Oberleutnant Eduard Ritter von Dostler (3 February 1892 - 21 August 1917), Pour le Mérite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Military Order of Max Joseph, Iron Cross, was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 26 victories.[1]
| Eduard Ritter von Dostler | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 3, 1892 Pottenstein, Bavaria, Germany |
| Died | August 21, 1917 (aged 25) Near Frezenberg, Belgium |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service/branch | Pioneers, Air Service |
| Years of service | 1912 - 1917 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit | 4th Pioneer Battalion, Shutzstaffel 27, Kasta 36, Jagdstaffel |
| Commands held | Jagdstaffels 34 and 6 |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Military Order of Max Joseph, Iron Cross, Bavarian Lifesaving Medal |
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Eduard Dostler was commissioned in the 4th Pioneer Battalion of the Bavarian Army on 28 October 1912. He was awarded the Bavarian Lifesaving Medal for saving two of his men from drowning in the Danube River in August 1914.[2]
Dostler's brother was a pilot who was killed in action. Eduard Dostler decided to switch to the aviation service because of his brother's death.[3]
Dostler scored his first victory while flying a Roland D.II two-seater fighter for Kasta 36. He downed a Sopwith Scout on 17 December 1916.
He then transferred to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 13, which was a newly formed squadron. On 22 January 1917, he scored Jasta 13's initial triumph.[1][4] At that time, he was already an oberleutnant.[5]
On 22 February 1917, Dostler assumed command of Royal Bavarian Jagdstaffel 34, just two days after its official formation. He had it in action in three days, and scored its first victories on 24 March,[1][6] shooting down a pair of Caudron G.IV bombers.[7] By the time he left the Jasta, on 10 June 1917, he had become an ace, with eight confirmed victories, and one claim unconfirmed.[6]
Dostler transferred to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 6. He scored a double on 16 June, making him an Uberkanone, with further wins on the 17th and 20th.[1] On the 24th, Dostler took command, succeeding Fritz Otto Bernert.[8] Two days later, Jasta 6 was incorporated into Germany's first fighter wing, Jagdgeschwader I.
By 26 July, when Manfred von Richthofen took command of JG I,[9] Dostler's score was up to 18. The following day, Dostler was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. He finished the month of July 1917 with 21 victories.[1]
On 6 August, he received Germany's highest award for valor, the Pour le Mérite, which is also nicknamed the Blue Max.[10][11] Dostler's famous commanding officer, the Red Baron himself, Manfred von Richthofen took his personal Pour le Mérite from around his own neck and placed it around Dostler's throat.[12]
Dostler shot down five enemy aircraft in August, extending his list of victims to 26. His final victory was scored on 18 August.[1] He was awarded the Military Order of Max Joseph the same day; its award both entitled him to a lifetime pension and knighted him. As a visible sign of his honor, his name now became Eduard Ritter von Dostler.[13]
Three days later, Dostler attacked an obsolete British R.E.8 of 7 Squadron, flown by Lts. MA. O'Callaghan and N. Sharples. Observer Sharples shot Dostler down.[1]
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