Adolf Gutknecht

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Adolf Gutknecht
Born12 September 1891
Badingen
AllegianceGermany
Service/branchAviation
RankOberleutnant
UnitJagdstaffel 43
Commands heldJagdstaffel 43
AwardsIron Cross

Oberleutnant Adolf Gutknecht (born 12 September 1891, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1]

Biography[edit]

Adolf Gutknecht was born in Badingen, Germany on 12 September 1891. In the years before World War I, he joined the army as a cadet. In the beginning of the war, he campaigned in France, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. He transferred to aviation as an aerial observer, and scored a victory in June 1916. He subsequently became a pilot, having won both classes of the Iron Cross.[2]

On 1 June 1918, he became Staffelführer of Jagdstaffel 43. The squadron was mounted on Albatros D.III and Albatros D.Va fighters. It would remain at Haubourdin Aerodrome until 22 August,[3] by which time Gutknecht would have run his victory string to five confirmed and one unconfirmed. He was also promoted to Oberleutnant.[2]

Gutknecht won three more victories while remaining in command of Jasta 43 until 2 November 1918. He was in hospital from 25 October onwards to war's end, however.[2]

Sources of information[edit]

  1. ^ The Aerodrome website page on Gutknecht [1] Retrieved 29 October 2020
  2. ^ a b c Above the Lines, p. 121.
  3. ^ R.A.F. Combats in the Air Report of F/Slt. Ron Sykes, 203 Squadron [2] Archived 2013-05-22 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 9 July 2012.

References[edit]

  • Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.