Leutnant Kurt Wissemann was a 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...

 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...

 credited with five aerial victories.

Born in Elberfeld

Elberfeld

Elberfeld is a municipal subdivision of the German city of Wuppertal; it was an independent town until 1929.-History:The first official mentioning of the geographic area on the banks of today's Wupper River as "elverfelde" was in a document of 1161...

, Wissemann trained at Jastaschule 1 before being posted to Jasta 3 on 28 May 1917. He claimed 5 victories during 1917, one of which was reputed to be top French ace Georges Guynemer

Georges Guynemer

Georges Guynemer was a top fighter ace for France during World War I, and a French national hero at the time of his death.-Early life and military career:...

 on 11 September. He was killed in action over Westroosbeke, allegedly versus Capt. Rene Fonck

René Fonck

René Paul Fonck was a French aviator who ended the First World War as the top Allied fighter ace, and when all succeeding aerial conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries are also considered, Fonck still holds the title of "all-time Allied Ace of Aces". He received confirmation for 75 victories ...

 but documentary evidence suggests it was more probably either Capt Reginald Hoidge

Reginald Hoidge

Reginald Theodore Carlos Hoidge MC & Bar was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 28 victories...

 or Capt Geoffrey Hilton Bowman

Geoffrey Hilton Bowman

Group Captain Geoffrey Hilton "Beery" Bowman DSO, MC and Bar, DFC was a World War I fighter ace credited with 32 victories...

of No. 56 Squadron, RFC .