Fritz Otto Bernert
Otto Bernert | |
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Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords; Second and First ClassIron Cross |
Early life and infantry service
Fritz Otto Bernert was the son of a Bürgermeister (mayor). He was born in Ratibor, Silesia, which now is Racibórz, Poland.[1] At the time of his birth, Ratibor was German and part of the Kingdom of Prussia.[2]
Bernert was commissioned into the 173rd Infantry Regiment in 1912. He was serving with them when World War I began. He was wounded in ground combat in both November and December 1914; his fourth wound, inflicted by a bayonet,[3] severed the major nerve in his left arm. Upon recovery, it became apparent his left arm was essentially useless, and he was invalided out of the infantry.[1][4][5]
Aerial service
Bernert then applied to the
He transferred to Kampfeinsitzerkommando
The ad hoc Kampfeinsitzerkommando Vaux was equipped with Halberstadt D.II planes and reorganized into a full-fledged permanent Prussian fighter squadron. It became Jagdstaffel 4 on 25 August 1916.[10] On 6 September, Bernert scored the new squadron's first victory. He became an ace on 9 November 1916, scoring his fifth, sixth, and seventh triumphs.[1][3][11]
On 1 March 1917, he was transferred to Jagdstaffel 2.[1] This squadron, named in honor of Oswald Boelcke,[12] the founder of fighter aviation tactics and strategy, was considered the premier unit of the German Air Service.[13] Bernert scored his first victory in this unit on 19 March; on 1 April, he achieved the status of double ace with his tenth win.[1]
Bernert continued to shoot down British airplanes during early April 1917. He claimed his 18th and 19th victims on the 11th.
Five victories on a single mission was astounding. It had only happened once before, when the bomber crew of
Bernert in command
On 1 May, Bernert was appointed to command Jagdstaffel 6.[9] His final three victories came in May, with an unconfirmed 28th on 19 May.[1][note 2] In mid-May, Bernert crashlanded behind German lines after his engine quit in mid-combat. A few days later, he landed long, ran out of airfield, and crashed next to his home aerodrome, breaking his jaw and bruising himself severely. Although unable to fly, Bernert did not give up his command.[18]
On 9 June 1917, Bernert was transferred back to Jasta 2, and would command it to the end of his flying career. The previous commanding officer had scored no victories to inspire his pilots; as it turned out, because of his injuries, Bernert could do no better. However, he hosted a delegation of pilots from neutral Sweden. He also welcomed several pilots from
Bernert was severely wounded again on 18 August 1917. This wound was the final straw that took him off flight status and removed him from command. On the 28th, he was transferred to aid the Inspector of the Flying Service. However, he actually spent three months in hospital. He was seriously ill in addition to his wounds. He was also diagnosed with
He was promoted to Oberleutnant upon his release from hospital.[4] However, in May 1918, he was back in hospital at a sanitarium, probably with lung problems. As the Spanish flu swept through the German populace, Bernert caught it. He died from influenza in his home town's hospital, on 18 October 1918.[1]
Decorations and awards
- Iron Cross (1914), 1st and 2nd class
- Albert Order, Knight 2nd Class with Swords
- Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollernwith Swords
- Pour le Mérite[1]
Footnote
- ^ Customarily, the Pour le Merite was recommended as an award after 20 confirmed victories. Bernert's award was granted only 12 days after his 19th victory, and he may have been recommended for an even lower number, given administrative processing time.
- ^ Interestingly, these victories scored while flying with Jagdstaffel 6 were credited to Jagdstaffel 2.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993), p. 70.
- ^ "The history of Racibórz". Town of Racibórz. Archived from the original on 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ^ a b c The Aerodrome webpage on Bernert [1] Retrieved on 4 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Who's Who: Fritz Bernert". FirstWorldWar.com. 2002-02-09. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2006), p. 78.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2007), p. 30.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2006), p. 77.
- ^ Franks (2000), p. 15.
- ^ a b "Jasta 6". The Aerodrome: Aces and Aircraft of World War I. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ^ "Jasta 4". The Aerodrome: Aces and Aircraft of World War I. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2006), p. 81.
- ^ "Jasta 2". The Aerodrome: Aces and Aircraft of World War I. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2007), p. 105.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2007), pp. 38–39.
- ^ "Air Pour le Merite Winners: Air Service Awards During World War I". PourleMerite.org. Archived from the original on 2015-12-12. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ^ Hart (2005), pp. 225–226.
- ^ O'Connor 1994, pp. 190–191, 272, 324.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2007), p. 47.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2007), pp. 47–48, 51.
- ^ VanWyngarden (2007), p. 54.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
- ISBN 978-1-85532-960-7.
- Franks, Norman. Jasta Boelcke. Grub Street Publishing, 2004. ISBN 978-1-904010-76-0
- Hart, Peter (2005). Bloody April: Slaughter in the skies over Arras, 1917. London UK: Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-3043-6719-1.
- O'Connor, Martin (1994). Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914 - 1918. Flying Machines Press. ISBN 978-0-9637110-1-4.
- VanWyngarden, Greg van (2006). Early German Aces of World War I. Aircraft of the Aces No. 73. Oxford: ]
- VanWyngarden, Greg van (2007). Jagdstaffel 2 'Boelcke' Von Richthofen's Mentor. Oxford: ISBN 978-1-84603-203-5.