Paul Aue

Oberst Paul Aue was a World War I flying ace from the Kingdom of Saxony in the German Empire. Partial records of his early aviation career credit him with 10 aerial victories. He would join the nascent Luftwaffe during the 1930s and serve Germany through World War II. He died in a Soviet prison camp in 1945.

Early life Paul Aue was born on 7 October 1891 in Söbringen, Kingdom of Saxony. He matured into a small man; some sources even call him "diminutive".

World War I In 1916, Aue served with Kampstaffel 30 of Kampgeschwader 5. Flying a two-seater reconnaissance plane, Aue and his observer managed to down a similar craft, a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c, on 25 October 1916. Aue was then credited with two more victories before being transferred to Jasta 10 that same month.

He scored his—and his new squadron's—first victory on 25 March 1917. Aue was wounded in action on 19 September 1917 while piloting a Pfalz D.III. During a dogfight at 3,000 meters with two dozen British Royal Naval Air Service planes from Naval 10 Squadron above Roulers, France the German sergeant ace was hit by three English bullets, one of them an explosive round. Though he refused to leave his unit, his wounds kept him out of action until February 1918; It would be his last victory while flying the Pfalz, as Jasta 10 was upgrading to Fokker D.VIIs.

On 16 June 1918, Aue attacked and destroyed an enemy observation balloon for his seventh confirmed win. He went on to shoot down three more enemy fighter planes, his last victory coming on 4 September 1918. He was captured by the Soviet Army, and died in a prisoner of war camp.

Pfalz D.III Spad Unconfirmed Coucou

Albatros D.V

Honors Paul Aue is known to have earned the following honors:

Kingdom of Saxony: Silver Military Order of Saint Henry awarded on 24 April 1917 Kingdom of Saxony: Gold Military Order of Saint Henry awarded during July 1918 Iron Cross First Class Silver Friedrich August Medal

Paul Aue also may have been awarded two other decorations:

Saxon Honor Cross with Crown and Swords Saxon War Merit Cross

Endnotes