Otto Höhne

Leutnant Otto Paul Wilhelm Höhne (30 April 1895 – 22 November 1969) was a German World War I flying ace credited with six confirmed aerial victories. Höhne was a pioneer ace; he was the first pilot to score a victory while flying the Albatros D.1. During World War II he was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Early life

On 30 April 1895, Otto Paul Wilhelm Höhne was born in Woinowitz near Ratibor, Upper Silesia (Oberschlesien), in present-day Poland.

World War I aviation career

Höhne initially flew with Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Nord, before moving on for a brief posting to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1 in early August 1916. On 27 August, he became one of the original pilots in the newly formed original fighter squadrons.

Between the World Wars

Höhne served in several Freikorps units in Silesia in the early 1920s, returning to flying service first with the DLV, then with the reformed Luftwaffe as a Major in 1935, with Kampfgruppe 254. As a squadron commander with Kampfgruppe 54, he briefly flew with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, and took part in the Luftwaffe's show of force during the annexation of Czechoslovakia.

World War II

Höhne returned to service during World War II, serving in the Luftwaffe and rising to Major General. As lieutenant colonel in KG 54, he led one of the two bomber columns during the Rotterdam Blitz, but managed to abort the attack of his column at the last minute. He also commanded a wing of KG 54 during the Battle of Britain, the invasion of Poland, and the battles over France. He was again badly injured as a passenger in the crash of a Heinkel 111 on 15 August 1941 and subsequently served as Generalmajor and commanding officer of the flight combat school in Fürstenfeldbruck (Bavaria).

His son, Joachim Höhne, served in the Luftwaffe as well, first as a Flak gunner and then as an ME163 Komet pilot with JG 400.