Arthur Rahn
| Arthur Rahn | |
|---|---|
| Born |
18 July 1897 Schweingrube, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died |
27 April 1962 Redford, Michigan, USA |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/branch | Luftstreitkräfte |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | Jagdstaffel 18, Jagdstaffel 19, Jagdstaffel 15 |
| Awards | Iron Cross |
Leutnant Arthur Rahn (18 July 1897 – 27 April 1962) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1] His family donated his World War I memorabilia to the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio in 2002.
Biography
Arthur Rahn was born on 18 July 1897 in Schweingrube, the Kingdom of Prussia, in the German Empire.[2]
He volunteered for service in the Prussian Army on 6 January 1915. His initial military service is unknown, but on 16 May 1916 he began attendance at aviation school at Coslin. He was then posted to Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 7.[2]
On 21 December 1916, Rahn was forwarded to a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 19. He scored his first aerial victories when he shot down two enemy observation balloons over Reims, France on 30 April 1917. On 5 May 1917, he destroyed a Caudron at Cormacy.[2]
On 20 October 1917, Rahn transferred fighter squadrons to Jagdstaffel 18. On 18 March 1918, he transferred again, to Jagdstaffel 15. He was on an evening sortie southeast of Amiens, France ten days later; at 1730 hours, he downed a Breguet 14. The following day, 29 March 1918, he was posted back to Jasta 19. On 1 April 1918, he shot down another Brequet 14, this one over Montdidier, for his fifth confirmed victory.[2]
He temporarily took squadron command from 11–19 April 1918. On 4 May 1918, he scored his last victory above Piennes; the victim was an Escadrille 77 SPAD.[2]
Leutnant Arthur Rahn was awarded the Iron Cross for his feats.[2]
In his latter assignment with Jasta 19, Rahn flew a distinctively painted Fokker Triplane (serial number 433/17). Its cowling was black. It had yellow stripes on its elevators. Its fuselage had a white and a black band about it, with a stack of lighter diamonds upon the latter.[2]
Rahn was shot down and wounded on 17 July 1918.[2] He recovered, and was missing several fingers on one hand.
Rahn emigrated to the United States in 1928, with his wife and young child. They became naturalized United States citizens and remained in the U.S. until their deaths.
Sources of information
References
- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.