About Erich Thomas
Lived 1897 – 1960 (aged 63). Erich Thomas was a German flying ace.
Leutnant Erich Thomas was a World War I German flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. Nine of these were observation balloons he destroyed.
Balloon buster
Thomas was assigned to Jagdstaffel 9 in December 1917. He shot down his first enemy observation balloon on 3 January 1918. He carried on his career as a balloon buster for Jasta 9 through 16 March 1918, when he downed numbers seven and eight. He then transferred to Jagdstaffel 22, and shot down a ninth balloon on 21 March, and a Sopwith on the 22nd. On 23 March, he attacked another French balloon and was shot down by Jean Chaput, Marcel Haegelen, and Auguste Lahoulle. Thomas was taken prisoner of war.
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Important facts
People in Erich Thomas's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Erich Thomas?
German flying ace (1897-1960)
When was Erich Thomas born?
Erich Thomas was born on 10 February 1897 in Essen.
When did Erich Thomas die?
Erich Thomas died on 18 November 1960 in Münster.
What was Erich Thomas's occupation?
Erich Thomas was a flying ace.
What nationality was Erich Thomas?
Erich Thomas was German.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Erich Thomas. https://biography.guide/erich-thomas/
MLA: "Erich Thomas." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/erich-thomas/.
Chicago: "Erich Thomas." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/erich-thomas/.
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