0 WW1 Ace - Wilhelm Frankl
0 WW1 Ace - Wilhelm Frankl
0 WW1 Ace - Wilhelm Frankl
Wilhelm Frankl (20 December 1893 8 April 1917), in love with the daughter of Austrian Naval Kapitn zur
Pour le Mrite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron See Edmund Stroll. Frankl converted to Christianity and
Cross, was a World War I ghter ace credited with 20 married his love in early 1917.[4]
aerial victories.[1]
2 Aerial victories
Frankl began his career of aerial victories early in the war,
before the concept of the synchronized machine gun ring safely through the planes propeller became a practical
reality.[5] On 10 May 1915, while ying as an observer in
Feldieger Abteilung 40 (FFA 40), he used a carbine to
shoot down a French Voisin.[6] He was awarded an Iron
Cross First Class for this feat.[2]
It took exactly eight months for his second triumph. On
10 January 1916, while ying a Fokker Eindekker with
KEK Vaux, he downed another Voisin; this one was
armed with a 37mm Hotchkiss cannon.[3] By 1 February, his victory total stood at four. Three months later,
on 4 May, he nally became an ace. On 16 May, he was
promoted from Vizefeldwebel into the ocers ranks as
a Leutnant. He scored once more on 21 May. He was
awarded the Knights Cross with Swords of the Royal
House Order of Hohenzollern during late May, followed
by the Hanseatic Cross.[2] By this time, Frankl was one of
only eight aces in the German ying service.[7] Frankls
gallantry earned him the Pour le Merite after his eighth
conrmed victory; the Blue Max was awarded on 16 July
1916.[2]
His guns rested until 2 August, when he tallied a MoraneSaulnier L. A double victory followed on 10 August.
On 1 September 1916, he then transferred to Prussian
Jagdstael 4 (Jasta 4) as it was formed from KEK Vaux,
to y Halberstadt D.Vs.[1][8] On 1 January 1917, he succeeded to command of the squadron.[2]
Personal life
His end came the day after that. While battling Bristol
F.2 Fighters of No. 48 Squadron RFC on Easter Sunday, 8 April 1917,[9] Frankls Albatros D.III lost its lower
wing under the stress of combat manoeuvres, and he and
1
REFERENCES
his collapsed craft fell 800 m (2,600 ft) to his death near
Vitry-Sailly, France.[1][10] Wilhelm Frankl was buried in
Berlin-Charlottenburg.[2]
Greg VanWyngarden; Harry Dempsey (2006-1031). Early German Aces of World War I. Osprey
Pub Co. ISBN 978-1-84176-997-4.
His legacy
References
5.1
Bibliography
6.1
Text
6.2
Images
File:Wilhelm_Frankl_-Titelbild_-_Das_Illustrierte_Blatt_-_122_Kriegsnummer,_November_1916.JPG
Source:
//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/35/Wilhelm_Frankl_-Titelbild_-_Das_Illustrierte_Blatt_-_122_Kriegsnummer%2C_
November_1916.JPG License: PD-US Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
6.3
Content license
https: