Walter Ewers
Oberleutnant Walter Ewers (11 May 1892 – 15 May 1918) was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.
Walter Ewers | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 May 1892 Lübeck, Germany |
| Died | 15 May 1918 (aged 26) Villers-Bretonneux, France |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service/ | Artillery; aviation |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit | Flieger-Abteilung 26; Jagdstaffel 8; Jagdstaffel 12; |
| Commands held | Jagdstaffel 77 |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern; Military Merit Order; Iron Cross First and Second Class |
World War I
Ewers began military service as an artilleryman in Bavaria's Field Artillery Regiment Number 7. At some point, he transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte. After aviation training, he was assigned to Flieger-Abteilung 26 to serve in two-seaters. He was upgraded to piloting a fighter plane, transferring to Jasta 8. After a further transfer to Jasta 12 in 1917, he scored his first three aerial successes against the Royal Flying Corps, downing a couple of Airco DH.5s from No. 41 Squadron RFC and a Sopwith Pup from No. 46 Squadron RFC.[1] The latter was part of a large offensive patrol of mixed British aircraft escorting 46 Squadron's DH.5s.[2]
He was chosen to command Bavarian Jagdstaffel 77 as Staffelführer on 21 January 1918. He had been commissioned a leutnant on 22 May 1917; he was further promoted, to oberleutnant, on 15 March 1918. As pilot or as commander, he continued to score victories; in the first three months of 1918, at least three out of five of his victims were French. Ewers was honored with both classes of the Iron Cross, his native Bavaria's Military Merit Order, and the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern for his exploits.[1]
At 0930 hours on 15 May 1918, Oberleutnant Walter Ewers was killed in action while piloting his Albatros D.V in combat over Villers-Bretonneux with No. 65 Squadron RAF.[1] He was buried in a mass grave.[3]
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
Confirmed victories are numbered and listed chronologically. Unconfirmed victories are denoted by "u/c" and may or may not be listed by date.
| No. | Date/time | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 September 1917 @ 1120 hours | British Airco DH.5 | Destroyed | Wambaix, France | Victim from No. 41 Squadron RFC |
| 2 | 10 October 1917 @ 1705 hours | British Airco DH.5 | Destroyed | Hendicourt | Victim from No. 41 Squadron RFC |
| 3 | 11 October 1917 @ 1745 hours | British Sopwith Pup | Destroyed | East of Sains-lès-Marquion, France | Victim from No. 46 Squadron RFC |
| 4 | 5 January 1918 | French Dorand AR.2 or Paul Schmitt | Destroyed | Saint Liggert | |
| 5 | 5 January 1918 | Spad | Destroyed | Southwest of Retzwiller, France | |
| 6 | 23 February 1918 @ 1620 hours | French Spad | Destroyed | Oberburnhaupt | Victim from Escadrille 49 |
| 7 | 12 March 1918 | Spad | Destroyed | Belfort, France | |
| 8 | 18 March 1918 @ 1629 hours | French Dorand AR.2 or Paul Schmitt | Destroyed | Ballersdorf, France[1] | |
Endnotes
- Franks, Bailey & Guest 1993, p. 105.
- Franks 2005, p. 78.
- O'Connor 2002, p. 155.
References
- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
- O'Connor, Mike (2002). Airfields and Airmen: Somme: Battleground Europe: WWI Series. Leo Cooper. ISBN 978-0-85052-864-0.
- Franks, Norman (2005). Sopwith Pup Aces of World War 1: Volume 67 of Osprey Aircraft of the Aces: Issue 67 of Aircraft of the Aces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-886-1.