Wilhelm Reinhard
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm "Willi" Reinhard (March 12, 1891 – July 3, 1918) was a German
pilot during World War I
. Reinhard was born in Düsseldorf
and became a flying ace during the war, credited with 20 victories.
Entering military service in 1909 as an officer cadet, Reinhard was assigned to the Bavarian Foot Artillery regiment nr.14. He was severely wounded in the leg in November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres
. Although too badly wounded for service in the Trenches, he was accepted for pilot training, returning to active service in June 1915 flying with FeldFlieger Abteilung (A) 205 (FAA 205), being wounded again in December 1915. He was posted to the Balkans with FA 28. In mid 1917 he was transferred to Jasta 11
in France and scored his first victory (over British ace Geoffrey Hornblower Cock
), but was again wounded on 4 September 1917. He then joined Jasta 6
as Commanding Officer in November. He was promoted to Hauptmann in March 1918. Following the death of Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen
, Reinhard assumed command of Jagdgeschwader 1 on 22 April 1918.
In July 1918, he attended aircraft trials near Adlershof
. After Hermann Göring
finished test flying a Zeppelin-Lindau D.I, Reinhard took it up for a test flight and was killed when a strut broke and the top wing collapsed. Following Reinhard's death, Göring assumed command of JG 1 on July 8, 1918.
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Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
pilot during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Reinhard was born in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
and became a flying ace during the war, credited with 20 victories.
Entering military service in 1909 as an officer cadet, Reinhard was assigned to the Bavarian Foot Artillery regiment nr.14. He was severely wounded in the leg in November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres
First Battle of Ypres
The First Battle of Ypres, also called the First Battle of Flanders , was a First World War battle fought for the strategic town of Ypres in western Belgium...
. Although too badly wounded for service in the Trenches, he was accepted for pilot training, returning to active service in June 1915 flying with FeldFlieger Abteilung (A) 205 (FAA 205), being wounded again in December 1915. He was posted to the Balkans with FA 28. In mid 1917 he was transferred to Jasta 11
Jasta 11
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 11 was founded on 28 September 1916 from elements of 4 armee's Keks 1, 2 and 3 and mobilized on 11 October as part of the German Air Service's expansion program, forming permanent specialised fighter squadrons, or "Jastas"...
in France and scored his first victory (over British ace Geoffrey Hornblower Cock
Geoffrey Hornblower Cock
Captain Geoffrey Hornblower Cock was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was the highest scoring ace to fly the Sopwith 1½ Strutter....
), but was again wounded on 4 September 1917. He then joined Jasta 6
Jasta 6
-History:Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 6 was founded on 25 August 1916. It was one of the original units of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. The jasta was formed from Fokkerstaffel Sivry, itself an early attempt to use the new winged weapons of fighter aircraft...
as Commanding Officer in November. He was promoted to Hauptmann in March 1918. Following the death of Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
, Reinhard assumed command of Jagdgeschwader 1 on 22 April 1918.
In July 1918, he attended aircraft trials near Adlershof
Adlershof
-External links:*...
. After Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
finished test flying a Zeppelin-Lindau D.I, Reinhard took it up for a test flight and was killed when a strut broke and the top wing collapsed. Following Reinhard's death, Göring assumed command of JG 1 on July 8, 1918.
External links
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