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Hauptmann Paul Henning Aldabert Theodor von Osterroht (13 September 1887–23 April 1917) IC was a German military aviation pioneer who became a flying ace in World War I. After valorous service as a bomber pilot and commander, he was called upon to found one of the original German Jagdstaffels. By March 1917 he led that unit into combat. Between 29 March and noon of 23 April, he scored seven aerial victories. Six hours later, he was killed in action while on patrol.

Early life and service

Paul Henning Aldabert Theodor von Osterroht was born on 13 September 1887 in Luneberg, the German Empire. His father, Ernst Theodor Gustav Osterroht, since 1863 von Osterroht, was a Captain, later Oberstleutnant in the Dragoons. His oldest brother Hermann Theophil Ernst Siegfried von Osterroht was Rittmeister and Eskadronchef in World War I. His youngest brother Helmut Theodor Gotthilf Wilhelm von Osterroht (born 19 January 1894 in Tilsit) was at last Oberst of the Wehrmacht and from 1 June 1942 until 17 September 1944 "Stadt-/Kampfkommandant" of Aachen.

Paul von Osterroht also chose the profession of arms, and joined the German Army's Deutsch Ordens-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 152 in May 1906. He was commissioned an officer on 18 August 1907. He switched to aviation duty, and was forwarded to Gotha on 13 April 1912 for pilot's training. He received license number 305 on 9 October 1912.

World War I

Osterroht was serving in FFA 18 when World War I began. He was one of the first German airmen to be awarded the Iron Cross First Class, received on 7 October 1914. After FFA 18, he served with Brieftauben-Abteilung Ostende in 1914 and 1915; one of his aerial observers was Manfred von Richthofen. Together they downed a French airplane so far behind French lines the victory could not be verified.

On 30 January 1915, Osterroht was promoted to Oberleutnant. In May 1916, he transferred to Kampfstaffel (Tactical Bomber Squadron) 1 of Kampfgeschwader (Tactical Bomber Wing) 1. He was soon given command of the squadron. His service with them ended when he was appointed to command one of Germany's original fighter squadrons, Jagdstaffel 12, as it was being founded. The unit was founded with over-age Fokker D.Is; however, by March 1917, they had been re-equipped with newer Albatros D.III fighters. Osterroht claimed serial number 1958/16 for his own, and had it marked with a four square checkerboard in black and white. On 24 March, the jasta received a telegram from their higher command congratulating the unit on its performance in downing 14 enemy aircraft.

Osterroht scored his first aerial victory on 19 March 1917; at noon of 23 April he scored his seventh. Later on the 23rd, he flew an evening patrol to Cambrai. There he engaged Sopwith Pups of 3 Naval Squadron, and fell to his death at about 1800 hours.

Aerial victory list

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

References

• Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest (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 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
• Greg VanWyngarden. (2005) JAGDGESCHWADER, Issue 2: Volume 19 of Aviation Elite Units: Volume 19 of Osprey Aviation Elite. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841767271, ISBN 9781841767277.
• — (2007) Albatros Aces of World War 1: Aircraft of the Aces: Part 2 of Albatros Aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1846031796, ISBN 9781846031793.

Endnotes

1. ^ Franks et al 1993, p. 178.
2. Online list of early German pilots. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
3. ^ VanWyngarden, p. 25.
4. VanWyngarden 2005, p. 8.
5. VanWyngarden, p. 24-25.

• 1887 births
• 1917 deaths
• German military personnel killed in World War I
• Prussian Army personnel
• Luftstreitkräfte personnel
• German untitled nobility
• Aviators killed by being shot down
• German World War I flying aces
• Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class
• People from Lüneburg
• Military personnel from the Province of Hanover
• Military personnel from Lower Saxony