Gustav Schneidewind

Vizefeldwebel Gustav Schneidewind was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.

Biography Gustav Schneidewind was born on 28 August 1890, in the Kingdom of Prussia. He began his military service in the German Army in the 97th Infantry Regiment on 13 October 1911. As World War I erupted, he served in the 25th Pioneer Regiment. On 7 January 1915, he became an Unteroffizier.

He transferred to aviation duty on 1 August 1916. He attended pilot's training at Großenhain. Once trained, he was forwarded for duty with Flieger-Abteilung (Flier Detachment) 29 on 3 May 1917. However, on 4 June 1917, he returned to pilot's training, this time to Jastaschule (Fighter School). On 17 June, he was posted to a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 17. He scored his first aerial victory on 21 July; at 1530 hours, he shot down a Sopwith Pup from No. 66 Squadron Royal Flying Corps over Noordschote.

On 28 May 1918, Gustav Schneidewind was awarded the Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross and Turkish War Medal to accompany his previous awards of both classes of the Iron Cross. He returned to Germany, and later served in a reconnaissance unit, Flieger-Abteilung (Flier Detachment) 305.

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