Max Immelmann
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Max Immelmann | |
|---|---|
| September 21, 1890 - June 18, 1916 | |
 Max Immelmann |
|
| Nickname | Der Adler von Lille |
| Place of birth | Dresden |
| Place of death | Sallaumines |
| Allegiance | Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Army Air Service, forerunner of the Luftwaffe} |
| Years of service | 1914-1916 |
| Awards | Iron Cross, Second ClassPour le Mérite |
Max Immelmann (September 21, 1890 - June 18, 1916) was a German World War I Flying ace.
He was born in Dresden, the son of a paper board container factory owner. After leaving school, he joined the Eisenbahnregiment Berlin. During 1913 - 1914, he studied mechanical engineering in Dresden.
When World War I started, Immelmann was recalled to active service, transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte and was sent for pilot training in November 1914. He was initially stationed in northern France as a reconnaissance aviator. On June 3, 1915 he was shot down by a French pilot but managed to land safely behind German lines. He was decorated with the Iron Cross, Second Class for preserving his aircraft. Later in 1915, he became a fighter pilot. He became known as Eagle of Lille (Der Adler von Lille).
An aerobatic maneuver consisting of a half loop followed by a half roll on top, used to rapidly reverse the direction of flight, is now called an Immelmann turn. At the top of the maneuver the aircraft is upside-down but the roll returns it to the upright position. It is not at all certain that Immelmann performed the maneuver owing to limitations of his airplane, the Fokker Eindecker monoplane. It is more likely that he performed a climbing turn with an abrupt directional reverse at the top, closely resembling what today is called a Chandelle. The Immelmann loop, found on some steel roller coasters, is named after him as well.
Immelmann was the first pilot to be awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military honour. The medal became known as the Blue Max in honor of Immelmann. His medal was presented by Kaiser Wilhelm II in January 1916. Oswald Boelcke received his medal at the same ceremony.
Immelmann was killed in combat over Sallaumines in northern France on June 18, 1916. Some sources, including the German Air Service at the time, claimed the loss was due to (friendly) anti-aircraft artillery. Others, including his brother, believed his aircraft's interrupter mechanism (which was designed to prevent his through-the-propeller machinegun from damaging the propeller blades) had catastrophically malfunctioned. According to the official British account he was shot down by an F.E.2b aircraft of 25 Squadron Royal Flying Corps, flown by Second Lieutenant G.R. McCubbin with Corporal J. H. Waller as gunner/observer. Corporal Waller was credited with the victory by the Royal Flying Corps. However, the official German account today lists the loss as due to artillery fire.
Immelmann was credited with 17 victories.
