Franz Brandt

Franz Brandt
Born(1893-02-13)13 February 1893
Minden, Kingdom of Prussia
Died1954 (1955) (aged 61)
Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
AllegianceGerman Empire
Service / branchArtillery; aviation
RankLeutnant
UnitFusilier Artillery Regiment No. 58;
Kampfstaffel 14;
Schutzstaffel 2;
Jagdstaffel 19;
Jagdstaffel 27
CommandsJagdstaffel 26
AwardsRoyal House Order of Hohenzollern;
Iron Cross First and Second Class

Leutnant Franz Brandt (13 February 1893 – 1954) was a German World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed aerial victories, as well as three unconfirmed claims.[1][2]

Early life

Franz Brandt was born on 13 February 1893 in Minden.[1]

World War I service

Brandt entered the war an artilleryman. In July 1915 he transferred to aviation. His first assignment after training was Kampfstaffel (Tactical Bomber Squadron) 14, between July and September 1916. In December, he moved on to Schutzstaffel (Protection Squadron) 2; he saw some action there, but no results yet. On 2 February 1917, he was reassigned, to Jagdstaffel 19.[1] There he flew an Albatros D.II.[3] He scored his first victory on 4 May, downing a Spad VII. On 21 August 1917, he took out an enemy observation balloon for his second triumph.[2] On 31 December 1917, he changed squadrons again, to Jagdstaffel 27.[1] In his tenure there, he downed enemy fighter planes on 23 January, 7 April, and 17 June 1918.[2] On 27 June 1918, he was appointed to command of Jagdstaffel 26.[1] Between 7 July and 22 September, he shot down four enemy fighters and a two-seater.[2] Brandt ended the war still commanding Jagdstaffel 26.[1]

Decorations and awards

Sources of information

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918. p. 84.
  2. ^ a b c d The Aerodrome website page on Brandt http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/brandt.php Retrieved on 20 April 2010.
  3. ^ The Aerodrome website page on Jasta 19 http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta19.php Retrieved on 25 November 2017.

References

  • Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918 Norman L. R. Franks, et al. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.