Edmund Nathanael

Edmund Nathanael was born on 18 December 1889 in Dielsdorf, the German Empire.[1][2]

It is not known if Edmund Nathanael first served in a ground unit, although that was the usual practice for German aviation volunteers. However, Nathanael's first aviation service was with Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 42 (FAA 42). This unit operated two-seater reconnaissance aircraft and carried out the hazardous task of directing artillery fire from its aerial station. While serving with Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 42, Nathanael served with enough distinction that he earned the seldom awarded Wilhelm Ernst War Cross from his native Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, as well as the Grand Duchy's General Honor Decoration in Gold with Swords. The German military customarily seasoned its aviation personnel in combat; the most promising were then "promoted" to fighter pilots. The system conserved the single-seater fighter pilots, as they would not easily fall victim to rookie errors when they entered combat.[1][2][3]

Nathanael was forwarded to a fighter unit in late 1916; it was then customary to reassign a pilot to one of the four national air forces that constituted the German Air Service. In Nathanael's case, his native Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach adjoined the Kingdom of Saxony. He was not only assigned to a Saxon squadron, he seemed to be a founding member of Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 22, which formed in November 1916. He would serve with this unit until March 1917. He gained no victories while with this squadron.[1][2] The squadron itself would amass 57 victories by war's end.[4]

A colorfully painted Albatros D.Va reproduction in flight at the Duxford Airshow 2012. Nathanael's insignia is unknown.

However, he served well enough that in March 1917, he transferred to the prestigious Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 5. With this reassignment, he was posted to serve with some very successful aces—Renatus Theiller, Werner Voss, Hans Karl Müller, and Hans Berr among them.[5] Nathanael was assigned to fly an Albatros D.V.[6] In contrast to Jagdstaffel 22, Jagdstaffel 5 would be credited with 253 victories during World War I.[7]

Nathanael scored his first aerial victory with Jagdstaffel 5 on 6 March; he would run his victory total to 15 in two months. Nathanaels 14th victory on 30 April 1917 made him the first pilot in history to shoot down an SE-5 (of No. 56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps). Five days after his 15th victory was credited, Nathanael's plane was shot down in flames as the ninth of 21 victories of Scottish ace Captain William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick of No. 23 Squadron RFC, which killed Nathanael in action.[1][2][8] Captain Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick was flying Spad VII serial number B1580 when he shot down Nathanael.[9]

Nathanael was one of only 18 German fliers to receive the House Order of Hohenzollern during the First World War.

Nathanael was listed, without proof of sources and likely because of his surname, as a German of jewish faith / origins in the media on occasions. Extensive recent archival research has proven this to be untrue, he was of protestant faith and no jewish family connections could be traced over the last ca. 200 years.

All victories were scored while flying with Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 5.[2]

• Albatros Aces of World War 1: Part 1 of Albatros aces of World War I. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-960-3, ISBN 978-1-85532-960-7.