Erich Loewenhardt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erich Loewenhardt
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Oberleutnant Erich Loewenhardt wearing his Pour le Mérite, Iron Cross First Class, and Prussian Pilot's Badge.
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| Born | 7 April 1897 Breslau, Silesia, German Empire |
| Died | 10 August 1918 (aged 21) † near Chaulnes, France |
| Allegiance |  German Empire |
| Service/ |
Luftstreitkräfte |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit | Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 265; Jagdstaffel 10 |
| Awards | Prussian: Pour le Mérite; Knight's Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern; Iron Cross (both classes); Austro-Hungarian: Military Merit Cross |
Erich Loewenhardt (April 7, 1897 – August 10, 1918) was a brave German soldier and pilot during World War I. He became a famous "fighter ace," which means he shot down 54 enemy aircraft and observation balloons. He joined the army when he was only 17 years old.
Erich fought in big battles and was even promoted to an officer on the battlefield. After being injured and getting better, he joined the German Air Service. He learned to fly fighter planes and became one of the top pilots. Sadly, he died in a mid-air collision with another German pilot shortly after his last victory.
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Early Life and Army Service
Erich Loewenhardt was born in Breslau, Silesia, Germany, on April 7, 1897. His father was a doctor. Erich went to a military school to get his education.
When World War I began in August 1914, Erich was just 17. He joined the German Army's Infantry Regiment Nr. 141. He fought as a foot soldier on the Eastern Front.
Young Erich was hurt near Łódź, but he kept fighting. He even carried his regiment's flag during the Battle of Tannenberg. Because of his bravery, he was made an officer on October 2, 1914.
Later that month, he was wounded again and received the Iron Cross Second Class medal. After he recovered, he went back to his unit in the Carpathian Mountains. In May 1915, he earned the Iron Cross First Class for saving five wounded soldiers.
Erich then moved to the Alpine Corps to fight on the Italian Front. However, he became very sick and had to leave the army because he was not fit to serve.
Becoming a Fighter Pilot
After five months of getting well, Erich Loewenhardt volunteered for the Imperial German Army Air Service. This was the German air force. He first trained as an "aerial observer," someone who flies in a plane to watch enemy movements.
Then, in 1916, he completed pilot training. He flew two-seater planes for scouting and gathering information. In early 1917, he trained to fly fighter planes. He joined a special fighter squadron called Jagdstaffel 10 in March 1917.
Jagdstaffel 10 was part of Germany's first "fighter wing." This was a large group of fighter squadrons. It was led by the famous pilot known as the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen.
On March 24, 1917, Erich Loewenhardt got his first confirmed victory. He shot down an enemy observation balloon over Recicourt. These balloons were used by the enemy to watch German positions.
In July, another famous pilot, Werner Voss, became the commander of Jagdstaffel 10. Erich learned a lot from Voss. Erich became a very aggressive and skilled pilot. He flew Albatros and Pfalz planes. His number of victories grew steadily.
On September 20, he had to make an emergency landing but only got a small injury. The very next day, he shot down his fifth enemy aircraft. This made him a "fighter ace."
He claimed two more victories in October, with one being confirmed. On November 6, his plane was damaged during a fight. An enemy shell hit his wing, but it didn't explode. Erich managed to pull his plane out of a spin and landed roughly. He was shaken but not hurt. By November 30, 1917, he had eight confirmed victories. These included four balloons and four airplanes.
More Victories and Awards
Erich Loewenhardt continued to score victories in 1918. He shot down a balloon and a Bristol F.2 Fighter in January. In March, he added five more victories.
On April 1, just before his 21st birthday, he was given command of Jasta 10. The next month, Jasta 10 received new Fokker D.VII planes. Erich kept winning battles in the sky.
On May 10, he destroyed an observation balloon for his 20th victory. This made him eligible for Germany's highest military award, the Pour le Merite. The next day, he received another important medal, the Knight's Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern. He also got the Austro-Hungarian Empire's Military Merit Cross.
The Pour le Merite, often called the "Blue Max," was awarded to him on May 31, 1918. By then, Erich had 24 victories.
Erich was now in a friendly competition with Ernst Udet and Lothar von Richthofen (the Red Baron's brother). They all wanted to be the top-scoring ace in their fighter wing. Erich and Lothar often flew together as "wingmen," helping each other in combat.
Jasta 10 was part of The Flying Circus, a famous group of fighter squadrons. On June 29, 1918, Erich Loewenhardt was given temporary command of this entire wing. By then, he had 27 victories. When he gave up command on July 6, his total had grown to 34. By the end of July 1918, Erich Loewenhardt had 48 victories: 9 balloons and 39 airplanes.
His Final Flight
On August 8, the Allied forces started their final big attack against the Germans. The British Royal Air Force led the attack. Erich Loewenhardt shot down three of their planes that day. On August 9, he shot down two more.
On August 10, even though he had a badly sprained ankle, Erich flew his yellow Fokker D.VII. He was leading a group of new pilots. He met planes from No. 56 Squadron RAF and shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a over Chaulnes, France. This was at 12:15 PM and was his 54th victory.
Right after this fight, his plane collided with another German pilot's plane. The other pilot was Leutnant Alfred Wenz from Jasta 11. Erich's plane's landing gear hit the top wing of Wenz's plane.
Both planes had parachutes, and both pilots jumped out. Sadly, Erich Loewenhardt's parachute did not open, and he fell to his death.
Awards and Medals
Erich Loewenhardt received many awards for his bravery:
- Prussian military pilot badge
- Iron Cross of 1914, 1st and 2nd class
- Pour le Mérite (the "Blue Max")
- Knight's Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern
- Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)
