Edmund Nathanael

Offiziersstellvertreter Edmund Nathanael (18 December 1889 – 11 May 1917) was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories. He flew both two-seater reconnaissance aircraft and single-seater fighter craft. He scored all his victories while flying for Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 5, and received a rare award of the House Order of Hohenzollern for his valor. He was killed in action while serving the German Empire.

Early life

Edmund Nathanael was born on 18 December 1889 in Dielsdorf, the German Empire.

Service in fighters Nathanael was forwarded to a fighter unit in late 1916; it was then customary to reassign a pilot to one of the four national air forces that constituted the German Air Service. In Nathanael's case, his native Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach adjoined the Kingdom of Saxony. He was not only assigned to a Saxon squadron, he seemed to be a founding member of Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 22, which formed in November 1916. He would serve with this unit until March 1917. He gained no victories while with this squadron.

However, he served well enough that in March 1917, he transferred to the prestigious Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 5. With this reassignment, he was posted to serve with some very successful aces—Renatus Theiller, Werner Voss, Hans Karl Müller, and Hans Berr among them. Nathanael was assigned to fly an Albatros D.V. In contrast to Jagdstaffel 22, Jagdstaffel 5 would be credited with 253 victories during World War I.

Nathanael scored his first aerial victory with Jagdstaffel 5 on 6 March; he would run his victory total to 15 in two months. Nathanael's 14th victory on 30 April 1917 made him the first pilot in history to shoot down an SE-5 (of No. 56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps). Five days after his 15th victory was credited, Nathanael's plane was shot down in flames as the ninth of 21 victories of Scottish ace Captain William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick of No. 23 Squadron RFC, which killed Nathanael in action. Captain Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick was flying Spad VII serial number B1580 when he shot down Nathanael.

Nathanael was one of only 18 German fliers to receive the House Order of Hohenzollern during the First World War.

Controversy on Jewish faith/origin Nathanael was listed, without proof of sources and likely because of his surname, as a German of Jewish faith/origins in the media on occasions. Extensive recent archival research has proven this to be untrue: he was of Protestant faith, and no Jewish family connections could be traced over the last 200 years.

Aerial victories of Edmund Nathanael All victories were scored while flying with Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 5. No. Date Time Opponent Squadron Location 1 6 March 1917 1345 hours Morane-Saulnier serial number A268 Escadrille 3, Aéronautique Militaire North of Guedecourt 2 11 March 1917 1245 hours Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b No. 23 Squadron RFC North of Beugny, France 3 24 March 1917 0900 hours Sopwith 1½ Strutter No. 70 Squadron RFC Écoust-Saint-Mein, France 4 25 March 1917 0920 hours Sopwith 1½ Strutter No. 70 Squadron RFC Vélu, France 5 25 March 1917 0925 hours Nieuport 17 No. 29 Squadron RFC East of Beugny, France 6 2 April 1917 Morning Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b s/n 6953 No. 22 Squadron RFC Northeast of Gouzeaucourt Wood 7 3 April 1917 1635 hours Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b s/n 4987 No. 23 Squadron RFC North of Boursies, France 8 6 April 1917 0820 hours Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b s/n A6388 No. 57 Squadron RFC Douchy 9 13 April 1917 1935 hours Observation balloon s/n 34-16-4 West of Saint Quentin 10 22 April 1917 1410 hours Observation balloon s/n 3-13-5 Bus, Pas-de-Calais, France 11 22 April 1917 2005 hours Spad No. 23 Squadron RFC Ribecourt 12 28 April 1917 1315 hours Sopwith 1½ Strutter s/n/A993 No. 43 Squadron RFC Vacquerie-le-Boucq, France 13 29 April 1917 2100 hours Nieuport fighter s/n A6745 No. 40 Squadron RFC Beaumont 14 30 April 1917 1005 hours Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 s/n A4866 No. 56 Squadron RFC East of Fresnoy, France 15 6 May 1917 1840 hours Nieuport 17 No. 60 Squadron RFC North of Bourlon, France