Kurt Wusthoff
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Kurt Wüsthoff (27 January 1897 - 23 July 1926) was a German fighter pilot credited with 27 victories during World War I. He was the second youngest winner of Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite
or Blue Max.
He joined the German air service at age 16½, in mid 1913. After earning his pilot's license, he was assigned to be a flight instructor in Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 6 because he was considered too young for combat. He flew such two seater aircraft as the LVG C.II, Aviatik B.I, and Albatros C.I When old enough for combat duty, Wüsthoff served on the Western Front with Kampfgeschwader I over Verdun and the Somme in 1916. When KG I moved east, Wüsthoff got his chance to fly observation and bombing missions in Bulgaria, Rumania, Macedonia, and Greece.
, under the command of Oberleutnant Kurt-Bertram von Döring
. The squadron was part of Germany's original fighter wing, von Richthofen's Flying Circus.
Wüsthoff scored his first aerial victory on 15 June 1917, shooting down a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter near Vormezeele, Belgium. He then shot down three observation balloons on three different days, and followed them up with a Sopwith Camel
on 20 July, making him an ace in just over a month. The last day of July saw his sixth confirmed triumph.
He was commissioned as a leutnant on 1 August. He scored only once in August, then ran off a string of 14 victories in September, making him a quadruple ace. He shot down two more enemy aircraft in October, and three in November. He won the Pour le Merite
on 22 November 1917, having previously been awarded the Iron Cross
and the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.
His rapid rise to fame came with a price, however. The teenage ace began struggling with severe emotional and physical problems. He was also beginning to suffer from battle fatigue, and the stress of combat was causing him stomach problems. Granting Wüsthoff command of the squadron inflamed many of his fellow fliers; they felt their youngest member was pushy and over-ambitious. While his first tenure as acting commander was fleeting, from 12 through 20 December 1917, he was appointed Staffelführer
permanently on 19 January 1918. He held the post for two months, until 16 March. By February, he had already made his first sojourn to Doctor Lahmann's Dresden sanatorium for treatment of his stomach and "nervous disorders".
Wüsthoff's personality clashes were not the only thing wrong with his leadership; he failed to lead by example, not scoring in battle. He finally shot down his 27th and final victim on 10 March 1918.
Six days later, his immediate superior, Manfred von Richthofen
, relieved him from command. As his successor remarked, "He was the youngest—very much younger than all his pilots—and he had a very cheeky way. Apart from not being a very sympathetic man, he reported victories he did not always check." Wüsthoff was given a desk job in the wing's headquarters. He left the wing altogether on 4 May and was sent back to Doctor Lahmann's care for his combat fatigue.
On 16 June, he returned to duty as a pilot in another Prussian squadron, Jagdstaffel 15
. He borrowed the fancifully marked Fokker of Georg von Hantelmann
to fly a patrol the following day. He engaged a Royal Air Force
group of four SE5's of No. 24 Squadron, three of which were aces, Ian McDonald
, Horace Barton
, George Owen Johnson
, and C. E. Barton, who forced Wüsthoff down in the vicinity of Cachy, France. Wüsthoff was seriously wounded in both legs, taken prisoner, and treated in various French hospitals. He complained bitterly about the adequacy of his treatment.
On 18 July 1926, he flew a plane built by Ernst Udet
in a memorial show to Max Immelmann
in Dresden
. He crashed while performing aerobatics. He was taken to Friedrichstad Hospital with a fractured skull and two legs so mangled they had to be amputated. On 23 July 1926, Kurt Wüsthoff succumbed to his injuries.
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
or Blue Max.
Early life
Kurt Wüsthoff was born in Aachen, the westernmost city in Germany, on 27 January 1897. His father was a music director. In 1913, the family moved to Dresden, where Kurt studied art in high school.He joined the German air service at age 16½, in mid 1913. After earning his pilot's license, he was assigned to be a flight instructor in Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 6 because he was considered too young for combat. He flew such two seater aircraft as the LVG C.II, Aviatik B.I, and Albatros C.I When old enough for combat duty, Wüsthoff served on the Western Front with Kampfgeschwader I over Verdun and the Somme in 1916. When KG I moved east, Wüsthoff got his chance to fly observation and bombing missions in Bulgaria, Rumania, Macedonia, and Greece.
Fighter Service
By June, 1917, Wüsthoff had been promoted to Vizefeldwebel. He transferred to fighter service with a Prussian squadron, Jagdstaffel 4Jagdstaffel 4
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 4, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 4, was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. The unit would score 192 confirmed victories; in turn, it would suffer 11 Killed in Action, 9 Wounded in Action, and two Prisoners of...
, under the command of Oberleutnant Kurt-Bertram von Döring
Kurt-Bertram von Döring
Generalleutnant Kurt-Bertram von Döring was a German World War II Luftwaffe Generalleutnant...
. The squadron was part of Germany's original fighter wing, von Richthofen's Flying Circus.
Wüsthoff scored his first aerial victory on 15 June 1917, shooting down a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter near Vormezeele, Belgium. He then shot down three observation balloons on three different days, and followed them up with a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
on 20 July, making him an ace in just over a month. The last day of July saw his sixth confirmed triumph.
He was commissioned as a leutnant on 1 August. He scored only once in August, then ran off a string of 14 victories in September, making him a quadruple ace. He shot down two more enemy aircraft in October, and three in November. He won the Pour le Merite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
on 22 November 1917, having previously been awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
and the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.
His rapid rise to fame came with a price, however. The teenage ace began struggling with severe emotional and physical problems. He was also beginning to suffer from battle fatigue, and the stress of combat was causing him stomach problems. Granting Wüsthoff command of the squadron inflamed many of his fellow fliers; they felt their youngest member was pushy and over-ambitious. While his first tenure as acting commander was fleeting, from 12 through 20 December 1917, he was appointed Staffelführer
Staffelführer
Staffelführer was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German Schutzstaffel in the early years of that group’s existence...
permanently on 19 January 1918. He held the post for two months, until 16 March. By February, he had already made his first sojourn to Doctor Lahmann's Dresden sanatorium for treatment of his stomach and "nervous disorders".
Wüsthoff's personality clashes were not the only thing wrong with his leadership; he failed to lead by example, not scoring in battle. He finally shot down his 27th and final victim on 10 March 1918.
Six days later, his immediate superior, Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
, relieved him from command. As his successor remarked, "He was the youngest—very much younger than all his pilots—and he had a very cheeky way. Apart from not being a very sympathetic man, he reported victories he did not always check." Wüsthoff was given a desk job in the wing's headquarters. He left the wing altogether on 4 May and was sent back to Doctor Lahmann's care for his combat fatigue.
On 16 June, he returned to duty as a pilot in another Prussian squadron, Jagdstaffel 15
Jagdstaffel 15
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 15, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 15, was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe...
. He borrowed the fancifully marked Fokker of Georg von Hantelmann
Georg von Hantelmann
Leutnant Georg von Hantelmann was a German fighter ace credited with winning 25 victories during World War I. It was notable that these victories included three opposing aces shot down within the same week....
to fly a patrol the following day. He engaged a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
group of four SE5's of No. 24 Squadron, three of which were aces, Ian McDonald
Ian Donald Roy McDonald
Captain Ian Donald Roy McDonald was a World War I flying ace credited with 20 aerial victories. Although born in the British West Indies, he returned to England to serve in the air force. After his successful career in combat, he spent a short while at home before returning to the colors...
, Horace Barton
Horace Barton
Captain Horace Dale Barton was a World War I flying ace credited with 19 aerial victories.He originally spent 1914–1916 with the army in German Southwest and East Africa. He then joined the Royal Flying Corps in England. His first assignment after pilot's training was 84 Squadron. On 3 January...
, George Owen Johnson
George Owen Johnson
Air Marshal George Owen Johnson CB, MC was a Canadian aviator.-World War I service:Born in Woodstock, Ontario in 1896, George Owen Johnson initially served as a subaltern with the Corps of School Cadet Instructors from 1913 to 1916...
, and C. E. Barton, who forced Wüsthoff down in the vicinity of Cachy, France. Wüsthoff was seriously wounded in both legs, taken prisoner, and treated in various French hospitals. He complained bitterly about the adequacy of his treatment.
Post war
Wüsthoff remained in French captivity in Chateau-Gontier until 1920. When he was finally released, he was malnourished and on crutches. He eventually improved to the point he could walk again. Wüsthoff returned to aviation and flew for advertising campaigns.On 18 July 1926, he flew a plane built by Ernst Udet
Ernst Udet
Colonel General Ernst Udet was the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I. He was one of the youngest aces and was the highest scoring German ace to survive the war . His 62 victories were second only to Manfred von Richthofen, his commander in the Flying Circus...
in a memorial show to Max Immelmann
Max Immelmann
Max Immelmann was the first German World War I flying ace. He was a great pioneer in fighter aviation and is often mistakenly credited with the first aerial victory using a synchronized gun...
in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
. He crashed while performing aerobatics. He was taken to Friedrichstad Hospital with a fractured skull and two legs so mangled they had to be amputated. On 23 July 1926, Kurt Wüsthoff succumbed to his injuries.