Hans von Keudell

Hans von Keudell
Born 5 April 1892
Died 15 February 1917
Near Vlammertinghe
Allegiance German Empire
Service/branch Cavalry; aviation
Rank Leutnant
Unit Kaiser Alexander II von Russland Uhlan Regiment#3, FEA 2, BAO/Kagohl 1, KEK B, Jasta 1
Commands held Jasta 27
Awards Royal House Order of Hohenzollern

Leutnant Hans von Keudell was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.[1][2]

Early life and service

Keudell was educated in Berlin. In 1904, he joined the cadets at Bensberg. In 1911, he joined the Uhlans. He began World War I with the Uhlans, and went into combat with them in both France and Poland. He was commissioned by April 1915, transferred to aviation and began training on 7 June. On 13 December, he was posted to fly bombing missions, objectives Verdun, Toul, and Dunkirk, for Brieftauben Abteilung Ostende.[1][3]

Service as a fighter pilot

By early summer of 1916, Keudell was training as a fighter pilot. On 4 August, he joined KEK B under the command of Hans Bethge. From there, on 22 August, Keudell became a founding member of Jasta 1, destined to fly successively a Fokker D.I, a Halberstadt D.III and an Albatros D.III for them.[1] On 31 August 1916, he shot down a Martinsyde Elephant for his first win. He then scored steadily through the rest of the year, reaching ten on 22 November.[2]

1 January 1917 saw Keudell awarded the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. He shot down his eleventh victim on 24 January 1917. On 5 February, he was appointed to raise and command Jasta 27.[1] He then scored the brand new jasta's first victory on 15 February,[2] only to be in turn killed in action flying Albatros D III #2017/17 by Lt. Stuart Harvey Pratt, flying a Nieuport two-seater of No. 46 Squadron RFC (his first claim of 7).[1][4]

Sources of information

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918. p. 141.
  2. 1 2 3 http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/keudell.php Retrieved on 17 April 2010.
  3. Early German Aces of World War I. p. 72.
  4. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/pratt2.php Retrieved on 17 April 2010.

References

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