Hans Gottfried von Häbler

Hans Gottfried von Häbler
Born 17 May 1893
Gross Schonau, German Empire (present day Velký Šenov, Czech Republic)
Died 23 March 1918
Vicinity of Bapaume, France
Allegiance Germany
Service/branch Infantry; aviation
Years of service 1913 - 1918
Rank Leutnant
Unit Infantry; FA(A) 273, Jagdstaffel 36
Awards Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross

Leutnant Hans Gottfried von Häbler was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1]

On 17 May 1893, Hans Gottfried von Häbler was born in Gross Schonau, the German Empire; subsequent changes in national boundaries mean that it is now Velký Šenov, the Czech Republic.[2]

He enlisted in one of the Kingdom of Saxony's Guard Regiments on 1 October 1913. He served with the infantry for the first two years of World War I before volunteering for aviation duty in the Autumn of 1916. He trained at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 9 before going operational with Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) Flier Detachment (Artillery) 273.[2]

Häbler received further training on single-seat fighters at Jastaschule 1, then joined Jagdstaffel 36 on 30 September 1917. He scored his first aerial victory on 7 October 1917; on 18 March 1918, he scored his eighth confirmed victory. On 22 March, while flying Fokker Triplane number 509/17, he engaged and bested a Sopwith Camel over Metz-en-Couture, though the victory went unconfirmed. He was subsequently hit by anti-aircraft fire. His triplane fell virtually undamaged behind British lines. Hans Gottfried von Häbler died of his wounds the following day while in British captivity.[2]

Honors and awards

Sources of information

References


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