Karl Emil Schäfer
Emil Schäfer | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Nickname(s) | Karlchen ("Charlie") |
Born | Krefeld, Germany | 17 December 1891
Died | 5 June 1917 Becelaere-Zandvoorde, Belgium | (aged 25)
Allegiance | German Empire |
Service/ | Luftstreitkräfte |
Years of service | 1914–1917 |
Rank | Leutnant |
Unit |
|
Commands | Jagdstaffel 28 |
Battles/wars | World War I • Eastern Front • Western Front |
Awards | Pour le Mérite Iron Cross First & Second Class Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Wound Badge |
Karl Emil Schäfer (17 December 1891 – 5 June 1917) was a German pilot during World War I; he became one of the major German flying aces of the war, with 30 confirmed aerial victories.[1]
Early life and infantry service
Schäfer was born in Krefeld and joined the Jäger Regiment zu Pferde Nr. 10 of the Prussian Army for his One-year volunteer military service. An engineering student who spoke fluent French and English, he was a fine draughtsman, and was studying in Paris when the war broke out, but managed to return to Germany and was assigned to the Reserve Jäger Bataillon 7 in Bückeburg. He won the Iron Cross 2nd class and was promoted to Vizefeldwebel during September 1914, before being badly wounded[2] and hospitalised for six months. After returning to the front line he was commissioned in May 1915.
Flying service
Requesting flying duties Schäfer trained as a pilot and served over the Eastern Front with Kampfgeschwader 2 from July 1916 onwards. He moved to the west and now flew with Kampfstaffel 11 of KG 2, where he gained his first victory. With just this single victory, he impudently telegraphed Manfred von Richthofen, who was assembling a "top gun" (kanone) squadron at Jasta 11, "Can you use me?" Richthofen replied, "You have already been requested."
Schäfer was then posted to Jasta 11 on 21 February 1917. In intensive operations during Bloody April he became a flying ace, being credited with 21 victories and awarded the Pour le Mérite. While a member of Jasta 11, "Karlchen" (Charlie) became known as the squadron's prankster and recorded many vivid incidents in combat and at play.[citation needed] He flew an Albatros D.III with red and black markings.[1] Somehow amidst all this he found time to pen his autobiography, Vom Jaeger zum Flieger ("From Soldier to Pilot").
Command and death in action
Schäfer was then given command of Jasta 28 on 26 April, and after gaining further victories for a total of 30 claims Schäfer was shot down and killed in action on 5 June 1917 in combat with No. 20 Squadron, by ace crew Lt. Harold Satchell and Lt. Thomas Lewis. Satchell and Lewis' fire did not strike Schäfer, but disabled his plane, which broke apart in midair. They reported that the Albatross fell in flames; German ace witness Max Ritter von Müller reported seeing it break up, but noted no fire. Photos of the wreckage show no scorching and the wings still attached to the aircraft.[3] Nevertheless, his Jasta 28 comrades recovered Schäfer's body, noting that it had no bullet wounds, but that every bone in his body had been broken.[citation needed]
Combat record
No. | Date/time | Unit | Aircraft | Foe | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 January 1917 | Kasta 11 | Albatros D.II | Caudron | West of Pont-à-Mousson |
2 | 4 March 1917 @ 1150 | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A1109) | South-west of Haisnes |
u/c | 4 March 1917 | Jasta 11 | D.H.2 or F.E.8 | Near Lens | |
u/c | 4 March 1917 | Jasta 11 | D.H.2 or F.E.8 | Near Béthune | |
3 | 6 March 1917 @ 1145 | Jasta 11 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A978) | Lens | |
4 | 6 March 1917 @ 1155 | Jasta 11 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter | Lens | |
5 | 9 March 1917 @ 1120 | Jasta 11 | F.E.8 (6397) | Faschoda | |
6 | 9 March 1917 @ 1122 | Jasta 11 | F.E.8 (4874) | Pont-à-Vendin | |
7 | 11 March 1917 @ 1120 | Jasta 11 | B.E.2c (6232) | Loosbogen | |
8 | 24 March 1917 @ 0900 | Jasta 11 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter | Anzin, near Arras | |
9 | 3 April 1917 @ 1620 | Jasta 11 | F.E.2d (6371) | South of Lens | |
10 | 6 April 1917 @ 1020 | Jasta 11 | B.E.2 | Givenchy | |
11 | 6 April 1917 @ 1037 | Jasta 11 | B.E.2 | West of Vimy | |
12 | 7 April 1917 @ 1745 | Jasta 11 | Nieuport 23 | Mecatal | |
13 | 8 April 1917 @ 1440 | Jasta 11 | D.H.4 | Épinoy | |
14 | 9 April 1917 @ 1900 | Jasta 11 | B.E.2d (5742) | Aise Roulette | |
15 | 11 April 1917 @ 0910 | Jasta 11 | Bristol F.2A (A3318) | Fampoux | |
16 | 11 April 1917 @ 1250 | Jasta 11 | B.E.2e | Arras | |
17 | 13 April 1917 @ 1830 | Jasta 11 | F.E.2b (A6372) | Le Point du Jour | |
18 | 14 April 1917 @ 1705 | Jasta 11 | F.E.2b (4877) | Lievin-Eleu | |
19 | 14 April 1917 @ 1720 | Jasta 11 | B.E or Bristol F.2a | La Coulette | |
20 | 21 April 1917 @ 1745 | Jasta 11 | Nieuport Scout (A6797) | East of Fresnes | |
21 | 22 April 1917 @ 2020 | Jasta 11 | F.E.2b | North-west of Moncy-Tilloy | |
22 | 25 April 1917 @ 1040 | Jasta 11 | F.E.2b (A837) | Bailleul | |
23 | 25 April 1917 @ 2030 | Jasta 11 | Bristol F.2a (A3352) | Bahnhoff Roeux | |
24 | 1 May 1917 @ 1240 | Jasta 28 | Farman | Dixmude | |
25 | 1 May 1917 @ 1300 | Jasta 28 | Nieuport Scout | East of Poperinghe | |
26 | 9 May 1917 @ 1900 | Jasta 28 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter | Warneton | |
27 | 18 May 1917 @ 1110 | Jasta 28 | F.E.2d | Hollebeke | |
28 | 23 May 1917 @ 1615 | Jasta 28 | F.E.2d | Warenton | |
29 | 23 May 1917 @ 1845 | Jasta 28 | Sopwith Pup | Wytschaetebogen | |
30 | 4 June 1917 @ 1410 | Jasta 28 | D.H.4 (A7420) | Moorslede |
See also
References
- Citations
- ^ a b Guttman (2009), p. 81.
- ^ German Casualty Rolls / Prussian Roll Nr. 61 of October 27, 1914, p.1884)
- ^ Guttman (2009), pp. 80–82.
- ^ "Karl Emil Schäfer". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
- Bibliography
- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell F. (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. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help); Unknown parameter|lastauthoramp=
ignored (|name-list-style=
suggested) (help) - Guttman, Jon; Dempsey, Harry (2009). Pusher Aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-417-6.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help); Unknown parameter|lastauthoramp=
ignored (|name-list-style=
suggested) (help)
External links
- 1891 births
- 1917 deaths
- People from Krefeld
- People from the Rhine Province
- Prussian Army personnel
- Luftstreitkräfte personnel
- German World War I flying aces
- Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class)
- Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class
- Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 2nd class
- Knights of the House Order of Hohenzollern
- Aviators killed by being shot down
- German military personnel killed in World War I