Karl Plauth
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Karl Plauth was a World War I flying ace
credited with 17 aerial victories. After being wounded during the Battle of Verdun
, he transferred to flying service. After a stint in FA 204, an artillery cooperation unit, he was assigned to fly a Fokker D.VII
with Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 20 on 14 June 1918. Plauth scored his first triumph on 9 July 1918. A wound four days later didn't deter him from scoring again on the 31st. By 28 September, his tally stood at 10, the point at which he became an Überkanone, or "big gun". The following day, he became the Staffelfuhrer
of Royal Prussian Jasta 51. As their leader, he shot down seven more enemy aircraft during October, 1918, bringing his total to 17. However, he was no killer; he preferred to see his opponents survive.
He was piloting the Junkers A 32
, which he helped design, on a test flight on 2 November 1927, when it failed to pull out of a loop. He died in the resultant crash.
Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913-1945. Antony L. Kay, Paul Couper. Naval Institute Press, 2004. ISBN 0851779859, 9780851779850
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 17 aerial victories. After being wounded during the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
, he transferred to flying service. After a stint in FA 204, an artillery cooperation unit, he was assigned to fly a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
with Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 20 on 14 June 1918. Plauth scored his first triumph on 9 July 1918. A wound four days later didn't deter him from scoring again on the 31st. By 28 September, his tally stood at 10, the point at which he became an Überkanone, or "big gun". The following day, he became the Staffelfuhrer
Staffelführer
Staffelführer was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German Schutzstaffel in the early years of that group’s existence...
of Royal Prussian Jasta 51. As their leader, he shot down seven more enemy aircraft during October, 1918, bringing his total to 17. However, he was no killer; he preferred to see his opponents survive.
He was piloting the Junkers A 32
Junkers A 32
|-References:* *...
, which he helped design, on a test flight on 2 November 1927, when it failed to pull out of a loop. He died in the resultant crash.
Reference
Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1, Part 2. Norman Franks, Greg VanWyngarden. Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1841767298, 9781841767291Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913-1945. Antony L. Kay, Paul Couper. Naval Institute Press, 2004. ISBN 0851779859, 9780851779850