Walter Göttsch
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Walter Göttsch was a German
World War I
flying ace
credited with 20 aerial victories.
, who won a posthumous Victoria Cross
. Göttsch won a double victory on 1 February, but then was shot down and wounded in action for the first time two days later.
Because of his wounding, he would not score again until 6 April 1917. By 5 May, he had doubled his victory total to twelve. He was once again downed by the observer of a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d on 29 June. After this wounding, he did not win again until 17 July 1917. By 16 September, he had pushed his tally to 17, downing a Sopwith Camel
that day. On 25 September, he fell under the guns of a Bristol F.2 Fighter
, wounded once again. He returned to duty, but had no luck, being wounded for the fourth time on 25 November 1917 by James Dennis Payne
.
would score only twice before his end, with back to back triumphs on 31 March and 1 April.
Göttsch was killed in action on 10 April 1918, apparently by return fire from the observer in his final victim, although German accounts also claim he was hit by ground fire. His Fokker Dr.I triplane, marked with a swastika, fell behind British lines and was salvaged.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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 20 aerial victories.
Early service
Walter Göttsch volunteered for the German army on 1 July 1915. He was originally assigned to FA 33 to fly artillery cooperation missions in Flanders.Service as a fighter pilot
After training as a fighter pilot, he was assigned to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 8 on 10 September 1916. On 4 November 1916, he destroyed a Belgian observation balloon for his first victory. He then scored twice more before winning a momentous dogfight on 7 January 1917; his opponent that day was Thomas MottersheadThomas Mottershead
Thomas Mottershead VC, DCM was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Background:...
, who won a posthumous Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. Göttsch won a double victory on 1 February, but then was shot down and wounded in action for the first time two days later.
Because of his wounding, he would not score again until 6 April 1917. By 5 May, he had doubled his victory total to twelve. He was once again downed by the observer of a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2d on 29 June. After this wounding, he did not win again until 17 July 1917. By 16 September, he had pushed his tally to 17, downing 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...
that day. On 25 September, he fell under the guns of a Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
, wounded once again. He returned to duty, but had no luck, being wounded for the fourth time on 25 November 1917 by James Dennis Payne
James Dennis Payne
Captain James Dennis Payne was a World War I flying ace credited with fourteen aerial victories.-World War I service:On 10 July 1915 Sergeant Payne was awarded flight certificate No. 1415 on Maurice Farman Biplane from the Military School in Birmingham....
.
Command and death
Göttsch would not return to action until January 1918. On 14 February, he was given command of Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 19. The new StaffelfuhrerStaffelführer
Staffelführer was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German Schutzstaffel in the early years of that group’s existence...
would score only twice before his end, with back to back triumphs on 31 March and 1 April.
Göttsch was killed in action on 10 April 1918, apparently by return fire from the observer in his final victim, although German accounts also claim he was hit by ground fire. His Fokker Dr.I triplane, marked with a swastika, fell behind British lines and was salvaged.