustadt. While attending school there, he taught student observers while also undergoing flight training. He qualified as a pilot on 30 December 1916, and received Austrian Pilot Certificate No. 596 on 30 January 1917. The new pilot was posted to Flugegeschwader I on the Isonzo line. Here he and Julius Arigi
Julius Arigi
Julius Arigi was a flying ace of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I with a total of 32 credited victories. He was Austro-Hungary's most highly decorated ace. His victory total was second only to Godwin Brumowski. Arigi was considered a superb natural pilot...
flew as fighter escort to the unit's bombers and Strohschneider scored his first two victories despite a certain lack of finesse at the controls, as on 17 April 1917, he wrecked Hansa-Brandenburg D.I
Hansa-Brandenburg D.I
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Angelucci, Enzo . World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Jane's, 1981. ISBN 0 7106 0148 4.*Gray, Peter and Thetford, Owen. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962....
serial number 28.08. However, this assignment saw him awarded the Silver Military Merit Medal with Swords, as well as the Military Merit Medal Third Class.
Strohschneider was then transferred from his general purpose assignment to a fighter squadron at Prosecco
Prosecco
Prosecco is an Italian white wine — generally a Dry or Extra Dry sparkling wine — normally made from Glera grapes. DOC prosecco is produced in the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, and traditionally mainly in the areas near Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the hills...
when he was appointed second-in-command of Flik 42J. He would score nine victories during his tenure with this squadron. He would also befriend Reserve Leutnant Franz Gräser
Franz Gräser
Leutnant Franz Gräser was a World War I flying ace credited with 18 aerial victories.Gräser was a technical university student in Budapest until World War I broke out. In October 1914, he enlisted in Infanterieregiment No. 72, graduated reserve officer school in mid-July 1915, and began World War I...
, with whom he ultimately shared seven victories. However, in an incident that demonstrated Strohschneider's belief in the rigid Austro-Hungarian class structure, he was the squadron's sole officer who did not congratulate an enlisted fellow ace on a medal awarded in October 1917. The incident did not harm Strohschneider's professional reputation; on 29 October he was commended by his superiors for his exemplary temporary command of his squadron.
He was then posted to command of a fighter unit, Flik 61J on 28 December 1917, the first reserve lieutenant to do so. He was joined by his friend, Franz Gräser, at Flik 61J's field at Motta di Livenza. Strohschneider also found himself simultaneously commanding a second fighter squadron while its commander Karl Nikitsch
Karl Nikitsch
Hauptmann Karl Nikitsch was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Reference:...
was ill. Under Strohschneider's leadership, Flik 61J undertook a wide variety of missions. It flew fighter interceptions, fighter escort missions, strafed trenches and artillery batteries, and attacked enemy airfields and naval ships. They also flew night sorties. Strohschneider was awarded the Order of the Iron Crown, Third Class, with War Decoration and Swords for his feats.
On the night of 20 March 1918, Ernst Strohschneider took off in Phonix D.I
Phönix D.I
-Bibliography:...
s/n 228.36 to accompany a five plane night mission against an Italian position at Zenson di Piave
Zenson di Piave
Zenson di Piave is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 30 km northeast of Venice and about 20 km east of Treviso...
. His return in the early morning hours of 21 March ended in a fatal crash. He was posthumously honored with the Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold with War Decoration and Swords.
List of aerial victories
Credited victories are numbered. Others are marked "u/c" for "unconfirmed".| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| u/c | 15 June 1916 @ 0730 hours | Lloyd C.III serial number 43.61 | Italian seaplane Seaplane A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft... |
Cima Alta | Pilot: 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... Franz Schorn |
|
| 1 | 3 June 1917 @ 1030 hours | Hansa-Brandenburg D.I Hansa-Brandenburg D.I |-See also:-Bibliography:*Angelucci, Enzo . World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Jane's, 1981. ISBN 0 7106 0148 4.*Gray, Peter and Thetford, Owen. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962.... |
Farman Farman Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers; Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were... two-seater reconnaissance plane |
Holed gas tank | Monte Korada | Confirmed by both air and ground observers |
| 2 | 21 June 1917 | Hansa-Brandenburg D.I. | Farman two-seater | Cormons Cormons Cormons is a comune in the Province of Gorizia in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 45 km northwest of Trieste and about 12 km west of Gorizia, on the border with Slovenia... , Italy |
||
| 3 | 23 September 1917 | Unknown | French Spad Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:... fighter |
Set on fire | Nova Vas Nova Vas Nova Vas may refer to*Nova Vas, Brtonigla, village in the Brtonigla municipality in Croatia*Nova Vas, Kršan, village in the Kršan municipality in Croatia*Nova Vas, Poreč, settlement within the town of Poreč in Croatia... , Croatia Croatia Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ... , near Kostanjevica |
Victory shared with Ferdinand Udvardy Ferdinand Udvardy Stabsfeldwebel Ferdinand Udvardy was a Hungarian conscript into the military of the Austro-Hungarian Empire who became a flying ace credited with nine aerial victories... . Confirmed by both air and ground observers |
| 4 | 23 September 1917 | Unknown | Savoia Pomilio two-seater | Crashed | Kostanjevica, Croatia | Victory shared with Ferdinand Udvardy Ferdinand Udvardy Stabsfeldwebel Ferdinand Udvardy was a Hungarian conscript into the military of the Austro-Hungarian Empire who became a flying ace credited with nine aerial victories... . Confirmed by both air and ground observers |
| 5 | 26 September 1917 | Unknown | Spad fighter | Ronchi Ronchi Ronchi may refer to:*Luke Ronchi, an Australian cricketer*Vasco Ronchi, an Italian physicist known for his work in optics*Ronchi test, a method of determining the figure of a mirror used in telescopes and other optical devices invented by Vasco Ronchi... , Italy |
Victory shared with Ferdinand Udvardy, Karl Teichmann Karl Teichmann Feldwebel Karl Teichmann was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.-References:... , and Vincenz Magerl |
|
| 6 | 3 October 1917 | Probably an Albatros D.III Albatros D.III The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer... fighter |
French Spad two-seater | Pilot F. Di Rudini KIA Killed in action Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to... |
Gradisca d'Isonzo, Italy | Confirmed by both air and ground observers. |
| 7 | 25 October 1917 | Probably an Albatros D.III | Italian seaplane | Set on fire | Grado, Friuli–Venezia Giulia, Italy | Victory shared with Franz Gräser Franz Gräser Leutnant Franz Gräser was a World War I flying ace credited with 18 aerial victories.Gräser was a technical university student in Budapest until World War I broke out. In October 1914, he enlisted in Infanterieregiment No. 72, graduated reserve officer school in mid-July 1915, and began World War I... |
| 8 | 26 October 1917 | Probably an Albatros D.III | Italian seaplane | Grado, Friuli–Venezia Giulia, Italy | ||
| 9 | 27 October 1917 | Probably an Albatros D.III | Italian seaplane | Set afire | Victory shared with Franz Gräser | |
| 10 | 15 November 1917 | Probably an Albatros D.III | Sopwith | Meolo Meolo -Sources:*... Monastier di Treviso Monastier di Treviso Monastier di Treviso is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 25 km northeast of Venice and about 14 km east of Treviso... |
Victory shared with Franz Gräser | |
| 11 | 29 November 1917 | Probably an Albatros D.III | S.A.M.L. 2 seater | Forced to land; Italian aircrew captured | Casa Tagli | Victory shared with Franz Gräser, Karl Patzelt Karl Patzelt Oberleutnant Karl Patzelt was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.-References:... |
| 12 | 26 January 1918 @ 1810 hours | Albatros D.III fighter | seaplane | "swamp area" of Lagune Palude Maggiore | Victory shared with Franz Gräser | |
| 13 | 30 January 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter serial number 153.119 | Sopwith two-seater | Cana Reggio | Victory shared with Franz Gräser. Strohschneider WIA Wounded in action Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight.... |
|
| 14 | 24 February 1918 | Albatros D.III 153.119 | Macchi M.5 flying boat Flying boat A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage... marked "M-18" |
Crashed with pilot WIA | Marcello Marcello Marcello is an Italian surname and given name, the Italian equivalent of Marcel.- Etymology :The name originally means like a hammer.It is originally the adjectival form of marcus which means hammer; the -el suffix was in times of archaic Latin the adjectival form.-People with this given name:*... |
Victory shared with Franz Gräser and two other pilots |
| 15 | 16 March 1918 | Albatros D.III 153.119 | Italian Ansaldo S.V.A. | Crashed into a somersaulting wreck | Casonetti, near Porto di Piave Vecchia | Victory shared with Franz Gräser |