Paul Hüttenrauch

Last updated
Paul Hüttenrauch
Born Unknown
Died Unknown
Allegiance Germany
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Unteroffizier
Unit Jagdstaffel 7
Awards Iron Cross First Class

Unteroffizier Paul Hüttenrauch 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.

Contents

Biography

Paul Hüttenrauch first came to notice in February 1918, flying a Fokker D.VII for a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 7 . [2] He was wounded in action on 15 February, and again on 14 May 1918. [1] He scored his first aerial victory at 1015 hours on 20 July 1918, when he shot down a Sopwith Camel from No. 70 Squadron RAF north of Ypres. On an evening sortie, he shot down another Camel from No. 204 Squadron RAF at 2040 hours 31 July over Hooglede. On 13 August 1918, he destroyed a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a south of Zuydschoote. [2]

Fokker D.VII fighter aircraft

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 second half of 1918. In service with the Luftstreitkräfte, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft. The Armistice ending the war specifically required Germany to surrender all D.VIIs to the Allies. Surviving aircraft saw much service with many countries in the years after World War I.

Jagdstaffel 7

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 7 was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score 126 aerial victories during the war, at the expense of eleven killed in action, two killed in flying accidents, and twelve wounded in action.

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.

The Jasta 7 records credit Paul Hüttenrauch with eight victories by 14 October 1918, though they lack details for the last five wins. Hüttenrauch was awarded the First Class Iron Cross, which by regulation followed a prior award of the Second Class. [2]

Iron Cross military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1870–1918) and Nazi Germany

The Iron Cross is a former military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). It was established by King Frederick William III of Prussia in March 1813 backdated to the birthday of his late wife Queen Louise on 10 March 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. Louise was the first person to receive this decoration (posthumously). The recommissioned Iron Cross was also awarded during the Franco-Prussian War, World War I, and World War II . The Iron Cross was normally a military decoration only, though there were instances of it being awarded to civilians for performing military functions. Two examples of this were civilian test pilots Hanna Reitsch who was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class and Melitta Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg, who was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, for their actions as pilots during World War II.

Endnotes

  1. 1 2 The Aerodrome website's page on Hüttenrauch
  2. 1 2 3 Franks et al 1993, p. 133.

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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.