Johann Lasi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1885 or 1890 Kać, Bács-Bodrog, Hungary, Austria-Hungary (now Serbia) |
| Died | Unknown |
| Allegiance |  Austria-Hungary |
| Service/ | Aviation |
| Rank | Stabfeldwebel |
| Unit | Flik 6 |
| Awards |
|
| Other work | Instructor |
StabfeldwebelJohann Lasi (born 1890, date of death unknown) was a World War I Austro-Hungarian flying ace, a Croat by ethnicity, credited with five aerial victories on 22 Aug 1916, while acting as an unauthorized rear gunner for Julius Arigi.
Johann Lasi was born in Kać, Bács-Bodrog, Hungary, Austria-Hungary (present day Serbia) in 1890. After completing school, he trained as a wheelwright. Lasi was fluent in German, Hungarian, and Serbo-Croatian. [1] [2]
In 1911, he joined the Austro-Hungarian Army, then requested transfer to the Airship Section. As World War I began in 1914, Lasi became the chief mechanic for a new airplane squadron, Flik 6. On 22 August 1916, a formation of six Italian Farman two-seaters attacked the naval air station at Durazzo. Julius Arigi of Flik 6 was poised in his Hansa-Brandenburg C.I to intercept the enemy formation, but could not find an observer. By regulation, only an officer could man the rear gun, but Arigi could not find one that day, and asked 25-year-old Lasi to fly with him. The unauthorized gunner was credited with shooting down five of the six attackers, becoming an ace in a day (although the Italians reported only two losses that day). This action garnered him a Silver Medal for Bravery to add to his previously awarded Silver Military Merit Cross with Swords. [3] [4] [2]
Shortly afterwards, Lasi went for pilot training, and ended up as an instructor for the rest of the war. [1] [3] [2]
Godwin von Brumowski was the most successful fighter ace of the Austro-Hungarian Air Force during World War I. He was officially credited with 35 air victories, with 8 others unconfirmed because they fell behind Allied lines. Just before the war ended, von Brumowski rose to command of all his country's fighter aviation fighting Italy on the Isonzo front.
Julius Kowalczik was a Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. Though he joined military service as the war began in 1914, he did not transfer to the Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops until late 1915. Qualified as a fighter pilot in February 1916, he went into action in northern Italy the following month. He would score five aerial victories between 14 October 1916 and 29 June 1917. After surviving being shot down by Italian aces Antonio Amantea and Antonio Riva on 24 August 1917, Kowalczik was reassigned to instructor duty in January 1918. He survived the war, having won two Silver and two Gold Medals for Bravery.
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OberleutnantRudolf Szepessy-Sokoll Freiherr von Negyes et Reno was a Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He began his military career as a cavalryman as the war began in 1914. After winning the Silver Medal for Bravery and being promoted into the officers' ranks, he transferred to the Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops in mid-1915 as an aerial observer. On 14 February 1916, while participating in a historic strategic bombing raid on Milan, he scored his first aerial victory. After shooting down another airplane and an observation balloon, Szepessy-Sokoll was transferred to a fighter unit after pilot training. After shooting down a pair of Macchi L.3s on 5 November 1917, he was killed in action the next day.
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FeldwebelAlexander Kasza was an Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.
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