Ulrich Neckel
Encyclopedia
Ulrich Neckel Pour le Mérite
, Iron Cross
First and Second Class, was a World War I
fighter ace
credited with 30 victories.
Neckel joined FA 25 in early 1917, flying two-seaters on the Eastern Front. Undergoing single seat fighter training in August, He was assigned to Prussian Jagdstaffeln 12 on 8 September 1917 with the rank of Gefreiter
.
This unit was one of four in Jagdgeschwader 2
under command of ace Adolf Ritter von Tutschek
. On the 21st, Neckel claimed his first victory, a Sopwith Pup
of 46 Squadron. A week later, he shot down an Airco D.H.5. A third victory on 18 October followed.
Neckel was privileged during his time with Jasta 12. He had a choice of personal airplanes to fly. Both an Albatros and a Fokker Dr.I
triplane bore his personal insignia on white chevrons on the fuselage.
Neckel next achieved a victory on 18 January 1918 and steadily accumulated claims, with his fifth on 26 February. His next victory was over an ace, Lt. John McCudden
of 84 Squadron who survived. He scored his tenth on 21 April, making him a 'kanone'.
The twenty year old Neckel was now a Vizefeldwebel and was commissioned Leutnant in April 1918. At about this time, he transferred to Prussian Jasta 13
.
June 1918 was Neckel's greatest month, as he notched up eight victories, and added two more in July. On 12 August Neckel was appointed by Jagdgeschwader 2 Commander Rudolf Berthold to provisionally command Jasta 19. The following day saw Neckel's down 29-kill ace Major Charles Dawson Booker
. Booker died gallantly, fighting six to one odds to preserve the life of the rookie pilot with him. This was Neckel's 22nd victory.
Neckel proved a competent Jasta commander. On 1 September,Neckel was posted to command Prussian Jasta 6
in the famed Flying Circus
of JG 1. His 30th claim , scored on 6 November, would result in the award of the Pour le Mérite
on the 8th. It was the penultimate Blue Max awarded in World War I.
Neckel flew a Fokker D.VII
with a teddy bear luck charm perched atop his rear view mirror.
In his 30 victories, he was responsible for at least a dozen deaths; yet the twenty-year-old ace sought out and shook hands with his final victim, Lieutenant Ben E. Brown.
Ulrich Neckel survived the war, only to succumb to tuberculosis while in Arco. He was buried in Berlin
. He was 30 years old.
In the 1930s, Lufthansa named one of its Junkers 52 passenger airliners after Neckel.
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....
, 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....
First and Second Class, 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...
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
credited with 30 victories.
Early Life and Enlistment
Ulrich Neckel was born in Gustrow, part of Mecklenburg, in northeastern Germany. He enlisted aged 18 in an artillery regiment. After extensive service in Russia he then transferred to flying service in November 1916.Neckel joined FA 25 in early 1917, flying two-seaters on the Eastern Front. Undergoing single seat fighter training in August, He was assigned to Prussian Jagdstaffeln 12 on 8 September 1917 with the rank of Gefreiter
Gefreiter
Gefreiter is the German, Swiss and Austrian equivalent for the military rank Private . Gefreiter was the lowest rank to which an ordinary soldier could be promoted. As a military rank it has existed since at least the 16th century...
.
This unit was one of four in Jagdgeschwader 2
Jagdgeschwader 2
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" was a World War II Luftwaffe wing. It was named after World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen.-History:...
under command of ace Adolf Ritter von Tutschek
Adolf Ritter von Tutschek
Adolf, Ritter von Tutschek Pour le Mérite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, Military Order of Max Joseph, was a professional soldier turned aviator who became a leading fighter ace with 27 victories...
. On the 21st, Neckel claimed his first victory, a Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
of 46 Squadron. A week later, he shot down an Airco D.H.5. A third victory on 18 October followed.
Flying in World War I
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
triplane bore his personal insignia on white chevrons on the fuselage.
Neckel next achieved a victory on 18 January 1918 and steadily accumulated claims, with his fifth on 26 February. His next victory was over an ace, Lt. John McCudden
John McCudden
Second Lieutenant John Anthony McCudden was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. He survived a downing by German ace Ulrich Neckel on 28 February 1918, only to be killed in action by Hans Wolff. He was the younger brother of British ace James McCudden.-Reference:...
of 84 Squadron who survived. He scored his tenth on 21 April, making him a 'kanone'.
The twenty year old Neckel was now a Vizefeldwebel and was commissioned Leutnant in April 1918. At about this time, he transferred to Prussian Jasta 13
Jasta 13
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 13 was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe...
.
June 1918 was Neckel's greatest month, as he notched up eight victories, and added two more in July. On 12 August Neckel was appointed by Jagdgeschwader 2 Commander Rudolf Berthold to provisionally command Jasta 19. The following day saw Neckel's down 29-kill ace Major Charles Dawson Booker
Charles Dawson Booker
Major Charles Dawson Booker DSC was a World War I fighter ace credited with 29 victories. He was promoted to high rank while relatively young as a result of his gallantry and unswerving dedication to his country.-Early life:Charles Dawson Booker was born to Joseph Dawson and Rachel C...
. Booker died gallantly, fighting six to one odds to preserve the life of the rookie pilot with him. This was Neckel's 22nd victory.
Neckel proved a competent Jasta commander. On 1 September,Neckel was posted to command Prussian Jasta 6
Jasta 6
-History:Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 6 was founded on 25 August 1916. It was one of the original units of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. The jasta was formed from Fokkerstaffel Sivry, itself an early attempt to use the new winged weapons of fighter aircraft...
in the famed Flying Circus
Flying Circus
Flying Circus may mean:In aviation:*Jagdgeschwader 1 , a German World War I fighter wing commanded by Manfred von Richthofen at one point*The American World War II air corps led by Joe Foss...
of JG 1. His 30th claim , scored on 6 November, would result in the award of the Pour le Mérite
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 the 8th. It was the penultimate Blue Max awarded in World War I.
Neckel 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...
with a teddy bear luck charm perched atop his rear view mirror.
In his 30 victories, he was responsible for at least a dozen deaths; yet the twenty-year-old ace sought out and shook hands with his final victim, Lieutenant Ben E. Brown.
Ulrich Neckel survived the war, only to succumb to tuberculosis while in Arco. He was buried in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He was 30 years old.
In the 1930s, Lufthansa named one of its Junkers 52 passenger airliners after Neckel.