Main article: Hans Bethge (aviator)
Hans Bethge (1890-1918) was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 20 confirmed aerial victories. He scored his first three aerial victories as a member of Germany's first dedicated fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 1. On 14 January 1917, he was posted to command of a forming squadron, Jagdstaffel 30. He would score 17 more victories while in their lead. His 20th victory, a week before his death on 17 March 1918, qualified him for Germany's highest military honor, the Pour le Merite, or Blue Max, but his death in action scotched the award.
The victory list
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War IHans Bethge's victories 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 | 29 August 1916 | 1205 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c | No. 15 Squadron RFC | South of Auchonvillers, France |
2 | 31 August 1916 | 0815 hours | Martinsyde G.100 | No. 27 Squadron RFC | Fins, France |
Unconfirmed | 20 December 1916 | Enemy airplane | |||
3 | 26 December 1916 | 1210 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2d | Beugny, France | |
4 | 28 March 1917 | 1024 hours | Nieuport Scout | No. 1 Squadron RFC | Roubaix, France |
5 | 6 April 1917 | 1048 hours | Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter | No. 45 Squadron RFC | Vicinity of Tournai, Belgium |
6 | 25 May 1917 | 2055 hours | Nieuport Scout | Vicinity of Douai, France | |
7 | 1 June 1917 | 2130 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory FE.8 | No. 41 Squadron RFC | Warneton |
8 | 5 June 1917 | 1245 hours | SPAD | Frelinghen | |
9 | 15 July 1917 | 2110 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 8 Naval Squadron RNAS | BetweenLoison, France and Harnes, France |
10 | 20 July 1917 | 2130 hours | Sopwith Pup | Diernacourt | |
11 | 15 August 1917 | 2045 hours | Nieuport | West of Annay, France | |
12 and 13 | 17 August 1917 | 1905 hours | Two Sopwith Camels collided | No. 8 Naval Squadron RNAS | Wingles, France |
14 | 21 August 1917 | 0805 hours | Martinsyde G.100 | Seclin, France | |
15 | 4 September 1917 | 1945 hours | Bristol F.2 Fighter | La Bassée, France | |
16 | 4 September 1917 | 1950 hours | Bristol F.2 Fighter | La Bassée, France | |
17 | 18 September 1917 | 1035 hours | Airco DH.5 | No. 41 Squadron RFC | Viz-en-Artois |
18 | 31 October 1917 | 1310 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 | Blouvain | |
19 | 19 February 1918 | 1405 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 80 Squadron RFC | North of Lorgies, France |
20 | 10 March 1918 | 1210 hours | Airco DH.4 | No. 18 Squadron RFC | Allennes, France |
Abbreviations were expanded by the editor creating this list.
Citations
Sources
- 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.