61 Facts About Oswald Boelcke

Oswald Boelcke was a highly influential mentor, patrol leader, and tactician in the first years of air combat, 1915 and 1916.

Oswald Boelcke fulfilled his childhood dream of a military career by joining the Imperial German Army on 15 March 1911.

Oswald Boelcke pursued an early interest in aviation, learning to fly as World War I began.

Oswald Boelcke's innovative turn of mind codified his combat experiences into the first manual of fighter tactics distributed to an air force, the Dicta Boelcke.

Oswald Boelcke was killed in a mid-air collision with his best friend, Erwin Bohme, on 28 October 1916.

Oswald Boelcke's influence extends to the present, with extensive tributes to him at the German Air Force's Norvenich Air Base and throughout Germany.

The son of a schoolmaster, Oswald Boelcke was born on 19 May 1891, in Giebichenstein, Prussian Province of Saxony.

The Boelcke family had returned to the German Empire from Argentina six months before Oswald's birth.

Oswald Boelcke caught whooping cough aged three, resulting in lifelong asthma.

Oswald Boelcke played soccer and tennis, skated and danced, and was considered the best gymnast in his school.

Oswald Boelcke was an oarsman, and a prizewinning swimmer and diver.

Oswald Boelcke got along well in school with both his fellow students and the teachers.

One source says Oswald Boelcke was studious as well as athletic, excelling at mathematics and physics.

Under this influence, while in the third or fourth form, ten-year-old Oswald Boelcke wrote a personal letter to Kaiser Wilhelm requesting an appointment to military school.

Oswald Boelcke's wish was granted when he was 13, but once his parents were apprised of the opportunity by the belated letter of reply, they objected and he did not attend Cadet School.

Oswald Boelcke attended instead of interrupting his education.

Since Oswald Boelcke had gained his, his commission was back-dated to 23 August 1910, making him senior to the other new ensigns in his battalion.

Oswald Boelcke settled into a daily routine of training recruit telegraphers, and enjoyed an active social life.

World War I having begun, Oswald Boelcke was anxious to see action.

Oswald Boelcke had a spell in hospital with asthma, and both brothers went on home leave.

Until Oswald Boelcke recorded his experiences in July 1916, there was no tactical guide.

In letters home, Oswald Boelcke was already counseling his father about modesty in dealing with journalists.

Oswald Boelcke won his first individual aerial combat on 19 August 1915, forcing down a British plane.

When French bystanders applauded his heroism, Oswald Boelcke was embarrassed by his soggy public appearance in his dress uniform.

On 5 January 1916, the winter weather improved enough for flying, and Oswald Boelcke shot down a British BE.

Oswald Boelcke later visited the observer in hospital, bringing him reading material.

Oswald Boelcke was internationally famous, and could not walk German streets or attend the opera without being lionized.

Oswald Boelcke connected a front-line observation post to the Sivry airfield and established the first tactical air direction center.

On 3 March 1916, Oswald Boelcke was ordered to evaluate a new prototype: his report pointed out shortcomings like inaccurately mounted guns and the limitations of its rotary engine.

Oswald Boelcke submitted a memorandum that criticized German use of airpower as "wretched".

Oswald Boelcke concentrated on developing fighter tactics, massing fighters in formation and using accurate gunnery in combat.

When Oswald Boelcke shot down two enemy airplanes on 21 May 1916, the emperor disregarded army regulations prohibiting promotion to until age 30.

Oswald Boelcke was promoted to the rank ten days past his 25th birthday, making him the youngest captain in the German military.

Oswald Boelcke had become such an important hero to the German public, as well as such an authority on aerial warfare, that he could not be risked.

In concordance with this belief, Oswald Boelcke codified his successful mission tactics into the Dicta Oswald Boelcke.

On 10 July 1916, Oswald Boelcke left on a tour of the Balkans.

Oswald Boelcke travelled through Austria-Hungary to visit the Ottoman Empire.

Oswald Boelcke kept attendance at formal social obligations to a minimum, but had to oblige such important hosts as Enver Pasha and Otto Liman von Sanders.

On his hastened return trip, Oswald Boelcke visited Bulgaria and the Russian Front.

Oswald Boelcke started with only four empty buildings vacated by in the Velu Woods.

The next day, Oswald Boelcke hosted Wilson in the squadron mess before returning the British flier to captivity.

Oswald Boelcke drilled his pilots in his tactics as they flew.

Meanwhile, Oswald Boelcke withheld the squadron from combat, and continued flying his solo sorties.

When Oswald Boelcke returned to base with gunpowder soot on his chin, they knew he had shot down another enemy plane.

Oswald Boelcke shot down his 27th victim, and his men shot down four more.

Oswald Boelcke now discussed flights beforehand and listened to his pilots' input, then issued orders for the mission.

Oswald Boelcke refused to go to hospital, but devolved command on Oberleutnant Gunther Viehweger.

The next day, in a letter home, Oswald Boelcke noted he was still trying to impress his pilots that they should fight as a team instead of individually.

Oswald Boelcke returned to flight status and command on the 27th.

Oswald Boelcke scored his 30th victory, but the squadron lost a pilot to antiaircraft fire.

Hoeppner immediately had the Dicta Oswald Boelcke distributed within the new air force.

Oswald Boelcke complained of the racket in the mess to his batman, then sat staring into the fire.

Just as Bohme spotted the other plane bobbing up below him, Oswald Boelcke's upper left wing brushed the undercarriage of Bohme's airplane.

Pilots from rushed forward to the artillery position where Oswald Boelcke had crashed, hoping he was still alive.

Oswald Boelcke was equally polite to everybody, making no differences.

Oswald Boelcke was the progenitor of air-to-air combat tactics, fighter squadron organization, early-warning systems, and the German air force; he has been dubbed "the father of air combat".

The promulgation of his Dicta Oswald Boelcke set tactics for the German fighter force.

Oswald Boelcke was one of the few German heroes of World War I not tainted by association with the Nazi cause.

Oswald Boelcke's name appears on the coat of arms of the present-day German Air Force fighter-bomber wing.

Oswald Boelcke is extensively commemorated on the wing's home airfield at Norvenich Air Base.

Oswald Boelcke is memorialized by murals on base buildings, portraits in their halls, and a bust in the headquarters entry.