Hermann Pfeiffer
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Hermann Pfeiffer was a World War I flying ace
credited with eleven aerial victories.
Pfeiffer joined the German army on 1 October 1913. He rose to Unteroffizier
in the 114th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. He won an Iron Cross Second Class in May 1915. He then transferred to aviation, and in July, he began pilot training. Once qualified, he was posted to FFA 10, where he was promoted to Vizefeldwebel on 11 July 1916. Later that month, he transferred to FFA 10, which was attached to AOK 3, to fly single-seated Fokker
fighters. He came under the command of Kurt Student
. Pfeiffer shot down a Caudron
on 6 August 1916. Four days later, he received the Iron Cross First Class as a consequence. On 24 August, 2 and 26 September, he shot down a Caudron apiece. On 7 October, AOK 3 morphed into Jasta 9. Pfeiffer continued to shoot down enemy planes, tallying seven more between 10 November 1916 and 14 May 1917. During this stretch, he also received two decorations from his native Baden, as well as being commissioned on 21 November 1916.
On 20 May 1917, Hermann Pfeiffer died during the test flight of a captured Nieuport
fighter.
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...
credited with eleven aerial victories.
Pfeiffer joined the German army on 1 October 1913. He rose to Unteroffizier
Unteroffizier
Unteroffizier is both a specific military rank as well as a collective term for non-commissioned officers of the German military that has existed since the 19th century. The rank existed as a title as early as the 17th century with the first widespread usage occurring in the Bavarian Army of the...
in the 114th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. He won an Iron Cross Second Class in May 1915. He then transferred to aviation, and in July, he began pilot training. Once qualified, he was posted to FFA 10, where he was promoted to Vizefeldwebel on 11 July 1916. Later that month, he transferred to FFA 10, which was attached to AOK 3, to fly single-seated Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
fighters. He came under the command of Kurt Student
Kurt Student
Kurt Student was a German Luftwaffe general who fought as a fighter pilot during the First World War and as the commander of German Fallschirmjäger during the Second World War.-Biography:...
. Pfeiffer shot down a Caudron
Caudron
The Caudron Airplane Company was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 by brothers Gaston Caudron and René Caudron . It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for the military in both World War I and World War II...
on 6 August 1916. Four days later, he received the Iron Cross First Class as a consequence. On 24 August, 2 and 26 September, he shot down a Caudron apiece. On 7 October, AOK 3 morphed into Jasta 9. Pfeiffer continued to shoot down enemy planes, tallying seven more between 10 November 1916 and 14 May 1917. During this stretch, he also received two decorations from his native Baden, as well as being commissioned on 21 November 1916.
On 20 May 1917, Hermann Pfeiffer died during the test flight of a captured Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
fighter.
Reference
- Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918 Norman L. R. Franks, et al. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0948817739, 9780948817731.
- Early German Aces of World War I. Greg VanWyngarden, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1841769975, 9781841769974.