Fritz Kosmahl

Offizierstellvertreter Fritz Gustav August Kosmahl HOH, IC (5 September 1892—26 September 1917) was one of the first flying aces of Germany's Luftstreitkräfte during World War I. He was one of the few German two-seater aces of the war, being officially credited with nine aerial victories. He was also one of the first ten German aviators to earn the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.

Early life

Fritz Gustav August Kosmahl was born on 5 September 1892 in Leipzig.

Feldflieger Abteilung 22 morphed into Feldflieger Abteilung 261 in December 1916. On 2 February 1917, Kosmahl shot down a Sopwith Pup piloted by acting Flight Lieutenant W.E.Traynor of 8 squadron RNAS over Hermies. On 11 March, he downed a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b south of Beugny and became an ace. He then departed for advanced training, to become a fighter pilot. In late July 1917, he was assigned to Jagdstaffel 26. On 17 August, he scored his first win as a fighter pilot, downing an RAF FE.2d at Zonnebeke. On 9 September, Kosmahl downed a Sopwith Camel fighter plane. On both 19 and 20 September, he shot down Sopwith Triplane fighters at Passchendaele.

Two days later, on 22 September 1917, Fritz Kosmahl suffered a stomach wound in combat, but managed to return to base despite his injury. He lingered four days after landing, succumbing at 0230 hours on 26 September 1917.

Endnotes