Adolf Heyrowsky

Oberst Adolf Heyrowsky (18 February 1882 – 1945), was a career officer in the Austro-Hungarian military who turned to aviation. He became an accredited flying ace during World War I, with twelve aerial victories scored despite the fact he was a reconnaissance pilot instead of flying fighters. The units he flew in and commanded had long range recon and ground attacks as their primary mission.

Early career

Adolf Heyrowsky was born on 18 February 1882 in Murau, Styria, Austria. He was a gamekeeper's son.

Heyrowsky graduated from Prague's Infantry Military Academy in 1902. He enlisted in Infanterieregiment 9 and became an Offiziersstellvertreter. He was promoted to Leutnant in May 1904, and on to Oberleutnant six years later. In 1912, Heyrowski volunteered for aviation; in August of that year, he qualified as a pilot. By the time World War I broke out, Heyrowsky had a respectable military career in progress. He was mechanically minded with excellent training in aeronautics. Off duty, his sporting interests included riding horseback, driving an automobile, skiing, swimming, and fencing. He opened his war serving with Flik 2 against the Serbs.

World War I Aerial service

Despite the limitations of outdated Lohner Type B Pfeilflieger biplanes, Heyrowsky carried out daring deep reconnaissance missions that penetrated as far as 125 miles (200 km) into enemy terrain. In one of those August combats, he shot it out with nine Italian opponents for 45 minutes while on a reconnaissance mission.

He was shot down again in October, during the Battle of Caporetto. Despite crashlanding in the midst of the fighting and well behind Italian lines, Heyrowsky and his observer managed to evade capture in a two-day hike back to their own lines. in March 1918. He also received the rarely awarded Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold with War Decorations and Swords.

While on Hoeppner's staff, Heyrowsky managed to fly with German aviation, taking place in bombing raids on Amiens, Paris, Nancy, and Dover. When the Austro-Hungarians launched their last great offensive in the Battle of the Piave, Heyrowsky returned to the Italian Front. He coordinated actions between the Austro-Hungarian aviation and ground troops until the battle's end on 25 June 1918. He then returned to Germany until war's end.

World War II

Heyrowsky served in the Luftwaffe as an Oberst during World War II. He died in 1945, on the brink of promotion to Generalmajor. He was 63 years old.