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List of aerial victories of Friedrich Ritter von Röth

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Friedrich Ritter von Röth (1894–1918) was a German First World War fighter ace credited with 28 confirmed aerial victories, 20 of which were observation balloons. The observation balloons were extremely hazardous to attack; they were fleeting targets hooked to motors to draw them rapidly earthward to safety when threatened. They were also ringed with pre-sighted antiaircraft guns, and their vicinity was patrolled by fighter units. Röth was notable as the premier balloon buster of the Imperial German Air Service. Notably, he eschewed single victories over the gasbags, once downing a pair, three times destroying a trio, once a quartet—and on 29 May 1918, he torched five observation balloons within 15 minutes. Overall, Röth made his first ten victories with Jagdstaffel 23 before transferring to Jagdstaffel 16 for his remaining 18 victories.[1][2]

The victory list

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Friedrich Ritter von Röth'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 25 January 1918 1257 hours Observation balloon French 55th Compagnie Recicourt, France
2 25 January 1918 1301 hours Observation balloon French 59th Compagnie Betheleville
3 25 January 1918 1305 hours Observation balloon French 80th Compagnie Framereville
4 28 February 1918 1250 hours Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 No. 16 Squadron RFC Mericourt, France
5 21 March 1918 1130 hours Observation balloon British 44th Section, 19th Company, 1st Balloon Wing Marcoing, France
6 21 March 1918 Observation balloon British 1st Section, 18th Company, 3rd Balloon Wing Beugny, France
7 1 April 1918 1730 hours Observation balloon British 10th Section, 2nd Company, 1st Balloon Wing Cambrin, France
8 1 April 1918 1735 hours Observation balloon British 8th Section, 1st Company, 1st Balloon Wing Hulluch, France
9 1 April 1918 1737 hours Observation balloon British 20th Section, 1st Company, 1st Balloon Wing Loos, France
10 1 April 1918 1740 hours Observation balloon British 24th Section, 2nd Company, 1st Balloon Wing South of Loos, France
11 29 May 1918 1600 hours Observation balloon 1st Belgian Between Poperinge (Poperinghe) and Diksmuide, Belgium
12 29 May 1918 1604 hours Observation balloon Between Diksmuide and Poperinge, Belgium
13 29 May 1918 1609 hours Observation balloon British 25th Section, 5th Company, 2nd Balloon Wing Between Diksmuide and Poperinge, Belgium
14 29 May 1918 1612 hours Observation balloon British 39th Section, 8th Company, 2nd Balloon Wing Between Poperinge, Belgium and Hazebrouck, France
15 29 May 1918 1615 hours Observation balloon Between Poperinge, Belgium and Hazebrouck, France
16 25 July 1918 0950 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter No. 20 Squadron RAF Gheluvelt, Belgium
17 29 July 1918 2035 hours Airco DH.9 No. 206 Squadron RAF Gheluvelt, Belgium
18 30 July 1918 2100 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter No. 20 Squadron RAF South of Ypres, Belgium
19 12 August 1918 0840 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a No. 85 Squadron RAF Langemarck (Langemark), Belgium
20 13 August 1918 1920 hours Observation balloon 6th Belgian Lampernisse, Belgium
21 13 August 1918 1922 hours Observation balloon 2nd Belgian Lampernisse, Belgium
22 13 August 1918 1925 hours Observation balloon 3rd Belgian Lampernisse, Belgium
23 4 September 1918 0930 hours Airco DH.9 No. 107 Squadron RAF Neuf-Berquin, France
24 8 October 1918 Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 No. 7 Squadron RAF Gheluvelt, Belgium
25 10 October 1918 1730 hours Observation balloon British 38th Section, 7th Company, 2nd Balloon Wing Between Ypres and Staden, Belgium
26 10 October 1918 1731 hours Observation balloon French 25th Compagnie Between Ypres and Staden, Belgium
27 10 October 1918 1733 hours Observation balloon French 25th Compagnie Between Ypres and Staden, Belgium
28 14 October 1918 Airco DH.9 No. 108 Squadron RAF Ledegem, Belgium

This list is complete for entries, though obviously not for all details. Background data was abstracted from Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1, pp. 192–193; and The Aerodrome webpage on Friedrich Ritter von Röth [1]. Added facts are individually cited. Abbreviations were expanded by the editor creating this list.

Endnotes

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  1. ^ Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993), pp. 192–193.
  2. ^ Guttman (2005), pp. 7–9.

References

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