Fritz Pütter (1895–1918) was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 25 confirmed aerial victories, including eight observation balloons. Notably, he began his combat career by the rare feat of downing five observation balloons to become an ace. After scoring ten victories with Jagdstaffel 9, he was transferred to command another fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 68, to score his remaining triumphs. On 16 July 1918, incendiary ammunition aboard his airplane was set off by extremely hot weather, inflicting lingering mortal wounds on Pütter.[1][2]
The victory list
editThe victories of Fritz Pütter are reported in chronological order, which is not necessarily the order or dates the victories were confirmed by headquarters.
| No. | Date | Time | Foe | Unit | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 April 1917 | 1140 hours | Observation balloon[note 1] | 48 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | East of Suippes, France |
| 2 | 18 August 1917 | 1535 hours | Observation balloon | 48 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | South of Vauquois, France and Parois, France |
| 3 | 19 August 1917 | 1500 hours | Observation balloon | 48 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Between Vraincourt, France and Brancourt, France |
| 4 | 1 November 1917 | 1225 hours | Observation balloon | 65 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Between Massiges, France and Saint-Jean, France |
| 5 | 1 November 1917 | 1226 hours | Observation balloon | 67 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Hans, France |
| 6 | 12 January 1918 | SPAD | Binarville, France | ||
| 7 | 12 January 1918 | 1205 hours | Observation balloon | 53 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Mourmelon-le-Petit, France |
| 8 | 14 January 1918 | 1030 hours | Observation balloon | 56 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Vraincourt, France |
| 9 | 19 January 1918 | 1610 hours | Nieuport | East of Tahure | |
| 10 | 27 January 1918 | 1730 hours | Nieuport | Dontrien, France | |
| 11 | 18 March 1918 | Airco DH.5 | Beaurevoir, France | ||
| 12 | 21 March 1918 | 1430 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Holnon Wood, France | |
| 13 | 24 March 1918 | 1700 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 73 Squadron RFC | Assevillers, France |
| 14 | 30 March 1918 | 0950 hours | Observation balloon | 64 Compagnie, Service Aéronautique | Assainvillers, France |
| 15 | 31 March 1918 | 1410 hours | Bréguet 14 | Guerbigny, France | |
| 16 | 3 April 1918 | SPAD S.XIII | Hergicourt | ||
| 17 | 6 April 1918 | SPAD S.XIII | Escadrille Spa.154, Service Aéronautique | Moreuil, France | |
| 18 | 7 April 1918 | 1540 hours | Caudron R.9 | Escadrille C.66, Service Aéronautique | Moreuil, France |
| 19 | 7 April 1918 | 1545 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 24 Squadron RAF | Moreuil, France |
| 20 | 11 April 1918 | 1925 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 73 Squadron RAF | Villers-aux-Erables, France |
| 21 | 12 April 1918 | 1810 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 84 Squadron RAF | Villers-aux-Erables |
| 22 | 3 May 1918 | 1025 hours | SPAD S.XIII | Southeast of Mailly, France | |
| 23 | 19 May 1918 | 1040 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 84 Squadron RAF | Bois de Hangard |
| 24 | 30 May 1918 | 1120 hours | Bristol F.2 Fighter | No. 48 Squadron RAF | Between Castel and Montigny |
| 25 | 30 May 1918 | 1305 hours | SPAD | Lassigny, France[1][2] |
Abbreviations were expanded by the editor creating this list.
Footnote
edit- ^ With their wide fields of view, observers in observation balloons were deadly components for artillery direction. The balloons were accordingly well defended by antiaircraft guns and patrolling fighters (per Guttman, pp. 7-9)
References
edit- ^ a b Franks, Bailey & Guest 1993, p. 182.
- ^ a b The Aerodrome webpage on Fritz Pütter
Sources
edit- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank; 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. London UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
- Guttman, Jon (2005). Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1. Oxford UK, Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-877-9.