For Research Kurt P. Eckmann Aviator

[Tom Eckman]

Often, upon the death of one of its members, family histories can bring up some interesting stories. Kurt P. Eckmann was born in Hamburg on August 26, 1894, and he had, apparently, a very interesting life. He told the family genealogist in 1965 that he served in the infantry for three years and was wounded 3 times. "He won his transfer from the infantry to aviation through the friendship and influence of Lieut. Ernest Udet who later became Minister of Aviation in Germany." The claim was that he flew with Von Richthofen, and there were references to his awards. He immigrated to the States and became a citizen in 1926. Any information on his war record and awards would be greatly appreciated.

[Chip]

Do you know his rank as a pilot? You might want to try the specialists on the website forum of "The Aerodrome". Here is the URL address. http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/index.php?

Chip

[Tom Eckman]

Chip, I don't know what the rank was. I was hoping someone with a ranklist might be able to help. I did take your suggestion and ask the Aerodrome Forum for help. Thank you very much.

[Chip]

Tom,

Good luck with your search. Unfortunately, Rangliste don't contain info on Reserve or Landwehr officers, only regular army officers. So, if your relative was a wartime commissioned officer or an NCO pilot, he would not be present in any rank list.

Chip

[Dave Danner]

There is only one listing for a Kurt Eckmann from Hamburg in the Prussian casualty lists, althought they are only partially digitized. He was lightly wounded around June 1915 as a private in the 6.Kompanie of Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 265.

There are several Eckmann's commissioned during the war, including one from Hamburg in Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 215 on 19 August 1916. However, the name is not uncommon and there are no first names in Prussian Army promotion and assignment lists. Also, as Chip notes, Germany had many enlisted pilots, so he might not have been commissioned at all.

Dave

[Tom Eckman]

Thanks for your posts Chip and Dave. They have answered a lot of my questions!

Tom