Robert Heibert
Offizierstellvertreter Robert Heibert MMC IC (8 January 1886 – 10 May 1933) was a German flying ace during World War I. He was credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories; he also had seven unconfirmed claims.
Robert Heibert | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 January 1886 Oberfell, Rhine Province, Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 10 May 1933 (aged 47) |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/ | Army; aviation |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Offizierstellvertreter |
| Unit | Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery)) 207; Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 227; Jagdstaffel 33 (Fighter Squadron 33); Jagdstaffel 46 (Fighter Squadron 46) |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Verdun |
| Awards | Military Merit Cross, Iron Cross |
Early life and service
Heibert was a native of Oberfell in the Mosel region, being born there on 26 January 1886. He joined the German army in August 1914.[1]
World War I
He transferred to aerial duty in May 1915 and began service as a two-seater pilot on artillery cooperation duty with FA(A) 207 in October. He then transferred to FA(A) 207. He was active in the skies over Verdun. He then became a fighter pilot, and beginning 17 August 1917 was stationed with Jagdstaffel 33.[2] He enjoyed his first aerial success there, downing a Sopwith northeast of Diksmuide on 20 August 1917. After a transfer on 17 December 1917 to help found Jagdstaffel 46,[3] he resumed his winning ways with a double win on 16 February 1918. He would run off a string of ten more confirmed wins through 9 August, including busting two balloons on 1 August. He ended the war with 13 victories certified;[4][1] some or all of the seven more unconfirmed victories may have failed to gain approval as the German administrative system bogged down in the war's ending days.[2]
After winning both classes of the Iron Cross, Robert Heibert was awarded the highest award for valor available to a German enlisted man, the Military Merit Cross on 5 July 1918. He had been wounded four times, which should have qualified him for a Silver Wound Badge, though no award to him has been reported.[5] He also received his final promotion in military rank in July 1918. Heibert would survive the war.[1]
Endnotes
- Franks et al 1993, p. 125.
- Franks & van Wyngarten, p. 43
- Franks, p. 65
- The Aerodrome website page on Heibert http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/heibert.php Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- The Aerodrome website's page on the Wound Badge http://www.theaerodrome.com/medals/germany/wb.php Retrieved 21 January 2011.
References
- 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 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
- Franks, Norman. Albatros Aces of World War 1: Volume 32 of Aircraft of the Aces; Volume 32 of Osprey Aviation Series; Volume 32 of Osprey Aircraft of the Aces. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85532-960-3, ISBN 978-1-85532-960-7.
- Franks, Norman, & van Wyngarten, Greg. Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1, Part 2: Aircraft of the Aces, 63; Osprey Aircraft of the Aces. Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-84176-729-8, ISBN 978-1-84176-729-1.