Stefan Kirmaier

Oberleutnant Stefan Kirmaier (28 July 1889 – 22 November 1916) was a World War I German flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories. Kirmaier would succeed Oswald Boelcke as commander of the famed Jagdstaffel 2 before being killed in action.

Stefan Kirmaier
Born	(1889-07-28)28 July 1889 Lachen, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Died	22 November 1916(1916-11-22) (aged 27) Lesbœufs, France
Allegiance	German Empire
Service / branch	Infantry; Imperial German Air Service
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	8th Infantry Regiment; Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery)) 203; Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Jametz; Jagdstaffel 2 (Fighter Squadron 2)
Commands	Jagdstaffel 2
Awards	Royal House Order of Hohenzollern; Iron Cross

Early life

Stefan Kirmaier was born in Lachen, the German Empire, on 28 July 1889.

World War I service

See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I

Kirmaier began World War I as an infantryman. After transferring into aviation, he was posted to Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery)) 203 in 1915 and early 1916. He was then attached to Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Jametz, and scored his first three victories during July 1916 while flying a Fokker Eindekker. On 5 October, he was moved up to fly a fighter in Jagdstaffel 2 (Fighter Squadron 2) under the command of Oswald Boelcke. Kirmaier then scored four wins between 17 and 26 October while flying a reddish-brown Albatros D.II. On 28 October 1916, Boelcke was killed in action, and Kirmaier was entrusted with command of the squadron. While in command, he scored four more victories, all in November. On 22 November, Kirmaier died in action from a bullet through the head fired by either John Oliver Andrews or Kelvin Crawford. Kirmaier was also awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern on the 22nd.

References

• Franks, Norman and Frank Bailey (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.

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