| Otto Schmidt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 March 1885 Neunkirchen, Saarland, Germany |
| Died | 24 July 1944 (aged 59) Neunkirchen, Saarland Germany |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Service/branch | Flying service |
| Years of service | 1910–1918 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant |
| Unit | FA(A) 25, Jasta 7, Jasta 32, Jasta 29, Jasta 5, Jagdgeschwader 2 |
| Commands held | Jasta 32, Jasta 29, Jasta 5 |
| Awards | Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross |
Oberleutnant Otto Schmidt was a World War I fighter ace credited with 20 aerial victories, including eight against enemy observation balloons.[1] He commanded three different jagdstaffeln (squadrons) as well as a jagdgeschwader (group).
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Otto Schmidt was born in Neukirchen, Saarland on 23 March 1885. He became an officer in the hussars in 1910. At the start of World War I, he was serving in a Jäger regiment. He went into battle with them, and was wounded in action in March 1915. He then transferred to aviation as an oberleutnant (first lieutenant).[2]
Otto Schmidt scored his first two aerial victories while still flying artillery direction missions for FA(A) 25.[3] On 20 June 1916, he downed an enemy aircraft; on 11 July 1916, he shot down an enemy observation balloon.[1]
A year later, after transferring to Royal Prussian Jasta 7, Schmidt continued his career as a balloon buster, by shooting one down on both 25 and 27 June 1917.[1]
Schmidt took temporary command of Royal Bavarian Jasta 32, from 30 June to 19 August 1917.[4] During this period, he downed a Spad and another balloon for his fifth and sixth kills, becoming an ace in the process.[1]
Schmidt then moved on to temporarily command Royal Prussian Jasta 29 from 19 August to 18 October 1917.[5] While leading this squadron, he scored four more times. His eighth victory, on 11 September, was over Captain Louis Fleeming Jenkin.[1]
Schmidt was wounded in action by ground fire on 18 October 1917 while attacking a balloon.[1][2] He did not return to Jasta 29; instead, he was appointed to command Royal Prussian Jasta 5 on 3 July 1918.[6] It was re-equipped with new Fokker D.VII fighters. On 8 August, Jasta 5 became part of Jagdgeschwader 2; Schmidt was also appointed commander of the JG while maintaining his post with the squadron.[3]
It took him over a month to reopen his score, which he did by shooting down a balloon on 26 August 1918. He then accumulated nine more victories by 4 November, bringing his total to 20. His final tally was twelve enemy airplanes shot down, and eight observation balloons.[1]
Schmidt was recommended for Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Mérite. However, the war's end left it unconfirmed; some of his victory claims may similarly been left uncredited.[2] The records do show three unconfirmed earlier claims.[1]
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