Hans Bethge

Oberleutnant Hans Bethge HoH, IC (6 December 1890–17 March 1918) was a German pilot who was one of the first World War I flying aces, as well as an aerial commander. He was credited with 20 aerial victories. He was also a squadron commander for the unusually long term of fourteen months.

Early life and ground service Hans Bethge was a Berlin native, born on 6 December 1890. He was the second son of Lieutenant William Bethge. Hans Bethge grew up in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance and, in 1911, went to high school in Ravensburg. At this time, his father died. The younger Bethge could not enlist in the navy because of mild near-sightness, so he enlisted in Eisenbahnregiment 1 (Railway Regiment 1) and was appointed an ensign. In 1912, he transferred to Eisenbahnregiment 4, underwent training, and was commissioned.

When World War I began, he went into action on the Western Front. His unit moved into action on the very first day of the war, serving as sappers. His service with them was ended by an ankle injury that sent him to hospital first in Maubeuge and then back to Germany. It was then he applied for pilot's training.

Bethge commented about the death of Johnston: He scored twice more with this new machine, on 19 February and 10 March. He was recommended for the Pour le Merite, Germany's highest award for valor.

Death in action A week after his final victory, on the morning of 17 March 1918, Bethge once again led his fliers into combat. When he was still 200 meters from the British formation they were attacking, his Pfalz curved sharply downwards and out of sight, probably hit by return fire from a D.H.4 of No. 57 Squadron. His body was found at Passchendaele and laid out in the church nearest his jasta, in Phalempin. His funeral procession took place a few days later; Air Force General Ernst von Hoeppner and Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen attended the march to the railway station. Bethge's body was sent home to Berlin, where it was buried in Jerusalem's Church cemetery near the Halle Gate. His mother was told on 18 March that her son would receive the Pour le Mérite; however, it had not been approved before his untimely death.

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