Georg von Hantelmann

Georg von Hantelmann was born into a minor Junker family on 9 October 1898. He was born in Rokietnice, Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (present day Rokietnica, Poland).[1] He was the eldest son. He joined the army in 1916. He was commissioned as a Leutnant on 15 June 1917 before he transferred to aerial service with the Luftstreitkräfte.[2]

Hantelmann began training at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 9 on 20 September 1917. Upon graduation from this basic aviation training, he moved on to learn to fly a fighter plane at the Jastaschule in Valenciennes, France. His initial assignment as a fighter pilot took him to Jagdstaffel 18, commanded by Rudolf Berthold, on 6 February 1918.[2]

When Berthold changed commands on 18 March 1918 to take charge of Jagdstaffel 15, he took many of his pilots with him in a highly unusual mass exchange of personnel. Hantelmann was one of the pilots who accompanied Berthold to the new unit. Once he arrived at his new squadron, Hantelmann had his personal insignia of a "totenkopf"-style skull and crossbones painted on the fuselage sides of his Albatros D.V reflected his prior service in the 17th Braunschweig "Death's Head" Hussar Regiment.[2]

Hantelmann posted his first victory claim on 29 May 1918, but it went unconfirmed. Thus, on June 6, when Jasta 15 dove into battle, he was eager for success.[3] As his squadron-mate Joachim von Ziegsar recalled, "Like a steer unbound, the aircraft with the Braunschweig Hussar's crest dived onto the enemy first."[4] A British Airco DH.4 fell before the young Prussian's guns.[2]

It was the first of five wins in June; on the 26th, Hantelmann became an ace.[2] It was during this period that Kurt Wüsthoff borrowed Hantelmann's Fokker and flew his final mission.[5]

Hantlemann scored again on 17 August, but it was his second victory on 12 September 1918 that was notable. Hantlemann shot down American SPAD S.XIII pilot David Putnam, a leading ace of the nascent US Army Air Service who had 13 victories of his own, for victory number eight. Just four days and six wins later, Hantlemann scored an even more notable triumph when he shot down French ace Maurice Boyau, who had a score list of 21 balloons and 14 airplanes. Two days and two victories after that, Hantlemann shot down American ace Joseph Wehner, Frank Luke's wingman, for number 16. The young German ace ended September with 18 victories.[2]

On 21 October 1918, the day of his 22nd confirmed victory, Hantelmann was awarded the Iron Cross First Class, as well as the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.[2] He was now past the 20 victories then required for the award of Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite.[6] Hantelmann was recommended for the Blue Max on 3 November 1918. However, the German Empire's defeat scotched the award. Nevertheless, Hantlemann ended the war with 25 confirmed and 5 unconfirmed aerial victories.[2] All of his confirmed victories were on the Fokker D.VII, making him one of the most successful pilots in the type.

Hantelmann settled on a farm in Charcice, Prussia. On 7 September 1924, Polish poachers crossed the nearby border, and murdered Hantelmann when he discovered them trespassing on his property.[1]

• Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.

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

• Franks, Norman; VanWyngarden, Greg. Fokker D VII Aces of World War I, Part 1. Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 978-1-84176-533-4.

• Holmes, Tony; Wyllie, Iain; Postlethwaite, Mark. Aircraft of the Aces: Legends of the Skies. Osprey, 2004. ISBN 978-1-84176-825-0.

• Van Wyngarden, Greg. Richthofen's Circus: Jagdgeschwader Nr 1. Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 978-1-84176-726-0.