Eduard Pulpe

Eduard Martynovich Pulpe [1] was born into a farming family on 22 June 1880, at Riga, Latvia; at that time, Latvia was part of the Russian Empire. Although his earlier education is unknown, he was one of the few that gained entry to college in Russia, attending the University of Moscow. He graduated in 1908, and returned to Riga to become a teacher. Pulpe moved to France in 1912 with the dual aims of furthering his education and learning to fly.[2] After obtaining his civilian pilot's brevet no. 1571 on 19 December 1913,[3] he volunteered for the French air service at the outbreak of war, despite being 34 years old.[1] He furthered his training with the Aéronautique Militaire, being granted military license number 602.[2]

Pulpe was posted to fly a Morane-Saulnier for Escadrille 23 on 1 May 1915.[3] His promotion to Sergente came through on the 21st.[2] The escadrille was stationed in Champagne when he joined it; shortly thereafter, it moved to the Somme. When the squadron left the Somme in August 1915, it bounced around a bit before being assigned to the building Battle of Verdun. Though little information survives, Pulpe's two victories while flying a Morane-Saulnier L over Verdun were among some of the first aerial victories in history.[1] He was awarded both the Croix de Guerre[4] and the Medaille Militare on 29 October 1915. The citation for the latter referred to "air combats", though with no specific mention of his two victories. The Croix de guerre seemed to have been awarded for completing a bombing run while under attack from an enemy fighter. In the meantime, on 20 September, Escadrille 23 began re-equipping with a melange of early Nieuport 10s, Nieuport 11s, and Nieuport 12s.[2]

As ground combat escalated into the Battle of Verdun during February 1916, the corresponding aviation activity became intense. Pulpe, newly promoted to Adjutant, scored a third victory on 20 March 1916. Eleven days later, he brought down another German. In April 1916, he was promoted yet again, to Sous lieutenant. It was during this time that he was dubbed "the pilot with a volcano in his heart".[2]

This was also the month Pulpe transferred home to Russia. On 30 April 1916, the French Aeronautic Mission to Russia gathered in Lyons; Pulpe was included. Once in Murmansk he was assigned to the 10th Aviatsionniy Otryad Istrebitlei (Fighter Aviation Detachment) of the Imperial Russian Air Service in Galicia. Using a Nieuport 11, he shot down an enemy plane on 1 July 1916 to become an ace.[2] On 2 August,[3][4] Pulpe fell under the guns of Erwin Böhme and his gunner to begin Böhme's victory string. Witnesses on the ground watched Pulpe fight three German fighters for almost an hour before the Russian ace's bullet-riddled aircraft fell spinning to 1,000 feet altitude, recovering briefly, then plunging to earth because its left aileron was ruined. The impact imbedded the aero engine in the earth on the banks of the Styr River near Rogistche. The dying ace, when pulled from the wreckage, could only gasp, "Water". Then he expired from the bullet through the left side of his back.[2]

The Order of St. George Fourth Class was awarded posthumously to Pulpe,[3][4] as well as a French award of a palm for his previously awarded Croix de guerre. An unmailed letter in Pulpe's effects read: "...I have only one desire—that is the victory over our everlasting enemy. I will die like anyone else. My thoughts will always be about you, my Motherland, Russia and my cradle, Latvia."[2]

One of Pulpe's squadronmates spoke these few words over his grave: "Pulpe was brave, modest as well as courageous, hiding his exploits rather than boasting about them."[2]

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I for French victory standards, and List of World War I flying aces from the Russian Empire for list of Russian aces

Confirmed victories are numbered and listed chronologically.

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