Stefan Fejes
Encyclopedia
Feldwebel Stefan Fejes was an Austro-Hungarian flying ace
credited with 16 confirmed and 4 unconfirmed aerial victories during World War I. By war's end, he had not only received numerous decorations, he had been personally promoted by his emperor.
When Austria-Hungary dissolved at war's end, Fejes became a Hungarian citizen. He defended his new nation against invasion in the aftermath of World War I
. He continued in aviation throughout World War II, as a commercial civil pilot, a military instructor, and a military transport and liaison pilot.
, Hungary on 30 August 1891. He reported for his Austro-Hungarian national service military obligation in 1912, and was posted to infantry service. At the start of World War I, he went into battle with them. In September 1914, he was wounded so seriously that it took him six months to recover. He was then assigned to motor transport
on 10 March 1915. He lasted in this posting for 14 months; he then transferred to the Luftfahrtruppen.
flying Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
two-seater aircraft. Flik 19 was commanded by Adolf Heyrowsky
and was a general purpose squadron operating a mixed bag of planes for a wide range of missions including photographic reconnaissance, aerial observation
, and bombing raids. Although aerial combat was not the unit's primary purpose, it had such aces as Franz Rudorfer
, Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg
, and Ludwig Hautzmayer
on its strength.
Fejes scored his first aerial victory on only his third operational sortie. After this promising start, he became an ace piloting the two-seater, as he and his observers downed five Italian planes together. Fejes won the Silver Bravery Medal Second Class, followed by two additional First Class awards. His dogfight on 19 June 1917 may have been the fount of one of these awards; that was the day that Fejes and Josef Pürer singlehandedly took on a flight of Italian Nieuport fighters, claiming two and having their own plane downed near Schönpass in the process. Certainly, Fejes' reputation with his superiors did not hurt; they evaluated him as "earnest, modest, industrious, dependable" with good technical knowledge but a poor command of German. That his victories were scored in the course of the usual duties of a reconnaissance squadron could not fail to impress.
In early October 1917, Fejes was transferred to a dedicated fighter unit, Flik 51J at Ghirano, Prata di Pordenone
, as part of a migration of Flik 19s aces to fighter duty. Once there, he was promoted to Feldwebel
in February 1918. At his new unit, he switched mounts to an Albatros D.III
fighter plane and continued his victory streak. A slight wound in the heel suffered during a prolonged dogfight within view of his home airfield on 20 March 1918 did not sidetrack him; he landed victorious, with 46 bullet holes in his plane. Eventually, he ran his tally to 16 confirmed victories; while doing so, he won three awards of Austria-Hungary's highest decoration for enlisted troops, the Gold Bravery Medal, in January, June, and July 1918. He also won a promotion to Stabsfeldwebel
from his Emperor's own hands in July 1918.
, Serbia
, and Czechoslovakia
, Fejes helped fight the intruders. He flew a Fokker D.VII
for the 8th Squadron of the Red Air Corps; Johann Risztics
and Alexander Kasza
served with him. In May 1919, mechanical failure during a ground attack mission at Losoncz dropped him into captivity until the end of hostilities later that year.
By 1920, he was free again, flying a mock dogfight against Johann Risztics in the Budapest Air Show on 7 November. By 1928, he was an instructor at a clandestine training center for the Hungarian Air Force
at Szombathely
, where students fondly nicknamed him "Fejes Bacsi", or "Uncle Fejes" because of his genial gentlemanly manner.
From 1930–1936, he flew commercially between Zurich, Rome, and Milan. After transferring to the Hungarian Malert
airline, he continued to fly as a civil pilot until 1940.
On 26 June 1941, Fejes was reactivated for World War II; he served as a military transport and command liaison pilot for the duration of hostilities. At war's end, he returned to Budapest. He is believed to have survived there until at least the 1950s.
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 16 confirmed and 4 unconfirmed aerial victories during World War I. By war's end, he had not only received numerous decorations, he had been personally promoted by his emperor.
When Austria-Hungary dissolved at war's end, Fejes became a Hungarian citizen. He defended his new nation against invasion in the aftermath of World War I
Aftermath of World War I
The fighting in World War I ended in western Europe when the Armistice took effect at 11:00 am GMT on November 11, 1918, and in eastern Europe by the early 1920s. During and in the aftermath of the war the political, cultural, and social order was drastically changed in Europe, Asia and Africa,...
. He continued in aviation throughout World War II, as a commercial civil pilot, a military instructor, and a military transport and liaison pilot.
Early life and service
Stefan Fejes was born in GyőrGyor
-Climate:-Main sights:The ancient core of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Rába and Rábca. Püspökvár, the residence of Győr’s bishops can be easily recognised by its incomplete tower. Győr’s oldest buildings are the 13th-century dwelling tower and the...
, Hungary on 30 August 1891. He reported for his Austro-Hungarian national service military obligation in 1912, and was posted to infantry service. At the start of World War I, he went into battle with them. In September 1914, he was wounded so seriously that it took him six months to recover. He was then assigned to motor transport
Motor transport
Motor transport refers to the operation and maintenance of a military vehicle fleet , and sometimes to the servicemembers to operate and maintain them. Traditionally, motor transport organizations are responsible for a unit's military trucks and associated equipment, as well as the transport of...
on 10 March 1915. He lasted in this posting for 14 months; he then transferred to the Luftfahrtruppen.
World War I aviation service
Fejes completed pilot's training in early 1917. On 3 February 1917, he was then assigned to Flik 19 at Haidenschaft as a Sergeant PilotSergeant Pilot
A Sergeant Pilot was a non-commissioned officer who had undergone flight training and was a qualified pilot in the air forces of several Commonwealth countries and in the United States Army Air Force before, during and after World War II where they were called Flying Sergeants...
flying Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
-See also:-References:# Munson, Kenneth - Bombers, Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft 1914 - 1919 ISBN 0 7537 0918 X# # # -External links:* ....
two-seater aircraft. Flik 19 was commanded by Adolf Heyrowsky
Adolf Heyrowsky
Oberst Adolf Heyrowsky, 18 February 1882-1945, was a career officer in the Austro-Hungarian military who turned to aviation. He became an accredited flying ace during World War I, with twelve aerial victories.-Pre-World War I:...
and was a general purpose squadron operating a mixed bag of planes for a wide range of missions including photographic reconnaissance, aerial observation
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...
, and bombing raids. Although aerial combat was not the unit's primary purpose, it had such aces as Franz Rudorfer
Franz Rudorfer
Oberleutnant Franz Rudorfer was a World War I flying ace credited with eleven confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories.-World War I:Rudorfer had volunteered for service before World War I began. He was posted to Infanterieregiment No. 59 as a new leutnant in August 1916. In May 1917, he...
, Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg
Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg
Hauptmann Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg , Order of the Iron Crown, Order of Leopold, Military Merit Cross, Military Merit Medal, Gold Medal for Bravery, Iron Cross was an Austro-Hungarian fighter ace with 28 victories to his credit during World War I. He was the third ranking ace of the...
, and Ludwig Hautzmayer
Ludwig Hautzmayer
Oberleutnant Ludwig Hautzmayer was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-Reference:...
on its strength.
Fejes scored his first aerial victory on only his third operational sortie. After this promising start, he became an ace piloting the two-seater, as he and his observers downed five Italian planes together. Fejes won the Silver Bravery Medal Second Class, followed by two additional First Class awards. His dogfight on 19 June 1917 may have been the fount of one of these awards; that was the day that Fejes and Josef Pürer singlehandedly took on a flight of Italian Nieuport fighters, claiming two and having their own plane downed near Schönpass in the process. Certainly, Fejes' reputation with his superiors did not hurt; they evaluated him as "earnest, modest, industrious, dependable" with good technical knowledge but a poor command of German. That his victories were scored in the course of the usual duties of a reconnaissance squadron could not fail to impress.
In early October 1917, Fejes was transferred to a dedicated fighter unit, Flik 51J at Ghirano, Prata di Pordenone
Prata di Pordenone
Prata di Pordenone is a comune in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 100 km northwest of Trieste and about 8 km southwest of Pordenone....
, as part of a migration of Flik 19s aces to fighter duty. Once there, he was promoted to Feldwebel
Sergeant Major
Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
in February 1918. At his new unit, he switched mounts to 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 plane and continued his victory streak. A slight wound in the heel suffered during a prolonged dogfight within view of his home airfield on 20 March 1918 did not sidetrack him; he landed victorious, with 46 bullet holes in his plane. Eventually, he ran his tally to 16 confirmed victories; while doing so, he won three awards of Austria-Hungary's highest decoration for enlisted troops, the Gold Bravery Medal, in January, June, and July 1918. He also won a promotion to Stabsfeldwebel
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
from his Emperor's own hands in July 1918.
Post World War I
With the dissolution of Austria-Hungary at the end of the war, Fejes became a Hungarian citizen. When Hungary was invaded by RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, and Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Fejes helped fight the intruders. He flew 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...
for the 8th Squadron of the Red Air Corps; Johann Risztics
Johann Risztics
Stabfeldwebel Johann Risztics was the Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with seven reliably confirmed aerial victories.During 1918, Risztics formed a strong friendship with fellow pilots Fredrich Hefty and Ferdinand Udvardy...
and Alexander Kasza
Alexander Kasza
Feldwebel Alexander Kasza was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He died during a Soviet bombardment of Budapest.-References:...
served with him. In May 1919, mechanical failure during a ground attack mission at Losoncz dropped him into captivity until the end of hostilities later that year.
By 1920, he was free again, flying a mock dogfight against Johann Risztics in the Budapest Air Show on 7 November. By 1928, he was an instructor at a clandestine training center for the Hungarian Air Force
Hungarian Air Force
The Hungarian Air Force is the air force branch of the Hungarian Army.- 1918 to Pre–World War II :Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, a small air arm was established operating surviving aircraft from Hungarian factories and training schools...
at Szombathely
Szombathely
Szombathely is the 10th largest city in Hungary. It is the administrative centre of Vas county in the west of the country, located near the border with Austria...
, where students fondly nicknamed him "Fejes Bacsi", or "Uncle Fejes" because of his genial gentlemanly manner.
From 1930–1936, he flew commercially between Zurich, Rome, and Milan. After transferring to the Hungarian Malert
Malert
Malert was a Hungarian airline, founded on November 19, 1922. The airline folded in 1944, and was a fore-runner of MALÉV Hungarian Airlines....
airline, he continued to fly as a civil pilot until 1940.
On 26 June 1941, Fejes was reactivated for World War II; he served as a military transport and command liaison pilot for the duration of hostilities. At war's end, he returned to Budapest. He is believed to have survived there until at least the 1950s.
List of aerial victories
Confirmed victories are numbered. Unconfirmed victories are marked "u/c".| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 April 1917 | Hansa-Brandenburg C.I Hansa-Brandenburg C.I -See also:-References:# Munson, Kenneth - Bombers, Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft 1914 - 1919 ISBN 0 7537 0918 X# # # -External links:* .... two-seater reconnaissance plane serial number 29.09 |
Italian 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 |
Crashed and wrecked | Vicinity of Gorizia Gorizia Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin... , Italy's train station |
Victory shared with Adolf Heyrowsky Adolf Heyrowsky Oberst Adolf Heyrowsky, 18 February 1882-1945, was a career officer in the Austro-Hungarian military who turned to aviation. He became an accredited flying ace during World War I, with twelve aerial victories.-Pre-World War I:... , Josef Pürer |
| 2 | 14 May 1917 @ 0730 hours | Hansa-Brandenburg C.I | Italian Nieuport fighter | Merna | Victory shared with observer Alexander Tahy Alexander Tahy Oberleutnant Alexander Tahy was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Reference:... |
|
| 3 | 20 May 1917 @ 0815 hours | Hansa-Brandenburg C.I s/n 29.63 | Italian 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 |
Britof Britof Britof is a settlement just northeast of the town of Kranj in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.The local church is dedicated to Saint Thomas.-External links:*... , Slovenia Slovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... |
||
| 4 | 19 June 1917 | Hansa-Brandenburg C.I s/n 29.63 | Nieuport fighter | Vrtojba Vrtojba Vrtojba is a settlement in the Šempeter-Vrtojba municipality in the Slovene Littoral region of Slovenia. A border crossing into Italy is located here... |
Victory shared with observer Josef Pürer | |
| u/c | 19 June 1917 | Hansa-Brandenburg C.I s/n 29.63 | Nieuport fighter | Last seen in vertical dive | Vrtojba | Because of battle damage, Fejes made a forced landing after combat |
| 5 | 26 June 1917 @ 0920 hours | Hansa-Brandenburg C.I s/n 29.63 | 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... reconnaissance plane |
Crashed | Vrtojba | Victory shared with observer Alexander Tahy; also Adolf Heyrowsky and another pilot |
| 6 | Morning of 3 December 1917 | 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 |
Observation balloon Observation balloon Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today.... |
Set afire | Visnadello, Spresiano Spresiano Spresiano is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 40 km north of Venice and about 13 km north of Treviso... , Italy |
Victory shared with Eugen Bönsch Eugen Bönsch -Early life and service:Bönsch studied mechanics at the State Trade School. He originally joined the army in 1915, but after completing basic training transferred to aviation. His original assignment was as a mechanic with Fliegerersatzkompagnie 6.-Flying service:... |
| 7 | 9 December 1917 | Albatros D.III fighter | Italian SAML S2 Aviatik B.I |-See also:-External links:*... two-seater reconnaissance machine |
Treviso Treviso Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city... , Italy |
Shared victory | |
| 8 | 10 December 1917 | Albatros D.III fighter | English enemy aircraft | Candelù | ||
| 9 | 18 March 1918 past noon | Albatros D.III fighter s/n 153.132 | 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... fighter |
Crashed | West of Salgareda Salgareda Salgareda 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... , Italy |
Shared victory |
| 10 | 22 March 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter | Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War designed by John Kenworthy. Intended as a replacement for the vulnerable B.E.2, the R.E.8 was more difficult to fly, and was regarded with great suspicion at first in the Royal... two-seater reconnaissance plane |
Susegana Susegana Susegana is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about north of Venice and about north of Treviso.-History:... -Saletto Saletto Saletto is a comune in the Province of Padua in the Italian region Veneto, located about 70 km southwest of Venice and about 35 km southwest of Padua... , Italy |
Shared victory | |
| 11 | 30 March 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter s/n 153.42 | Sopwith Camel fighter | Forced to land | Vicinity of Oderzo Oderzo Oderzo is a town and comune in the province of Treviso, Veneto, northern Italy.It lies in the heart of the Venetian plain, about 66 km to the northeast of Venice... |
Fejes wounded in action 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.... |
| 12 | 17 April 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter s/n 153.28 | Sopwith Camel fighter | Probable victim W. G. Hargrave killed in action 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... |
Arcade, Italy Arcade, Italy Arcade is a comune with 3,440 inhabitants in the province of Treviso, northern Italy.... |
|
| 13 | 1 May 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter s/n 153.42 | Sopwith Camel fighter | Breda di Piave Breda di Piave Breda di Piave is a commune in the province of Treviso, Veneto, northern Italy.-References:... , Italy |
||
| u/c | 3 May 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter s/n 153.40 | French two-seater reconnaissance plane | Arcade, Italy | ||
| u/c | 3 May 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter s/n 153.55 | Observation balloon | Destroyed | Northwest of 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... , Italy |
|
| 14 | 22 May 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter s/n 153.42 | Sopwith Camel fighter | East of Spresiano, Italy | ||
| 15 | 15 June 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter | Spad | Arcade, in vicinity of Italian 33rd Infantry Division | ||
| 16 | 1 September 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter s/n 253.54 | Sopwith Camel fighter | Arcade, Italy | ||
| u/c | 1 September 1918 | Albatros D.III fighter | Candelu | |||
See also
- Aerial victory standards of World War IAerial victory standards of World War IDuring World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories.The victory scores of the pilots represented at List of World War I flying aces often cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best...
- List of World War I flying aces from Austria-Hungary