Soderbaum

Thanks Stefan The possible link to Dresden for Erich Stresemann is an hint to search further about. I have rather good info in his pre War career as well what he did during the War. I have the info from Roths book since earlier, sadly it does not give any info about date and place of birth. I have also been unable to find an personal file for him. So both he and Otto Lehmann are still unsolved. Mvh Gunnar

Hi Stefan Thanks for the interesting links. Regarding "Wer ist´s" I have heard about it, but "Kürschners Literaturkalender" is a new source for me. Unfortunate I do not have access to any of these as I am living Sweden. If you can look after Hptm Otto Lehmann I will be very glad. It is no hurry as I asked the same question nearly 10 Years ago.. Regarding the Saxon Rittm Erich Stresemann from UR 18, I was able to find his Year of birth in a German literature lexicon. And he was only co-author to the Regimental history of that/his Regiment. But he is still unsolved regarding more precise data including place of birth. Gunnar

Hi I am looking for basic information of Hptm Otto Lehmann. He was an educated observer within the German Air Force. After the War he was living as Major a.D. in Berlin. He wrote several books and articles mostly with an link to aviation. His first book was already published during the War in 1917, and as I can see he continue to write books until 1943. However it seems he not was promoted further during WW2. When his first book was published he is noted as Hauptmann. He was probably no active officer as others have solved all Lehmann with this rank. So probably an Reserve officer..? Anyone who can help ? Gunnar S

Hit Matt and thanks ! During 2014 I was able to find an personal file for Rudolf Hohl. It contained his date of birth but not place. Later on with that information his location of birth was found. Unfortunate the file did not had much info on his WW1 aviation career nor any info on awards. After serving as commander of KG 5 it seems he only served at home aviation units which strongly limits the chances for further awards. "Strangely" he seems no candidate for getting an Kofl post after 1916. In 1918 he returned to his Regiment. Keep going, I still have many unsolved cases. Gunnar

Hi Alex I have some problems with "all" Harms who served as Marine flyers. It apparently existed three (maybe four) Anyway I have a note that Gerhard Harms did 91 front flights in SFS List before he joined See 1 on 2 Jun 1917. If this is a correct scenario he should have received the BeoAbz in 1915 or 1916 ? I havent checked the KTB of SFS List. I have him born in Bremen but no date. Gunnar

Hi According to one source Hptm Ernst Mueller from FAR 72 received HOH3mSchw on 24.11.1917 while attached to the Marine. I do think the award might be due his earlier service. I am looking for his place of birth. Gunnar

Hi Stefan Here some further notes: Otto Niezoldi was born 220692 in Plauen. Directly after his Abitur he joined the Saxon IR 104 on 180312 as Fahnenjunker. He was promoted Lt on 140813 mit P190811. When the War started he joined something called 2 Brig.Ers.Btl 89. Wounded the first time on 220814.(stayed in unit) Wounded second time 070914 and to Lazarett. Returned on 071214 to become Kp leader 7 of IR 104. Then on 150115 he is noted as Komp.Offiz of 8/104. Then from 050215 until 011015 he was something I cant read directly. He started his training to observer on FEA 10 Böblingen in 1215. He joined his first frontline unit KG 5/27 in 0216. When his Kasta was to be re-organized as an Schusta, he left for FAA 226 in 1216. Promoted Oblt 270117. He had meanwhile received BeoAbz on 220516. In late 0417 he was transferred to KG 2. Later in 1917 he did become leader of KG/BG 2/12. However his stay there become short because he was heavily wounded in a crash in 1117 and send to hospital. He was back in 0918 at front for training to commander of an FA/FAA in different units. Early in 1919 he was back in his Regiment. From 1919 until 1925 he had some function at x, sorry it will take time to dechipfer his hand-writing. Gunnar

Hi As Otto Niezoldi was an flyer a long time during the War I have rather much info on him. Seems he got seven different awards during the War. Among the awards was the Hohenzollern. He had a terrible handwriting. Gunnar

Hi Matt I have that signature on another document, it is von Klösterlein ! You raise an interesting question regarding these a.D. officers. I checked my files and it is rather certain that no Hptm/Rittm a.D. was leader of an FFA/FA during the War. However you find a few who were leaders of smaller units like Kastas, Schustas etc. But mostly you find these a.D. at support units like AFPs and training units in home-land. Gunnar

Hi Matt I have an regulation order about FFA somewhere in my collection. But I cannot re-find at moment. If my memory is correct it clearly stipulates that the commander should be(not written must) be an active Hauptmann. Later I do think they changed it little and said it should be an active Hptm or senior Oblt. Indirectly it gives an age of the commander. However it is quite possible that Paul Neumann became the "first" aviation commander of an front-line unit that was an dR. I do think that his pre-War service presented by Glenn and that he probably had good leader qualification could explain that. In late 1914 another Hptm dR became an leader of an aviation front-line unit. Also in this case he had an impressive pre-War service. Unfortunate I do not have his complete service record but I do think he stayed at front until mid 1917. I do not think he was commander of an AFP. He ought to have received EKI late 1914 or early 1915 so maybe mentioned in the MWB.? He ought to have received the BeoAbz in Aug-Sep 1914. Gunnar

Hi Matt Interesting info ! Shortly after BOW Paul Neumann (seems he used this rufnahme at this stage) was re-activated as Hptm dR (191014) within FB 1(not his earlier Regiment IR 19). It seems certain that he spent the entire War within the Air Force. After the War he was living in Berlin as Major aD. As an author I am not aware that he wrote his own history. I do think he left the command of AFA 214 in the autumn of 1916. He got Abschied on 270320 with char. Major. Gunnar

Hi Lt x Gierke from JRzPf 6 undertook pre-War flying training (starting 01.10.1913). Later during the War he served in different flying units. I am searching a possible first name and date and place of birth. During the War he apparently received the LHK among other awards. Gunnar

Great info Glenn ! He is partly solved now. Gunnar

Hi I wonder if anyone have access to this book : Paul von Broecker, Edwin Kayser: "Das 5. Lothr. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 144 im Weltkriege", Erinnerungsblätter deutscher Regter. Bd. 229, 1928 Oldenburg i. O., Stalling, 335 Seiten I am searching a first name for Hptm Steinbach and possible date and place of birth. Gunnar

Hi Dave Interesting information. The RQL from 1902 to 1906 gives the first name for the Herrmann from FüR 36 as Johannes. Hans is a normal shortening of this first name. Does the Roth reference says he was at stab Stofl Süd ? Maybe he was actually the Stofl Süd. Do you by chance have date and/or place of birth..? Gunnar

Hi Matt Signature nr 12 should be Hptm Holdermann. The signature from FA 11 is hard to read(for me). Gunnar

Hi Matt Post 8 and 9 are the Bavarians Lichtenberger and Oefele. I am unsure regarding Post 7. Gunnar

Hi Matt From the first list of photos nr 2 should be Hptm Funck, nr 3 Protzen von Schramm. I am uncertain regarding nr 6. Gunnar

Hi Matt The first should be Hptm Eduard Dransfeld. He later became an General during WW2. Gunnar

I do not work on my own, so you dont need to worry Rick I use references for the people who contribues with answers or good hints which leads to solve a case. Rather often it could be more then one reference except my own work. I do prefer original sources and I have totally spent long times in archives. Anyway, as you have doubts about me (which I can accept) it is a more fair behavior just to ignore me. That is no problem because I dont primary seek people who have the answer. I do search people who are willing to give an answer or an hint to come further.. However, thanks for the hint regarding Bonn and his two brothers/cousins that was new info for me.. In cases like this such info is valuable for me for further research. I did search for Rittm Heilmann and the Töpchin connection six months ago on the net and actually found one Fabrikbesitzer Heilmann in Töpchin but also in this case without first name Gunnar

Hej Rick The reason why my ö is gone is that "this" website kick out people on regurlaly basis. So I could simply not log in anymore and needed to create a new log in So I am only one person. I sometimes answer other peoples questions if it concern flyers. You can check my log. I am a private researcher regarding German WW1 aviation since nearly 40 Years. Some of the collected material are planned to be published in some way. Gunnar

Hi I am searching a possible first name for Rittm dL aD Heilmann who was promoted on 18.06.1915. His original Regiment was KüR 5. Gunnar

Hi Dave His first names are Egon, Max, Martin, Lebrecht. He was born in Kreis Sachsen Altenburg (not real Sachsen). He was shortly at RIR 244 from 231114 until 230115 when he was posted to observer training. If you send me an private e-mail I can give you some further info. Gunnar

Hi Dave Yes it is the flyer Egon Schneider who started his career in FAR 55. EKII 201214 SEK IImS 150115 SAK ImS 270815 SEHK ImS 011216 BeoAbz 250118 ErrAbz 080120 He also got some awards 1934 to 1936. I have lots of info on him Gunnar

Hi again It seems rather certain that his first name was Erich and that he died sometimes during 1941 as an Oberst in the Luftwaffe. But I still search information of his date and place of birth and possible confirmation of his first name. He dont have any file in the Freiburg archive. Gunnar