Heinrich Henkel

Last updated
Heinrich Henkel
Born 11 May 1896
Hamburg, German Empire
Died Unknown
Allegiance Germany
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Leutnant
Unit Jasta 37
Awards Iron Cross

Leutnant Heinrich Henkel (born 11 May 1896, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. [1]

Flying ace Distinction given to fighter pilots

A flying ace, fighter ace or air 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.

Heinrich Henkel was born in Hamburg, the German Empire on 11 May 1896. [2]

Hamburg City in Germany

Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany with a population of over 1.8 million.

German Empire empire in Central Europe between 1871–1918

The German Empire, also known as Imperial Germany, was the German nation state that existed from the unification of Germany in 1871 until the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918.

On 1 September 1914, Henkel volunteered for military service in Reserve Fusilier Artillery Regiment Nr. 3. He went into battle with them at Nancy, France, at Antwerp, and at Ypres. On 1 July 1915, he was transferred to the infantry. He was wounded in action on 25 September 1916. He was subsequently promoted to the officer's ranks as a Leutnant in December 1916. He volunteered for aviation duty and began training at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 1 in February 1917. [2]

Antwerp Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Antwerp is a city in Belgium, and is the capital of Antwerp province in Flanders. With a population of 520,504, it is the most populous city proper in Belgium, and with 1,200,000 the second largest metropolitan region after Brussels.

Ypres Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Ypres is a Belgian municipality in the province of West Flanders. Though the Dutch Ieper is the official name, the city's French name Ypres is most commonly used in English. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote. Together, they are home to about 34,900 inhabitants.

Wounded in action (WIA) describes combatants who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during wartime, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight.

Henkel would also undergo fighter pilot's training at Valenciennes, France before joining Jagdstaffel 37 in May 1918. He scored his first aerial victory on 9 July, and had scored seven more by 31 October 1918. Three of his eight victories were shot-down observation balloons, making him a "balloon buster". Heinrich Henkel survived the war, having won the Iron Cross for his gallantry, but faded into obscurity. [2]

Fighter pilot Military combat aviator

A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting. A fighter pilot with at least five air-to-air kills becomes known as an ace.

Valenciennes Subprefecture and commune in Hauts-de-France, France

Valenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 37, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 37, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score over 70 aerial victories during the war, including 13 observation balloons downed. The squadron's victories came at the expense of seven killed in action, two killed in flying accidents, three wounded in action, and three taken prisoner of war.

Sources of information

  1. ↑ The Aerodrome website page on Henkel http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/henkel.php Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Franks et al 1993, p. 128.

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References

Norman Leslie Robert Franks is an English militaria writer who specialises in aviation topics. He focuses on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.

International Standard Book Number Unique numeric book identifier

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier which is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency.


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