Alois Heldmann
| Alois Heldmann | |
|---|---|
| Born |
December 2, 1895 Grevenbrück, Lennestadt, German Empire |
| Died |
November 1, 1983 (aged 87) Grevenbrück, Lennestadt |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftstreitkräfte.png){kind=small} Luftwaffe |
| Years of service |
1915–1918 1933–1946 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | FA 57, FA 59, FA(A) 256, Jasta 10 |
| Awards | Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross |
| Other work | Served as colonel in the Luftwaffe |
Colonel Alois Heldmann was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 confirmed aerial victories (plus three unconfirmed) while he was a leutnant. He later joined the nascent Luftwaffe in 1933 and was a flying school inspector through the end of World War II.[1]
Early life and service
Alois Heldmann's native town was Grevenbrück, 100 km eastern from Cologne, where he was born on 2 December 1895. He was studying engineering until the war began. Heldmann joined the Imperial German Army on 3 January 1915, and originally served as an infantryman on the Russian Front. Shortly thereafter, he transferred to aviation duty.[2][3]
Flying service
After switching to aviation, Heldmann served in a two-seater aerial reconnaissance unit, FA 57, beginning in August 1915. He then transferred to FA 59, which also operated two-seaters. His Eastern Front duties saw him serve in Serbia and Bulgaria. He then transferred fronts and moved to France. He was a well experienced pilot by the time he was promoted into the officer's ranks in 1917 as a Leutnant. Heldmann joined Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 10 on 24 June 1917[3] and was given a Pfalz D.III to fly. He would use the Pfalz for his first five wins, beginning 22 July 1917. He then upgraded to a Fokker D.VII,[2][4] which bore his initials painted on the top wing; its nose was yellow, its tail a checkerboard. He scored steadily throughout the last eight months of the war, with his last victory just five days before war's end.[3] Twice he rose to temporary command of the squadron, from 19 June to 6 July 1918, and from 10 to 14 August. Heldmann survived the war.[5][6]
Post World War I
Heldmann returned to being an engineer postwar. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1933. Having risen to the rank of colonel, he became an inspector of a flying school. He served through World War II, and was subsequently imprisoned by Allied forces until 1946. He then resided in Bad Aibling, Germany.[3] Alois Heldmann died on 1 November 1983 in his native Grevenbruck.[1]
Honors and awards
World War I
- Iron Cross both First and Second Class
- Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern[3]
Sources of information
- 1 2 The Aerodrome website's page on Heldmann http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/heldmann.php Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- 1 2 Franks, VanWyngarden 2003, pp. 12-13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Franks et al 1993, p. 126.
- ↑ VanWyngarden 2006, pp. 25-26.
- ↑ The Aerodrome website page on Jasta 10 http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta10.php Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ↑ Franks et al 1993, p. 33.
References
- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
- Franks, Norman. Albatros Aces of World War 1: Part 1 of Albatros Aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-960-3, ISBN 978-1-85532-960-7.
- Franks, Norman; VanWyngarden, Greg. Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1, Part 1. Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-533-3, ISBN 978-1-84176-533-4.
- Van WynGarden, Greg. Pfalz Scout Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1-84176-998-3, ISBN 978-1-84176-998-1.